RapidArm Cricket Ball Thrower - Adjustable Sidearm Throwing Stick

RapidArm Cricket Ball Thrower

A sidearm-style throwing stick that lets one person deliver match-pace balls without being a full pro style bowler. Four adjustable arm lengths mean the same unit works for a nine-year-old in the backyard and a senior batter facing genuine pace, which is what separates it from the fixed-length sidearms most people start with. 

RapidArm exists because a cricket enthusiast got tired of owning three ball throwers and still not having the right one.

Who this is for

Good fit for: parents who want to give their kid proper throwdowns without wrecking a shoulder, coaches running net sessions solo, and club players who train more than they play. It is also the easiest way to get repeatable line and length practice against a moving ball.

Not for you if: you want a machine that bowls unattended. This is a thrower, not a bowling machine - someone still has to deliver each ball. If you want automated repetition, look at a bowling machine instead.

Specifications

How the arm length settings work

The longer the arm, the more leverage and the faster the delivery. Start short and work up — most people overestimate what they can control on their first session.

Speeds are indicative and depend heavily on the thrower's technique and arm speed, not just the setting.

Sidearm vs bowling machine vs bowling by hand

A note on colour

These arrive in mixed colours and we send whichever is in stock. If you have a preference, note it at checkout or message us before ordering and we will tell you what we currently have. We would rather check than send you something you did not want.

What you will also need

A ball thrower is only as good as what you feed it. Most people pair this with a set of cricket balls — training or practice balls rather than match balls, since throwdowns chew through them. If you are working on reaction time as well as batting, the reflex training ball covers a different part of the same session.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as a Sidearm Pro?

Same concept, different execution. The best-known sidearms come in fixed lengths, so you buy the one that matches the pace you want. The RapidArm adjusts across four lengths in one unit, which suits households or clubs where several people of different ages use it.

Can a kid use it?

Yes, on the shorter settings. It is also worth having a junior throw for a parent — the technique is simple and it turns practice into something both people do rather than one person feeding.

Do I need a hard ball?

No. It works with a range of ball types and sizes, so you can use training balls, wind balls or hard balls depending on the session and the space. Use softer balls in confined spaces or with younger players.

How long does it take to learn?

Most people are throwing usefully within ten minutes. Start on the shortest setting, throw side-on rather than overhead, and let the arm do the work rather than muscling it.

Do you have stock in New Zealand?

Yes. Held in NZ stock and dispatched the same business day.

Do you supply clubs and schools?

Yes, get in touch on howzzat@cricketwarehouse.co.nz for multi-unit pricing. These are a common order for junior coaching programmes.