Hack Attack vs
Junior Hack Attack
Same three-wheel design. Same full ball vision. Two very different machines. Here's every spec side by side — and a straight answer on which one your program actually needs.
Which Hack Attack Is Right for You?
Buy the Junior Hack Attack if your hitters are youth through high school, you want a machine one person can lift into any car, or you're setting up in a backyard, a cage, or a travel-team practice. At 45 feet it simulates 90+ MPH — the same timing a varsity hitter sees on Friday night — and it weighs about 75 pounds.
Buy the full-size Hack Attack if you're running a high school, college, or pro program, a commercial facility, or you need true 100+ MPH from a regulation 60 feet and 380-foot fungo fly balls. It's a permanent-install-grade machine at roughly 165 pounds that ships freight.
The honest truth most dealers won't tell you: the overwhelming majority of buyers are better served by the Junior. Sports Attack states the Junior is in use even at the major league level. Unless you specifically need 60-foot distance or deep fungo work, the extra $900 buys you distance you may never use.
Full Spec Comparison
Manufacturer specifications from Sports Attack, side by side.
| Specification | Hack AttackFull Size | Junior Hack AttackThe popular pick |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 100+ MPH | 70+ MPH (variable from 35 MPH) |
| Pitching distance | 60 ft (regulation) | 45 ft — simulates 90+ MPH |
| Fungo fly balls | 380 ft | 250 ft |
| Weight | ~165 lbs with legs | ~75 lbs |
| Size broken down | 39″ L × 30″ W × 25″ H | 25″ L × 20″ W × 26″ H |
| Transport | Rolls on/off field on transport wheels | Fits in any car — even a Mini Cooper |
| Shipping method | LTL freight | Ground |
| Throwing wheels | Three 14″ concave | Three 14″ concave |
| Ball vision | Complete — see the ball through release | Complete — see the ball through release |
| Pitch types | Fastballs + RH/LH breaking balls (curve, slider, split) | Fastballs + RH/LH breaking balls (curve, slider, split) |
| Pitch changes | Turn the dials — no throwing-head adjustment | Turn the dials — no throwing-head adjustment |
| Recovery time | ~5 seconds | ~5 seconds |
| Elevation + in/out control | Yes | Yes |
| Fungo pivot | Yes — grounders, pop-ups, deep flies | Yes — grounders, pop-ups, flies |
| Release point options | Full-size frame | 43″ standard or 53″ extended legs (+$50) |
| Best suited for | HS varsity, college, pro, commercial facilities | Youth → high school, travel teams, backyards, facilities |
| HotBats package price | $3,995 $4,400 | From $3,095 $3,500 |
Specifications per Sports Attack. Both machines are built in the USA and carry the manufacturer's warranty.
What's Identical on Both Machines
The Junior is not a watered-down machine. It's the same engineering in a smaller frame — and this is the part that actually makes hitters better.
Three-Wheel Design
The patented layout that lets a hitter see the ball through the feeding motion, acceleration, and release — just like a live arm.
Dial-In Pitch Changes
Change from a fastball to a righty slider by turning dials. Two-wheel machines make you stop and reposition the throwing head.
Same 14″ Wheels
Three variable-speed motors driving three concave throwing wheels that don't melt in summer heat.
Location Control
Elevation crank plus inside/outside adjustment — work all four corners of the zone between pitches, no kicking the back leg.
Where They Actually Split
Hack Attack — Full Size
Built for programs that need regulation distance and defensive work at full scale.
- 100+ MPH from a true 60 feet — the only way to train real regulation timing at speed
- 380-foot fungo fly balls that drive outfielders to the fence
- ~165 lbs — stays where you put it, absorbs recoil, built for daily institutional use
- Ships LTL freight; plan for a delivery appointment
- The pick when the machine lives at one facility and gets used hard
Junior Hack Attack
Built for the other 90% of us — real pitches, real timing, actually portable.
