Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at 5:23 am

The most convenient of all the soft toss nets are the portable or pop-up screens. These are nice because they go up quick, go down quick, and are easy to haul around to practice or just throw up right in your garage. The second style is more heavy duty and is not meant to be as portable. They are however more sturdy because they are usually constructed with aluminum or steel frames and heavy duty softball netting. The last option is just to make your own. Let’s start with the portable screens.
Probably the most common of the portable soft toss nets are the jugs instant screen (pictured to the right), the Easton Pop Up or Squarecatch Net, and the ATEC Multi Sport Net. I recommend the Jugs model, because it is the favorite among most ballplayers.
Franklin also makes a model that is comparable as well. These are all very similar in design and are similar to a pop up tent. They go up and down in a matter of a couple of minutes and I think they all come with a nylon carrying bag, making them very convenient. At the time of this writing (March 08’) the prices on all of these styles of screens are right around the $80-130 range.
There are other variations of these screens, such as the Jugs Instant Backstop, which is bigger and costs a few bucks more (around $170). Then there’s the Jugs Small Ball Instant Protective Screen, a small model soft toss net that is designed to be used with their Small Ball pitching machine, and accessories. It only costs $40. Louisville also makes a pop up model called the Socknet, which is 7’x7’ and only $90.
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | Outfield Protective Screen - 6 FT Forest Green - Screens & Nets
Outfield Protective Screen This is a custom product and is not available to order online. To order please contact a Team Sales representative toll free at ---. Outfield Protective Screen is made of specifically treated - Screens & Nets - 6 FT Forest Green - Screens & Nets... |
 | Outfield Protective Screen - 6 FT Scarlet Red - Screens & Nets
Outfield Protective Screen This is a custom product and is not available to order online. To order please contact a Team Sales representative toll free at ---. Outfield Protective Screen is made of specifically treated - Screens & Nets - 6 FT Scarlet Red - Screens & Nets... |
 | #36 Twisted Knotted Nylon Batting Cage (select custom size)
The #36 gauge thread is roughly 2.5mm in diameter and is the most commonly used net for baseball and softball. All nets are UV and weather treated and have a tar finish for extra protection and durability. The #36 nylon net has a break strength of 365lbs and will withstand the abuse of baseballs. This net is most typically used for high school and college ball players. These nets will tend to l... |
 | SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer $17.94 The SKLZ® Zip-N-Hit® Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. It's an effective training device for high school and collegiate players that lets them have fun while developing confidence and power.... |
 | Fisher-Price Triple Hit Baseball $31.99 A reasonable gripe against a great number of sporting good themed toys has been their lack of versatility. Once a kid has surpassed the skill level engendered by the toy, the toy is pretty much useless, offering no further challenge to the burgeoning athlete. The Grow To Pro series, on the other hand, evolves with the kid presenting increasing challenges along the way. In this three level baseball... |
 | Franklin Sports Mlb Pitching Machine No. 6696S3 $24.92 Practice your swing until you're hitting like the pros. This quality pitching machine helps your aspiring MLB player get trained for baseball season. Requires four "D" batteries, not included.Features:Measures 9. 75"L x 9.5"W x 17.75"H once assembled Height-adjustment for different pitchesComes with 27"L collapsible batIncludes 8 white Aero Strike plastic baseballsMachine pitches balls every 10 se... |
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 2:54 am

Remember when becoming a great hitter used to mean chasing balls, searching for an open ball field to hit live pitches, or spending dollar after dollar at the commercial batting cage? Well, those days are gone!
Introducing the Heater Power Alley 20' Real Ball Batting Cage, the most affordable and revolutionary batting cage ever developed for improving your hitting at home.
Most hitters spend 68% of their hitting time searching for a place to hit and chasing the balls in the outfield once they do. And thats not all; studies also show that most hitters rarely hit more than 50 pitches in any given hitting session.
With the Heater Power Alley 20' Real Ball Batting Cage you spend 94% of your time hitting the ball and can hit over 250 pitches in the same amount of hitting time.
Take hit after hit without the hassle of chasing down every ball and watch your batting average soar with your own home batting cage.
