Pitching Machine Safety & Self-Serve Setup
Pitching machines are the single biggest value driver — and the single biggest safety responsibility — on a self-service listing. Here's how to set one up right.
What CageList does — and doesn't:we publish these standards and collect a host acknowledgement before your listing can show as self-service eligible. We do not inspect, certify, or maintain your equipment. You're confirming your own setup meets the standards below — treat that confirmation seriously, since it's the record guests (and CageList) rely on.
Why pitching machines get their own standard
A cage with a machine earns meaningfully more per hour than one without — but it also introduces the platform's single highest-risk piece of equipment, especially on self-serve listings where you may not be on-site. That's why machine listings go through a dedicated disclosure + acknowledgement step, separate from your general amenities.
Self-Serve Setup Standards
These are exactly what you'll confirm on the Trust & Safety step
Power Control
A clear on/off switch guests can reach without getting near the wheels or feed mechanism.
Remote Shutoff
A remote, foot pedal, or external extension switch is strongly preferred — guests shouldn't have to stand at the machine to stop it.
Wheel Access
Guests should never need to reach near spinning wheels for normal operation or an emergency stop.
Emergency Shutoff
Obvious and documented — an unplug procedure, E-stop, or remote location noted in your listing and check-in instructions.
Startup / Shutdown Instructions
Visible in your listing copy and/or check-in materials: speed preset, feeder rules, and a clear "machine live" signal.
If your setup doesn't meet these yet:that's okay — list as host-operated or coach-operated instead. Self-service eligibility is optional, not a requirement to list a machine.
Machine Placement & Setup
Where and how the machine sits in your cage
Stability
Stable, level surface. Frame or tripod secured against tip or drift.
Ball Path
Fully contained by netting — no exit path toward people, doors, or adjacent bays.
Firing Lane
No one can walk in front of the machine during use. L-screen or equivalent between machine and batter when live.
Cords
Routed away from foot traffic — no trip hazards across entry paths.
Distance
A safe, realistic distance for your cage length and pitch type, disclosed in your listing.
Ball Compatibility Rules
Mismatched balls are the most common cause of machine surprises
Approved Type
Specify the approved ball type in your listing's machine details (real leather, dimple/training, soft practice, or machine-specific).
Prohibited Balls
Cracked, wet, damaged, or mixed ball types are never allowed — state this in your house rules.
Guest-Supplied Balls
Be explicit: not allowed, allowed, or only if they match your approved type.
Mixed-Type Risk
Mixed ball types create unpredictable speed and trajectory — the single most common cause of machine surprises.
Guest Operating Rules
Copy this straight into your listing's house rules
These are the rules CageList recommends every machine-equipped listing post for guests — in your house rules, your check-in instructions, or both. Select the text below and copy it into your listing.
Pro Tip: Post a printed copy of these rules where guests can see them from inside the cage, not just in the listing description they may not re-read.
Maintenance & Pre-Rental Checklist
Especially important for self-serve listings where you may not be on-site
Wheels / tires
Before each rental — check wear, cracking, smooth surfaceFeeder / hopper
Before each rental — jam-free, guard in placeCords / plugs
Before each rental — no fraying, adequate gauge for the run lengthBolts / frame stability
Weekly — tripod feet, tension knobs, transport wheels lockedNet condition
Before each rental — no gaps in the ball pathBall condition
Before each rental — remove cracked, wet, or wrong-type ballsShutoff controls
Before each rental — on/off, remote, foot pedal testedPrint this sectionand keep it near your cage entrance. A 2-minute walkthrough before each rental catches almost every machine issue before a guest does. If something fails this check, remove the machine from use and update your listing — don't let a booking proceed around a known issue.
List Your Cage With Confidence
Complete the safety disclosures on your listing and you're ready to go — guests can see you've met CageList's machine safety standards.