close

My Account - Register / Sign In

Lost your password? Click Here
Having Trouble logging in? Click Here then close and reopen your browser to clear cookies set by Practice Sports(item will be removed from your cart and need to be re-added)

*Customer Information

*Billing Address

Shipping Information

*Account Information

The 5 Best Outdoor Batting Cage Frame Kits

All you need is a quality outdoor batting cage frame to shake off the winter dust and get back into baseball shape again! Now … where to begin?

Should you go with an In-Ground, Above-Ground / Free-Standing, or Trapezoid Style? Aluminum, PVC, Steel, Galvanized, or Powder-coated?

Should you anchor it down, or let it hang loose? Pour a concrete slab or not?

Find answers to all of life’s greatest outdoor batting cage frame questions below. Or click the links below to begin reviewing our easy to install DIY batting cage kits.

What accessories do you need? What about hanging the net? Should you remove the net each season?

There are hundreds of questions that probably come to mind, and dozens of different styles of outdoor batting cages online, which could leave your head spinning like a nasty slider from Randy Johnson.

We can help. Practice Sports / Battingnets.com have been in the batting cage business since 2001. We have sold hundreds of batting cages worldwide. We’ve played in, reviewed and installed every style on the market.

Below is a review of the 5 most popular outdoor batting cage frames on the market.

But first, here are:

TIPS to follow when shopping for an outdoor batting cage frame

  1. PVC Pipe is a BAD idea. While it may seem sensible & cheap, when you get 10-12 ft in the air, the PVC is not strong enough & will bend / break. Not to mention the potential for cracking from the elements. Bigger is better, most of the time. When it comes to pole diameter, the larger OD (outside diameter) means more rigidity and longer lasting. However, the bigger you go, the heavier it gets – and more difficult installation becomes.
  2. Concrete is your friend. Ground footers may seem like a chore, but they are integral to ensuring your batting cage is structurally sound. If you attempt to avoid concreting footers, you will end up with dis-lodged poles as the ground swells from ground moisture and / or freezing & thawing. Consult your local farmer’s almanac to identify your area’s “frost line” to determine how deep the concrete should be.
  3. Removing your net = longer life-span. The more often you remove your net in advance of bad weather, the longer you will have a net. Even extreme winds can cause extreme damage to netting. Remember, netting is just a fiber and will eventually disintegrate when exposed to bad weather. Don’t be mis-lead by claims of “water / ice proof” – this may be true, but only temporarily. Netting is not >= steel.
  4. Cheap batting cages are cheap for a reason. There are dozens of ways to skin a customer in the batting cage world. We have seen more corners cut than a cornfield of crop-circles. Batting cages can vary greatly in pole diameter, wall thickness (schedule or gauge), coating, hardware kits, netting material, and so on. The most important specs to look out for are outside diameter, gauge / schedule, and finish. Just remember, the higher the OD the better, the lower the gauge the better, the higher the Schedule the better, and hot-dipped galvanized is > than cold sprayed galvanized > plain metal. Powder-coated can be superior to all, if applied correctly.

Now onto the

 

Review of the 5 most popular outdoorbatting cage frames on the market!

(Ranked in order of Econo to Pro)

Above-Ground Outdoor Batting Cage Frames

This style does not require concrete footers, which can be an advantage for portability. However, this model is not typically recommended for long-term use in high-wind areas. It is more of a temporary / short-term solution for the casual player.

1) Trapezoid Model

The most economical cage on the market, this style requires a trapezoid shape to help maintain the structure of the cage due to the smaller 7/8″ pole size. If this cage was installed in rectangle / box form it would bend the poles. It requires ground anchors to prevent wind damage. A decent batting cage for backyards and temporary exhibits, requiring relatively quick & easy set-up / take-down time.

Trapezoid Batting Cage

Pros:

  • Econo Price
  • Light-weight
  • No concrete or ground holes

Cons:

  • Light-duty
  • Smaller playable space than rectangle cages

2) Bolt-Down Model

This model requires a concrete pad for anchoring the poles into. The base of the poles have flange “feet”, which allow lag bolts to be anchored through. This prevents the need for digging concrete footers, but once again this model does not do well in windy areas.