The Heater Power Alley 20' Real Ball Batting Cage delivers innovation and quality in an affordable batting cage right to your own backyard. Built for ease-of-use and durability the PowerAlley sets-up in minutes. The unique fiberglass pole design, strong 1 1/4 polyethylene netting, and steel ground stakes provide unusual strength and support along with the flexibility to withstand the elements. Measuring 20 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 10 feet high the PowerAlley is the smartest batting cage for home or club use.
 | Heater Trend Sports PowerAlley Batting Cage $199.99 Need a batting cage that is ideal for club use and small enough for use in the privacy of your own backyard? Then the PowerAlley Batting Cage from Trend Sports is the product for you. The durable fiberglass frame and poly netting withstand the elements, so you can practice batting all year long. Measuring in at 20ft L x 12ft W x 10ft H, the cage is small enough for use in your backyard. The fiberg... |
 | Heater Trend Sports BaseHit Pitching Machine and PowerAlley Batting Cage $398.99 Practice hitting real baseballs with the BaseHit Pitching Machine from Trend Sports. When used with the PowerAlley Batting Cage, you wont have to search for baseballs when practice is over. Both products are durable, easy to assemble, and simple to use. All you have to do is attach the BaseHit Pitching Machine to the PowerAlley batting cage, plug the BaseHit in to a standard electrical outlet, and... |
 | Trend Sports Starting Pitcher And Power Alley Cage $299.99 Have batting practice in your own backyard with the Trend Sports® Starting Pitcher Soft Lite-Ball pitching machine and PowerAlley batting cage! The Starting Pitcher includes an automatic ball feeder that holds 12 Soft Lite-Balls and pitches one ball every 9 seconds, while the PowerAlley boasts a unique fiberglass pole design, strong 1-in nylon netting, and steel ground stakes.... |
 | Trend Sports Power Alley Home Batting Cage $185.99 Built for ease-of-use and durability, the Trend Sports(r) Power Alley Home Batting Cage sets up in minutes! The unique fiberglass pole design, strong 1-in nylon netting, and steel ground stakes provide unusual strength and support along with the flexibility to withstand the elements. The cage allows you to hit ball after ball without fear of breaking a window, denting the car, or hitting the ball ... |
 | Heater Crusher Pitching Machine & PowerAlley Batting Cage Package $299.99 You have to practice hard to be the best, and the Heater Crusher Pitching Machine and Power Alley Batting Cage Package helps you do just that. It combines the best in state-of-the-art pitching machine technology and sturdy, simple batting cage design for the perfect practice system. The Crusher rapidly fires smaller mini-lite balls, which trains the eye and improves accuracy. The flexible, yet str... |
Friday, August 12th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Anyone know of any batting cages indoors or outdoors?
Houston TX
That would be better to ask "local company" in this or the "baseball", not the Water Sports category.
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | 2 in 1 GOLF PRACTICE NET HITTING CAGE + DRIVING MAT TRAINING AID $64.95 This is a fantastic new golf practice net cage for any golfer to practice outdoors in the comfort of their own home! Lower your golf scores and Save Your Dollars on the trips to the golf driving range! Use your golf clubs for hitting as many balls as you like in your own backyard with this new golf net training equipment.Golf Practice Net Features: Easy set up ready for hitting practice in min... |
 | Easton 5-Foot Pop-Up Multi-Sport Training Net $87.89 The Easton® 5-ft pop-up, multi-sport net is a multi-functional training aid that can be used as a catch net, a goal or a target. It comes with an adjustable, removable target and folds down to fit in a 29-in carrying case.... |
 | Izzo The Giant Jr. Hitting Net (9- x 7- Feet Hitting Area) $116.67 New Giant Jr Super Cage Mouth Izzo Big Practice Net. The Giant Jr hitting net features a hitting area of 9ft wide x 7ft high. Not only is this net big enough to catch any shot (from driver through wedge), it also is engineered and tested to be the strongest net in golf. Even though the Giant is big, it compacts down to a small size into a nylon storage case which is included with the product.... |
 | Cage Rat $19.99 From Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long—the man who coaches all-stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Cano—comes this indispensable guide to hitting, full of practical advice, behind-the-scenes baseball action, and an enduring, inspiring love for America's national pastimeThe legendary Ted Williams often said that "hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in spor... |
 | Jugs Instant Screen $127.87 The Jugs instant screen is a travel-friendly practice screen which can be used effectively as a hitting screen for short toss, soft toss, and tee drills. The Instant Screen's oversized eight-by-seven-foot size is ideal for short toss, soft toss, and tee drills. Constructed of sturdy lightweight spring steel, the Instant Screen measures eight-by-seven-feet (W x H) yet folds up easily into a 30-inch... |
 | Callaway Quad Net, 8 Feet $219.99 Callaway Quad Nets...Great For Practice! Callaway Quad Hitting Nets feature: 6' or 8' quad net with super strong mesh netting Easy ball collection - balls feed to front of net Ultra quiet hanging target Easy set up and take down Comes with nylon carry bag Callaway Golf...Train Like You Mean It!... |
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 5:48 am

Well use a youth baseball bat in batting cage?