- 70+ MPH from 45 feet simulates 90+ MPH timing — varsity-level reps in a cage or backyard
- Dials down to 35 MPH, so the same machine works for a 9-year-old and a senior
- ~75 lbs and fits in any car — one person loads it, sets it up, and moves it between cages
- Ships ground, so it gets to you faster and cheaper
- Choose 43″ standard or 53″ extended legs for a steeper downhill plane
Which One Should You Buy?
Baseball Parents
You're setting up in the backyard or renting cage time. You want your kid getting 200 quality reps without wrecking your shoulder, and you need to load it in the car.
Travel & Youth Coaches
You're running stations, hauling gear between fields, and training ages 9 through 18 with one machine. Portability and the 35–70 MPH range matter more than 60-foot distance.
High School & College Programs
The machine lives in your cage or on your field, gets used every day, and you need regulation 60-foot work plus deep fungo to run outfield drills.
Facility Owners
Depends on your build. Rolling between multiple cages and running lessons for mixed ages? Junior. Dedicated tunnel with serious hitters and daily commercial use? Full size.
Still Not Sure?
Tell us the ages you're training, where the machine will live, and how often it moves. We'll tell you straight — even if it's the cheaper one.
Both Machines, Package Priced
We're a top authorized Sports Attack dealer and the main distributor for TaterBalls — which is why our packages beat buying the pieces separately.
Hack Attack Full Size — Package Deal
The 100+ MPH, 60-foot machine for programs and facilities that need regulation everything.
Junior Hack Attack — Package Deal
Machine, 5 dozen TaterBalls, Pro Extended Chute, and ball bag. Our best seller by a mile.
Hack Attack vs Junior FAQ
Is the Junior Hack Attack good enough for high school players?
Yes. At 45 feet it throws 70+ MPH, which simulates 90+ MPH timing — the same look a varsity hitter faces in a game. Sports Attack states the Junior is perfect for young players up through high school, and is in use even at the major league level. The three-wheel design and full ball vision are identical to the full-size machine.
What is the actual difference between the Hack Attack and the Junior Hack Attack?
Three things really matter: speed and distance (100+ MPH from 60 feet versus 70+ MPH from 45 feet), fungo range (380 feet versus 250 feet), and portability (about 165 pounds shipping freight versus about 75 pounds that fits in a car). Everything else — the three-wheel design, dial-in pitch changes, 14-inch wheels, elevation and inside/outside control — is the same on both.
Can the Junior Hack Attack throw curveballs and sliders?
Yes. Both machines throw fastballs plus right- and left-handed breaking pitches including curveballs, sliders, and split-fingers. You change pitch type by turning the three speed dials — no awkward throwing-head adjustments like two-wheel machines require.
Is the Junior Hack Attack worth it over a cheaper two-wheel machine?
The difference is what your hitter sees. On a two-wheel machine the ball is hidden until it fires out, so hitters guess instead of timing. The three-wheel design lets them see the ball through the feeding motion and release, which is the whole point of machine work. You also change pitches by turning a dial instead of stopping practice to reposition the head.
Which machine is better for a facility with multiple cages?
Usually the Junior, because one person can move it between cages in seconds and it handles the full range of ages your clients bring in. Choose the full-size machine if you have a dedicated tunnel for advanced hitters who need true 60-foot regulation work.
How fast do they ship?
Machines ship within 2 to 4 business days with a 5 to 7 business day delivery time. The Junior ships ground; the full-size Hack Attack ships LTL freight. Everything else in the store, expect in 3–5 days. Use code HOTBATS for free shipping.
Should I get standard or extended legs on the Junior?
Standard legs release at 43″, ideal for youth and most cage setups. Extended legs raise the release point to 53″ for a steeper, more realistic downhill plane — the pick for older hitters and facilities. Extended legs add just $50.
Still Deciding? Ask Someone Who Sells Both.
We're a top authorized Sports Attack dealer with 600+ units sold. Tell us who you're training and where the machine will live — we'll point you at the right one, even if it's the cheaper one.