Baseball Batting Cage Blog for Batting Cage Owners

Welcome to the BATTING CAGE USERS GUIDE. Our posts can help you build or buy your own backyard or team batting cages. Our post can can help you better utilize your batting cage and improve your batting practice. Our free baseball articles, tips and drills provide you with useful information to help your player or team improve their baseball batting skills. Make sure to bookmar or save this site to your favorites for future visits. Good luck to you and your team!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Home Batting Cage - 4 Crucial Reasons To Have One

Batting Cage Benefits and Advantages

Home batting cages are increasingly becoming more and more popular. If you have the room to put one up you will be surprised at how many kids come wanting to practice with your kids. This gives them the security of knowing that they won't cause any damage in the neighborhood caused by a flying ball.

Having your own home batting cage is essential to raising your batting to the next level, not to mention the convenience and fun you can have. A home cage will also encourage a better practice routine.

One reason to have a cage is that they are becoming less expensive. You can even make your own using PVC pipe and netting. They do not have to cost a fortune nor do they have to be huge in order for your kids to get the practice they need to become a good player.

Having a home batting cage will cut down on all those trips to the park. You will no longer have to use the cages there and wait for a time to get in. You can also practice however long you want to. This allows for players to practice trouble spots more frequently and for a longer period of time.

The third reason to get a cage is because you will no longer lose balls. Balls have a tendency to grow legs and crawl into and then places you can never find them. If you use a cage they will always stay in the cage. You won't have to shell out money in order to purchase new balls all the time.

The fourth reason to have a home batting cage is because they last forever with care. They need to be taken down during winter months but are easy to put up again in the spring. You can go many years with just one cage and only have to make minor repairs on netting. Most commercial cages come with a warranty as well. You can get many years of practice out of a bit of pipe and some durable netting.

Batting cages allow a novice player to develop those vital batting skills that are needed to beat the competition but for more advanced player having a home batting cage will take them to a whole new level of hitting skill. Batting cages also provide an ample safety factor for the onlooker as well as the participant.

James Quick

Hi every body, I'm just a regular guy who likes baseball and has a little to much time on his hands ...LOL Give Yourself an Unfair Advantage Over the Competition Get free information about Home Batting Cage including product videos and ratings or just visit http://www.homebattingcage.net for tools and tips on other great items

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Monday, July 8, 2013

Features Of Batting Cages And What To Look For When Purchasing

Features Of Batting Cages And What To Look For When Purchasing

By Guest Author Jacob Bennet

Batting cages are synonymous with softball and baseball practice. With spring arriving soon, many sports enthusiasts are looking for the best baseball equipment to enhance their skills, or the overall team's talents, from choosing the best pitching machines to finding the best softball for practice. However, many people overlook the science behind batting cages; the size of the netting and the frame material are only a few factors that must be evaluated for the safest pitching and hitting practice. These baseball nets prevent balls from striking observers and damaging property. Consumers should look at a number of key factors before purchasing a cage.

Players can practice in a variety of venues, from a true baseball field to an indoor facility. As a result, the batting cages must be sized accordingly. Outside use normally requires a cage that is shaped like a backstop, either permanently mounted into the ground or in a portable version. This protective backstop needs to be wide enough to catch any rogue balls that the batter and catcher miss during play.

Alternatively, indoor practice usually requires a completely enclosed batting cage, called a tunnel. As the name suggests, players are encapsulated within a mesh tunnel; the ball can be thrown and struck without any concern over striking other people or property in the area. These tunnels are normally made as portable constructions so that they can be easily broken down for transport.

Netting material is normally constructed of either nylon or polyethylene. Nylon is a traditional netting material that is extremely durable; but, it can become damaged from moisture or rain. As a solution, many coaches choose nylon for indoor use only to stretch their baseball equipment dollar. Outdoor batting cages are usually constructed of polyethylene. Specialized melted strands of plastic entwine to form a strong mesh; manufacturers will commonly treat the mesh with UV (ultraviolet) protection. The sun's rays can easily damage batting cages without the UV protection applied across the entire netting.

Many consumers do not realize that there is a stark difference between hanging the mesh along the frame in a diamond or square shape. Most baseball enthusiasts prefer that the mesh is hung in a square orientation; this strategic placement of the cage netting will ensure that observers can see through the mesh during games or practice. It also establishes strength over time. Diamond hung mesh will lose its shape from natural gravity over time, whereas the square shape will keep its form for a more appealing appearance and better functionality.

Frames on batting cages play a large part in strength as well. In general, most frames are constructed from steel or aluminum. Heavier steel frames are commonly for more permanent structures since they can be difficult to transport. In contrast, batting cages with aluminum can be built for portable netting needs.

Spacing the framing is another consideration; large gaps between frame sections will result in a sagging cage. Most experts suggest to space the framing out between 12 and 18 feet. However, staying closer to a 12 foot spacing is preferred for the best structural support. Consumers need to evaluate the best spacing for their particular application since more framing can add up to an expensive batting cage design.

Although not as aesthetically pleasing, knotted batting cages are the best choice for high impact sports. Each intersection of the mesh will have a small knot; this knot provides a strong barrier from a fast moving ball, compared to a knot-less design. The only main drawback to the knotted cage is the view. It will be more difficult to see through the knotted mesh compared to the knotless. Overall, most consumers will decide on functionality, rather than appearance.

Purchasing protective netting is a must in the sports world. Both coaches and players will feel more comfortable striking the ball without hurting anyone nearby. Batting cages keep the fun enclosed so that everyone can enjoy the ball game.

Jacob Bennet loves to coach his son's baseball teams and watch his team progress in their baseball skills. His reviews of various baseball pitching equipment including batting cages are found in multiple social publications and is eager to help both players and coaches make good sound decisions when it comes to outfitting themselves or team with the proper pitching machines, batting cages and other types of baseball equipment. You can find out more detailed information by watching our video on batting cages the that we carry at ProSlugger.com.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

What to Look For In Used Batting Cages

By Jacob Bennet

Many used batting cages and pitching machines for sale act as multifunctional pieces of sports training equipment for all skill levels. When put together as a tandem, the purported primary function of this equipment is to improve upon batting average: timing, technique, bat speed, etc., yet this one-two-three dimensional approach can often lead to being short-changed.

While fine-tuning offensive prowess is a great thing, many other aspects of the game are also involved, such as learning the finer points of pitching, catching, fielding and defensive baseball savvy in general. If purchasing a brand new cage, setup may not be in the cards. A number of used batting cages are available for the backyard, the basement, or for those who are involved with commercial sports training facility operations.

One of the bigger bonuses of acquiring a pre-owned cage comes in the form of tremendous savings. The heavy hitters such as Jugs, Atec and Heater build these cages based on trusted durability, meaning that many of these cages perform well beyond their extended warranties. While most pitching machine models outlast their warranties as well, occasional mechanical malfunctions have been known to occur.

When it comes to used batting cages, the first thing to keep in mind is the shelf-life of the baseball cage netting. Depending upon how much the cage has been used will determine the wear-and-tear of any given baseball net, but also the different types of weather exposure. Indoor nylon blend models will obviously be in better shape if used indoors, rather than the Poly cages that were designed for outdoor use for extended periods of time.

Fortunately, baseball cage netting in general is easily affordable and takes very little time and effort to replace. It's also good to know that a variety of used batting cages can be found online at reasonable rates, however knowing what to look for is one of the key elements to making a wise purchase.

The chances of getting a good deal increase when more information is presented on any given piece of pre-owned sports equipment. Some cages have only been used once while others have logged thousands of pitches being thrown or baseballs being batted. Either way, paying attention to the smaller details such as the twist count being frayed, or the connection knots starting to slip, is just as important as having a complete set of fittings and sleeves and checking for frame corrosion.

Just because a cage has been used only once doesn't necessarily mean that it hasn't been outside and exposed to a few winter seasons. With used batting cages, it's best to try and get some sort of guarantee, although many are sold in "as is" condition. Seeing the cage already constructed and being able to test it out is an ideal situation, which may ultimately be a deal-sealer.

Once finding a potentially suitable cage, the price may also become a deciding factor. Sometimes retailers will offer slight discounts on returned products, yet there's less wiggle room on the showroom floor. When dealing with private sellers, the price on used batting cages is subject to negotiation. The list price is what the private seller hopes to get, yet a well educated shopper will be able to point out certain flaws and use them to whittle the price down.

A package deal may also be presented, which may include a baseball pitching machine, an L-screen, or a backup supply of baseball cage netting. Taking advantage of such an offer still requires a little patience and good timing. While the sales end of sports equipment can often be a battle of attrition, it's all in the name of saving some money. Many used batting cages are now online and ready for inspection, however just make sure they are fully assembled before you make your final purchase.

Jacob Bennet is a father of 4 boys and loves to coach his son's baseball teams. His reviews of various team softball and baseball sports equipment including various types of batting cages, pitching machines and even likes to share his expertise on researching and purchasing used batting cages. He is eager to help both players and coaches make good sound decisions when searching for specific baseball equipment including baseball supplies and pitching machines, batting cages along with the best ways to create and experience an effective practice for your team.

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