Plan to hit the batting cages. Will treat both average speed and fast speed pitches. I have a young bat 32/18.5. Is the bat will be good for that kind of speed? Or should I stick with a -3 bat for adults?
Use a stick is similar in length and weight as the bat you use in a game. A couple more oz is fine, but try not to use a lighter bat. I never use the bat of the game in a cage. I do not think anyone should use a bat of the game in a cage that does not throw leather balls.
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | #36 Twisted Knotted Nylon Batting Cage (select custom size)
The #36 gauge thread is roughly 2.5mm in diameter and is the most commonly used net for baseball and softball. All nets are UV and weather treated and have a tar finish for extra protection and durability. The #36 nylon net has a break strength of 365lbs and will withstand the abuse of baseballs. This net is most typically used for high school and college ball players. These nets will tend to l... |
 | 3 in 1 Golf Practice Set Mat Driving Net Chipping Net and Bag $79.99 Practice your driving, chipping, and approach shots without heading to the driving range with this three-in-one golf practice set. Equipped with a driving net, chipping net, driving mat, and nylon carrying bag, the set includes everything you need to hone your golf game in your backyard. The set starts with the easy-to-set-up driving net, which includes two expandable fiberglass poles that extend ... |
 | SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer $17.94 The SKLZ® Zip-N-Hit® Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. It's an effective training device for high school and collegiate players that lets them have fun while developing confidence and power.... |
 | 2 in 1 GOLF PRACTICE NET HITTING CAGE + DRIVING MAT TRAINING AID $64.95 This is a fantastic new golf practice net cage for any golfer to practice outdoors in the comfort of their own home! Lower your golf scores and Save Your Dollars on the trips to the golf driving range! Use your golf clubs for hitting as many balls as you like in your own backyard with this new golf net training equipment.Golf Practice Net Features: Easy set up ready for hitting practice in min... |
 | The Cages: Pro Style Batting Practice $16.05 Get off the pine, grab your favorite bat ? or Wiimote ? and step into the batter?s box. Take your hacks against the smartest pitching machine around. Step your game up using The Cages then use your newfound skills to dominate your friends in small batting mini-games. The Cages pitching machine will dish out a pitches to mirror like fast balls, cut fast balls, 12-6 curves, sliders, off-speed pit... |
 | Cage Rat: Lessons from a Life in Baseball by the Yankees Hitting Coach $5.99 From Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long—the man who coaches all-stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Cano—comes this indispensable guide to hitting, full of practical advice, behind-the-scenes baseball action, and an enduring, inspiring love for America's national pastime The legendary Ted Williams often said that "hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in ... |
 | Cage Rat: Lessons from a Life in Baseball by the Yankees Hitting Coach $10.87 From Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long——the man who coaches all-stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Cano——comes the inspiring story of one man's road to the big leagues, full of practical advice, behind-the-scenes baseball action, and an enduring, inspiring love for America's national pastime. In Cage Rat, Long——with help from his spirited wife, Mar... |
Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 at 3:44 am

What are some really good ways to get ready for softball season?
Last year I wasn't the best hitter and I really wan to be better this year. I have been going to the gym twice a week for a few months now and I went to the batting cage once but seriously how many times can you go. All it is, is hitting the same speed, same spot pitch over and over again.
What are some good drills I could do?
Continue going to the cages. It is all about contact and not location right now. Just hitting off a tee will improve your hand eye coordiantion. Don't give up keep hitting until you can't hit anymore.
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | Easton Short Sleeve Enforcer Jacket $26.99 Crew neck with long sleeve construction. Bio-Dri fabric wicks away moisture. Full Range Motion technology. Vented back and shoulders. One side zipper pocket. nylon. Imported. Adult Sizes M - XL. Colors Black. Softball Jackets & Softball Outerwear... |
 | Easton Adult Long Sleeve Enforcer Jacket $21.99 Crew neck with long sleeve construction. Bio-Dri fabric wicks away moisture. Full Range Motion technology. Vented back and shoulders. One side zipper pocket. nylon. Imported. Adult Sizes M - XL. Colors Black. Softball Jackets & Softball Outerwear... |
 | Easton Long Sleeve Escape Jacket $29.99 Crew neck with long sleeve construction. Bio-Dri fabric wicks away moisture. Hemmed bottom withdropped tail. Full Range Motion technology. One side zipper pocket. polyester. Imported. Adult Sizes S - XL. Colors Black. Softball Jackets & Softball Outerwear... |
 | SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer $17.94 Perfect for newcomers to the game or those who want to improve growing skills, the Pro Performance Zip-N-Hit Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. Players can improve hitting skills while increasing bat speed, as well as learning "top half" hitting while increasing bat speed. It's great for practicing hitting pitches of different speeds and... |
 | Easton 7-Foot Pop-Up Catch Net $99.99 The Easton® 7-ft Pop Up catch net let's you practice hitting almost anywhere with a portable design that easily folds down to fit in a 37-in circular carrying bag. it's constructed with durable steel flatwire and heavy-duty netting to absorb the impact of the ball. Includes ground stakes.... |
 | 10 X 25 Fishing Net, Netting, Fish Net for Golf Backstop, Hockey, La Crosse, Barrier, Sports $29.00 HEAVY 10 x 25 foot of (NEW) netting. (LAYING FLAT (RELAXED) AS IN PICTURE NET WILL BE (10 X 25 FOOT.) 2 INCH STRETCH MESH! THAT'S ONE INCH HOLES OF COMMERCIAL FISH NETTING. A golf ball will not go through it. THIS NET WILL STOP YOUR GOLF BALL OR Base Ball! NUMBER 7 TWINE NYLON. TO GET 10 X 25 when done hanging YOU MUST FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! NET IS NOT CUT WRONG! IF YOU PULL THIS NET TIG... |
 | SKLZ Hit-A-Way Portable Training System $89.99 Adjustable height cords allows you to train for different pitch types. The Hit-A-Way is the bestselling baseball trainer ever made, and it's now available in this all-in-one mobile configuration. A sturdy pole and twist-back design maximize a player's power, swing speed, and mechanics through repetition training, allowing up to 500 swings per hour without ever having to chase a ball. This hig... |
Saturday, May 7th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 at 1:12 pm

The type of batting cage netting material is an essential factor when choosing a batting cage for either training use or for personal use. Although there are other batting cages that are made out of a chain-link fence, many softball players actually prefer to use a net because of its lightweight durability and its excellent abrasion resistance factor.
Choosing the netting of a batting cage depends on durability and strength. Tensile strength is the term used to measure net strength. It is the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks. There are primarily two materials of batting cages that have durable tensile strengths and abrasion resistance, ideal for batting practice. These are nylon and polyethelene.
Laboratory tests show that out of the two materials, nylon has a stronger tensile strength than polyethelene. It even has the ability to stretch which increases its life. However, the material can lose its strength in the sun and it retains moisture adding weight to the cage frame. It is also much more expensive than other materials.
Polyethelene on the other hand, provides the best value for its price. Poly nets are actually melted plastic that are extruded into strands which are then twisted, braided or knotted to use as netting. There are chemicals added and embedded in every strand of the material while it is still on liquid form to provide UV protection. Unlike nylon, polyethelene does not absorb water or add unwanted weight to the cage frame.
That having been said, a nylon batting cage netting is preferred for residential use, while a polyethelene net is best for commercial and training use because of its durability and higher abrasion resistance which can work extremely well for batting practices.
 | SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer $17.94 The SKLZ® Zip-N-Hit® Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. It's an effective training device for high school and collegiate players that lets them have fun while developing confidence and power.... |
 | 2 in 1 GOLF PRACTICE NET HITTING CAGE + DRIVING MAT TRAINING AID $64.95 This is a fantastic new golf practice net cage for any golfer to practice outdoors in the comfort of their own home! Lower your golf scores and Save Your Dollars on the trips to the golf driving range! Use your golf clubs for hitting as many balls as you like in your own backyard with this new golf net training equipment.Golf Practice Net Features: Easy set up ready for hitting practice in min... |
 | Easton 7-Foot Pop-Up Catch Net $99.99 The Easton® 7-ft Pop Up catch net let's you practice hitting almost anywhere with a portable design that easily folds down to fit in a 37-in circular carrying bag. it's constructed with durable steel flatwire and heavy-duty netting to absorb the impact of the ball. Includes ground stakes.... |
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | #36 Twisted Knotted Nylon Batting Cage (select custom size)
The #36 gauge thread is roughly 2.5mm in diameter and is the most commonly used net for baseball and softball. All nets are UV and weather treated and have a tar finish for extra protection and durability. The #36 nylon net has a break strength of 365lbs and will withstand the abuse of baseballs. This net is most typically used for high school and college ball players. These nets will tend to l... |
 | Jugs Instant Screen $127.87 The Jugs instant screen is a travel-friendly practice screen which can be used effectively as a hitting screen for short toss, soft toss, and tee drills. The Instant Screen's oversized eight-by-seven-foot size is ideal for short toss, soft toss, and tee drills. Constructed of sturdy lightweight spring steel, the Instant Screen measures eight-by-seven-feet (W x H) yet folds up easily into a 30-inch... |
 | Callaway Quad Net, 8 Feet $219.99 Practice your swing off the course with the Quad Net from Callaway Golf. This large and ultra-strong net measures 8-feet square for a larger hitting area. Built with super strong mesh and equipped with an ultra quiet hanging target in the center, the net feeds the balls back to the front for easy retrieval. Coming complete with a nylon carry bag, the portable net offers fast setup and take down--s... |
Saturday, March 5th, 2011 at 7:43 pm

Essentially, batting cages prevent softballs from flying off during batting practice. batting cage nets are usually preferred over chain-link fences due to their light weight, portability and affordability. That said, not all nets manufactured specially for batting cages are equal. In order to gauge their performance, there are other criteria that need to be considered.
