Practice Batting Cages

Since practice makes perfect, the only way to get good time saving batting practice is with a cage.  To find affordable backyard batting cages, here are some ideas that will help.

Backyards come in all different sizes and so do batting cages.  The size that works best for you depends on who will be using it, how much space you have, and if it will be permanent or just temporary.

Before you start, measure the area and draw a simple scale plan that shows the house and yard.  It will help greatly if you have a survey or plat prepared by a surveyor when you bought the house.  Plats are to scale and may be needed for approvals, as we will discuss later.

First, you must study your yard and decide how much space you can use that will not interfere with other requirements for the area.  Remember, constant hitting from the same spot will cause the grass to be worn down, maybe a low spot to develop, and a mud hole when it rains or you water the lawn.  Consider some options to protect the ground in the batters box area and you will get more use of your batting cage.

Once you have determined the available space, you can now consider the clearances needed to setting up and anchoring the sections along with where the stiffening cables will be set.  This is a very important area for you to analyze since mowing and obstructing other activities will come into play.  If you family uses the area for other play activities, the cables tied to stakes like a tent being tied back can cause tripping hazards and you may want to consider other type frame post that can be set in sleeves for temporary, or concrete for permanent batting cages.

The last consideration needed in studying your yard is your local building codes and homeowners association approvals.  Note that some codes and bylaws require approval and may restrict where you can place a batting cage due to it being visible to neighbors.  Take your time and do your homework will help you have the right questions to ask when shopping and it will give you the confidence to know your investment will serve you well.

After your yard assessment, the next step is finding good old shopping to determine what style cage will fit your area.  Cages come in sections for ease of shipping and installations and it is important to determine what sizes and sections area available including anchoring cable length that will fit your area.

Now the affordable part comes into play.  Just how much do you want to spend?  Basic kits start around $130 for a 12ft L x 12ft W x 10ft H unit with fiberglass frame, 1 ¼ in dura-poly netting, ground stakes, support ropes, which are easy to erect.  For $1,500 to $1,800 you can get a kit that is around 65ft L x 11ft W x 11ft H.  If you really want to save money, order the net from one of the specialty companies and shop locally for the frame material and anchoring cables.  Be sure to double check the size of netting and how it is supported before buying the frame material.  Many companies have drawings that will help you plan your do-it-yourself project.

With a little time and study, you will be able to get that batting cage for the investment you want to make and have a good dependable place to practice with family and friends.  Adding a pitching machine is the logical next step if you do not have plenty of dependable pitchers around your house.  An affordable backyard batting cage is possible that will make you, your son or daughter, or team a big hit at the next big game.

A very important aspect of getting the most out of practice time, whether in your backyard or at a training facility, is the batting cage equipment.  The right equipment coupled with appropriate and highly focused drills will allow you to maximize the use of your cage as well as your time while at the same time making the practice time fun for the young player.

Home plate
This is an obvious piece of equipment.  Having a home plate available allows the hitter to align themselves up and maintain a proper hitting stance.  Effectively used for soft toss drills or actual batting practice from a live arm or pitching machine.

L-screen
An L-screen is simply that – a screen in the shape of an L that allows the pitcher to throw batting practice while providing protection from line drives.  If you can afford one piece of equipment then this would be the one to buy.  Having an L-screen will not only provides protection it will fully allow you to maximize the size of your batting cage.  You can place the L-screen closer to the hitter while still maintaining a very effective practice session as well as open your session up to many different types of drills.

Tee
A batting tee is often an overlooked piece of equipment but still needs to be a part of your training regimen.  There are, of course, many varieties of tees on the market today.  Some contain one single post or stem while others enable you to move the post around the area of the plate to work inside or outside pitches.  The ability to move the post is not essential for effective hitting practice.  You can simply move the tee itself around home plate to get the same effect and is really more cost effective.   No matter which type of tee you choose, be sure to work it in to your practice as it is still the best piece of equipment for instantaneous feedback on mechanics and the development of repetition.

Pitching machine
Of all the pieces of equipment listed above, this is the one piece that you could really live without if need be.  Pitching machines come in a couple of various types including wheel based and “arm” based.  Wheel based machines use a rotating wheel to throw the pitch while an arm type machine will catapult the ball towards the hitter.  It really comes down to preference and budget as to selecting the best type of machine.  A pitching machine is non-essential but there is also a lot to be said for predictability and consistency of pitches in practice time for developing young players while more experienced hitters can benefit from hitting high velocity and trick pitches.