There is an entire market of portable pitching mounds. The upkeep of an actual mound, or city fields where softball is also played, make them an attractive option for field managers. We spent some time at the ABCA convention checking out the market’s best portable mounds. After speaking with a few coaches, as well as collegiate pitchers who need portable pitching mounds to succeed, we would choose the 308 or 202 series from True Pitch, Inc. If we were willing to spend a lot more, we would go with the Athalonz RFP portable game mound.
Best Portable Mounds Sources
We reference a few different spots in this article. Athalonz, which makes the high-end mounds with real clay built into them, has a catalog that can be found on their site here. You can buy the mounds directly on their site, or they sell through Amazon, too.
The mounds approved by Little League Baseball (TruePitch mounds) have much better distribution. Check their website, as well as Amazon and OnDeck Sports.
What Makes a Good Portable Mound
There are three aspects to a good portable mound. Each seems obvious enough, but as we have had more than a little experience with these in-game, it is surprising to see how many fail.
Sizing
Many fields use a practice or bullpen portable pitching mound in a game to save a few dollars, sometimes a few dozen dollars. Attracted by the price, these fields put players in grave danger. Practice or bullpen mounds are 3 to 4 feet wide by 5 to 8 feet long. They look like a rectangle from the top view, and from the side, they look like a wedge. These work okay enough in the cage or pen. But, expecting a pitcher at any level to also play baseball off of this mound is thoughtlessly dangerous. It is a shame to see so many leagues use these terrible mounds.
A great portable game mound will replicate the hill of an actual mound. This means the top down view will be an oval or circle shape. The smoother that transition into the field of play, the better. The best portable pitching mounds replicate the real slope of a real field.
Durability
In a competitive market, a direct correlation exists between how much a portable mound costs and how durable it is. Expect cheaper wood bases and non-weather-proof faux-grass covers to be less expensive. Structures made of treated fiberglass and weatherproofed astro turf covers are more expensive.
If you expect the mound to be exposed to elements like rain in addition to the pounding it will naturally take, then a more durable mound will be better. Additionally, if you intend to use this mound for years to come, then a more expensive mound is a sound financial investment.
Realism
At the risk of stating the obvious, the best portable game mounds replicate a real pitching mound on a real field, while having the feature of portability. It should give the pitcher every chance to succeed and never draw any attention to itself in terms of getting in the way of the game. That includes a stretch or windup routine that isn’t adjusted per the mound’s issues or being able to field a routine ground ball without performing feats of death-defying balance.
Best Portable Mounds Option 1: True Pitch, INC
In terms of sizing and durability, our favorite game pitching mound for sub-high School ages is the TruePitch 202 series. It comes in either a 6 inch or 8 inch high version. These mounds fit well on any field, have a great transition to the field of play, and use reinforced fiberglass with weatherproof AstroTurf.
These are the only portable mounds approved for Little League play, and there are reasons for this. Not only is this the original portable mound company, but their mounds replicate the playable nature of a normal mound, making the field safe for players of all ages.
If you need a high school or collegiate regulation portable mound (10 inches off the ground), we suggest the 308 from the same company. This is a full-on 18 foot circle made of reinforced fiberglass that can take a beating. It plays like a real mound, and as you can see from the above picture, looks like one, too.
Price Check on Amazon. See the True Pitch Mounds website.
Best Top End Portable Mounds Option 2: Athalonz RFP
Athalonz Portable Mounds create the durability and sizing we should require from a portable game mound, but they also have a touch of realism that no one else captures. In particular, they use a proprietary substance around the mound rubber and front foot landing spot that replicates the clay experience. It is real infield clay, not a replication. But, combined with some proprietary technique, the clay doesn’t dust up or degenerate and still responds correctly to metal cleats. It is the only portable mound we know where metal cleats are allowed.
Another feature worth mentioning is that these mounds are sectional, meaning they are taken apart in sections. This makes transport and their general portability a little more feasible. Clever, we thought.
These mounds are not inexpensive, and we would guess that price will be the greatest inhibitor to people pulling the trigger. But if the budget is there, pitching from one of these is an exciting prospect.
Search on Amazon. Check their Website.