Bolt-Down Batting Cage

Pros

  • No concrete or ground holes

Cons

  • Not intended for extremely windy areas

In-Ground Outdoor Batting Cage Frames

This style requires concrete ground footers, which creates extra stability for the poles. Many of these models include ground sleeves, allowing for the poles to be removed in the winter season as needed. In-ground kits are recommended for serious players, located in windy areas.

3) Varsity Model

A rib-style frame kit, this is a heavier-duty model than the YardCage, and very popular at high-schools.

Each rib section is composed of 2 uprights and a cross-bar. This configuration creates an upside down U shape which is concreted into the ground.

These kits are available in 1-7/8″ or 2-3/8″ diameter poles. For example, in a windier the area, the larger the poles that should be used.

This kit also includes all attachment hardware. It includes 3 cable lines running from end to end, which offers more attachment points than most batting cages on the market. This results in less netting sag, and more playable space.

Varsity Batting Cage Kit

Pros

  • Fairly heavy-duty
  • Can be removed from ground sleeves in winter
  • 3 Cable attachments create less netting sag
  • Complete hardware kit
  • Galvanized steel / all-weather

Cons:

  • Potential ricochet points compared to Collegiate or Pro models
  • More concrete footers required compared to Collegiate or Pro models

4) Collegiate Model

This outdoor batting cage frame has less overall poles. As a result there are fewer ground holes & potential ricochet points.

It is a heavy-duty kit, so we recommend it  for upper-level teams or players. The poles are very stout at 3.5″ OD schedule 40, available in a galvanized steel finish or powder-coated black, green, or brown.

Collegiate Batting Cage Kit

Pros

  • Heavy-duty
  • 3 Cable attachments create less netting sag
  • Complete hardware kit with bridge support system to reduce sag
  • Galvanized steel / all-weather
  • Optional powder-coating – black, green, or brown
  • Less upright poles
  • Fewer ground holes / concrete required
  • Ricochet points greatly reduced
  • Includes optional bottom anchor kit to prevent base of net from blowing in wind – increasing overall playable cage size / shape

Cons

  • Ground sleeves not included standard – not allowing removal in off-season without ground sleeves
  • Heavier poles make installation / moving poles more cumbersome without machinery

5) Pro Model

The ultimate outdoor batting cage frame on the market, this cage is designed for serious players and organizations. For example, all ricochet points are eliminated, and the minimal steel poles create a very clean & professional appearance.

Pro Model Batting Cage Kit

Pros

  • VERY Heavy-duty
  • 3 Cable attachments create less netting sag
  • Complete hardware kit with bridge support system to reduce sag
  • Galvanized steel / all-weather
  • Optional powder-coating – black, green, or brown
  • Less upright poles than Varsity or Yardcage
  • Fewer ground holes / concrete required
  • Ricochet points ELIMINATED
  • Includes optional bottom anchor kit to prevent base of net from blowing in wind – increasing overall playable cage size / shape

Cons

  • Ground sleeves not included standard – not allowing removal in off-season without ground sleeves
  • Heavier poles make installation / moving poles more cumbersome without machinery
  • Advanced installation for experienced personnel only

An outdoor batting cage is essential for a productive practice. Even more important is selecting the correct model for your needs. We hope this review has been helpful in narrowing down the best batting cage for your application. Don’t hesitate to drop us a line with any other questions, or for a custom sized quote.

Thanks for reading about our 5 Best Outdoor Batting Cage Frames. Now get out there & practice!

Pro Cage
2 comments
  1. Tom Polowitz
    Tom Polowitz
    May 3, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    How much for a 50’x14’ wide x12’ high cage . Do u supply everything? We are in NJ. Or do we buy the poles at Home Depot?

    Reply
    • jake
      jake
      May 4, 2022 at 11:52 am

      Hi Tom,

      I just sent you an email. We do supply all of the materials for the outdoor batting cage.

      Reply
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *