Replacing a Pitching Rubber Without a Surveyor - #5

As 2013 reaches the finish line, the top 5 viewed blog posts will be counted down in advance of New Years Day.

Here is #5 - Replacing a Pitching Rubber Without a Surveyor

The pitching rubber of a baseball/softball field is an important part of a field.  In this post, I will detail replacing a pitching rubber on a high school baseball field.  To see how to replace a plate, click HERE.

The first step to set up a laser.  Take a reading at homeplate.  Lower the receiver 10 inches to get the correct elevation of the new pitching rubber and install clay to build the base under the rubber.  I have also seen concrete blocks and an additional rubber used to build a base: 

Next, pull string lines from the foul poles through homplate and a string line through the middle of the second base anchor:

Install the new pitching rubber keeping an eye on the following:

1. Is the string in the middle of the rubber?
2. Is the elevation correct on the laser?
3. Is the new rubber 60 ft 6 inches from the apex of homeplate to the front of the rubber?

Once all of those items are established, the next step is to square the rubber up to homeplate.  To do this take readings from the from corners of the plate to the corresponding front corners of the pitching rubber.  The distance should be 59 ft 1 inch.  If that is the case, the rubber is square:

Finally, double check all the dimensions listed above and place a level on the rubber.  If all is correct and level, carefully place mound clay around the rubber and compact.  In this case, Dura Pitch Mound Clay is used.

To see how to renovate a mound on a budget, click HERE:

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer