1. Batting cages allow baseball and softball teams to make the most of practice time and practice space. Conducting batting practice within a practice cage gives players a maximum number of swings without keeping track of where the balls go. Batting cages can be set up in compact areas, or even indoors, to keep your team hitting when inclement conditions persist outside.
2. Don't let lack of space prevent you from enjoying the benefits of a batting cage. It's important to know the space you have available for a batting cage, and handy to know that a hitting net and batting cage can be built with a length as short as 35 feet. Scout out your potential areas and find the best batting cage for you.
3. Batting cage nets are important for keeping balls close by, and for ensuring the safety of others playing and practicing nearby. Nylon nets are a strong option, sure to keep balls from escaping, but can become weathered with continual exposure to the elements. Polyethylene nets can endure outdoor weather and are lightweight, so you won't need as heavy of a batting cage frame.
4. When shopping for hitting nets, the standard twine sizes are No. 42, No. 36, and No. 21; the higher numbers are the heaviest. Heavier nets are more capable of enduring daily use, and keeping baseballs and softballs nearby.
5. One of the best things about batting cages is that you can fit one almost anywhere. Bigger batting cages tend to be safer for the batting-practice pitcher or ball feeder, who should always use a pitching screen, regardless of the cage size. An increased net area in width and height also lets hitters see where their swings take the ball, making batting practice a more effective learning tool.
6. Standard guidelines for building a batting cage suggest using cage frame supports for every 20 feet of net and also on each end. The goal is to hang the net so it absorbs hit or pitched balls safely and does not droop. The bigger the batting cage, the more frame sections you'll need.
7. Without a batting cage, batting practice would consist of shagging balls, chasing down fouls and pop ups, and worrying about the safety of other players in the vicinity. Hitting nets allow you and your batters to concentrate solely on your swing. Balls may be collected safely and easily, and the rest of the team can focus on their drills, knowing the hitting net will stop every ball.
8. With hitting nets, you can conduct a wide variety of individualized and precise practice drills. Players and coaches can incorporate hitting nets into soft toss or hand toss drills, or even work on swing techniques with the use of a batting tee.
9. Sometimes hitting off a tee is just what it takes for a batter to regain his or her swing, and a batting cage is the perfect place for it. For example, before Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, injured Kirk Gibson warmed up in the Dodger Stadium batting cage by hitting off a tee; then he limped out to hit one of the most famous home runs in baseball history.
10. Portable pitching screens provide an ideal way to spend extra time with the family in the backyard, or can serve as a pre-game warm-up aid for teams on the road. Many pitching screens give a pitcher an easily identifiable target and help contain the ball as well. They make good batting practice backstops if a batting cage is unavailable.
11. L-screens or other protective screens are a must for batting practice pitchers and those who feed pitching machines. These safety devices usually flip to adapt to right- or left-handed pitchers and are easily moveable.
12. Portable backstops may be beneficial for teams that travel frequently or use multiple practice sites. These backstops can assist with a wide array of warm-up drills, and are easy to knock down, transport, and set up again.
Baseball, batting cage installation and hitting tips are just some of the topics covered in our Batter Up articles.
