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Let’s face it; baseball’s big appeal isn’t in the outfield it’s in the batter. When you think about playing baseball what’s the first thing that comes to mind? I’ll bet you a hundred fly balls that it’s the baseball bat. Really, when you boil it down, the entire game of baseball can really be played with two people: the pitcher and the hitter. The fundamental relationship between the pitcher and the hitter is what created the backyard batting cage.
Batting cages are great tools for practicing your hitting game and (if you choose not to use a pitching machine) they can help you with your pitching too. Whether it was your exhausting experience running around the outfield collecting the balls you’ve hit or whether it’s just too cold to play outside, you’ve come to the internet interested in batting cages.
Before you go out and buy the batting cage of your dreams there are a few things you need to consider. Not all batting cages are made equal and there are certain qualities of all batting cages that need to be addressed. Choosing your batting cage wisely will allow you to get the most out of your practice experience and better prepare you for the real thing.
Here’s what you need to know about the batting cages you’re looking to buy:
How Durable is the Batting Cage?
Your batting cage needs to be as durable as you can afford. You have to consider the fact that throughout the lifespan of your batting cage you and your friends are going to be launching baseballs at high speeds in all different directions. The last thing you want to happen is for a fly ball to catch the batting cage in a weak spot and send the whole structure crumbling down on your head.
To determine the durability of a particular batting cage you want to look at two things: the structural piping and the netting. We’ll go a little bit more into detail on the netting farther down the page but let me briefly cover the piping.
You want to build your batting cage out of materials that can withstand both the elements and your constant beatings. You should look to good metal materials like steel or iron and stay away from the aluminum ones. The only reason you would want to buy an aluminum batting cage is if you want it to be light weight and portable batting cage. Otherwise stick to the sturdy, heavier, metals to create the backbone of your batting cage.
How Easily Put Together is the Batting Cage?
When you first buy your batting cage you have to remember that you will be the one installing it. You can, of course, purchase a batting cage from a company that supplies the workers to assemble your batting cage and in some cases that is even recommended. If you don’t have the budget for that sort of thing or if you are just a do-it-yourself kind of guy you need to take a look at the assembly instructions before you make your purchase.
You don’t want to buy a batting cage that is too hard to put together because a disassembled jumble of metal and netting is not going to help you with your baseball swing. Most of the cheap batting cages will be overly simple to assemble.
What Kind of Netting Does the Batting Cage Have?
The batting cage netting is possibly the most important factor to consider. You have to look at the netting of each batting cage and determine the type of material you’d like for it, the size of the grid in the net, and also the size of the batting cage in general.
If you’re buying the batting cage for a young child or for someone who can’t hit the baseball very hard you can get away with purchasing a cheaper net. If the hitter is going to be launching rockets at the net on a consistent basis you’ll want to purchase something with a little more durability and flex. The last thing you want to happen is the ball flying through the net and smashing someone in the face.
There are two materials to choose from for batting cage nets: Nylon and Polyethylene. Nylon nets are generally the strongest and they last the longest. They are easiest to hang up and softer to the touch but they don’t provide as much UV protection as your standard Polyethylene nets will. The great thing about Polyethylene nets is that they are also water resistant so they won’t take on water if left outside in the rain.
What Safety Accessories Come with the Batting Cage?
To use a pitching machine or not to use one, that is the question. A batting cage doesn’t need a pitching machine if you have someone to pitch for you but batting cages always need protective accessories. Whether you’re using a pitching machine or a real life pitcher you are going to want to get some sort of protective shield for them so they don’t get damaged.
The most common form of pitcher shield is the L-Screen. An L-Screen will protect the body of the pitcher while he throws the pitch and he can always hide behind it after the ball has been thrown. You want to make sure the batting cage you choose provides some sort of pitcher protection and if it doesn’t you need to go out and get some separately. Safety first, people.