- Tensile Strength
Tensile strength refers to the force required to pull something such as a wire, a rope or a beam, apart. Contrary to popular belief, more tensile strength does not necessarily result in longer lasting netting. Although the two are often directly related, having adequate tensile strength without going overboard is a good way to stay within budget. Approximately 125 lbs of tensile strength will usually suffice, though it can reach well over 300 lbs. - Material
Netting materials commonly used for batting cages are either nylon or polyethylene. Though nylon may have greater tensile strength than polyethylene nets, what's more relevant is how these materials are protected from UV damage. Nylon is usually best for indoor use as it has greater abrasion resistance but UV protection is merely coated on. Poly is great for outdoor use since it is usually treated for UV protection by chemical bond before processing, making it less susceptible to sun damage. - Abrasion Resistance
This has to do with a material's ability to withstand rubbing and scraping. Batting cage nets usually take a lot of abuse from softballs that would cause other nets to deteriorate quickly. The more resistant the net is from abrasion, the longer it will last. - Knotted vs. Knotless
Theoretically, knotless nets are superior to knotted nets because there is no loss of strength at the joints. However, with the first criterion in mind, netting with a strong enough tensile strength will do.
Baseball cage netting can be expected to last anywhere from two to five years depending on maintenance and the decisions made when buying.
 | Jugs 381 Lb Breaking-Strength Nylon Twine
This Dark Green Jugs net is 12'H x 14'W x 70'L is generally used by backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges, professional teams and commercial batting ranges.... |
 | SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro Baseball Trainer $17.94 The SKLZ® Zip-N-Hit® Pro acts like a portable batting cage, allowing batters to improve their swing almost anywhere. It's an effective training device for high school and collegiate players that lets them have fun while developing confidence and power.... |
 | 2 in 1 GOLF PRACTICE NET HITTING CAGE + DRIVING MAT TRAINING AID $64.95 This is a fantastic new golf practice net cage for any golfer to practice outdoors in the comfort of their own home! Lower your golf scores and Save Your Dollars on the trips to the golf driving range! Use your golf clubs for hitting as many balls as you like in your own backyard with this new golf net training equipment.Golf Practice Net Features: Easy set up ready for hitting practice in min... |
 | Easton 7-Foot Pop-Up Catch Net $99.99 The Easton® 7-ft Pop Up catch net let's you practice hitting almost anywhere with a portable design that easily folds down to fit in a 37-in circular carrying bag. it's constructed with durable steel flatwire and heavy-duty netting to absorb the impact of the ball. Includes ground stakes.... |
 | #36 Twisted Knotted Nylon Batting Cage (select custom size)
The #36 gauge thread is roughly 2.5mm in diameter and is the most commonly used net for baseball and softball. All nets are UV and weather treated and have a tar finish for extra protection and durability. The #36 nylon net has a break strength of 365lbs and will withstand the abuse of baseballs. This net is most typically used for high school and college ball players. These nets will tend to l... |
 | Callaway Quad Net, 8 Feet $219.99 Callaway Quad Nets...Great For Practice! Callaway Quad Hitting Nets feature: 6' or 8' quad net with super strong mesh netting Easy ball collection - balls feed to front of net Ultra quiet hanging target Easy set up and take down Comes with nylon carry bag Callaway Golf...Train Like You Mean It!... |