Batting Cage Frame Kit – Buyer’s Guide By Cari | Published on May 3, 2022February 16, 2024 Practice like a pro in your own backyard with a batting cage frame kit! Learn how to choose the best size frames and nets to install a batting cage for personal or team practice. Especially ideal for parks, schools, or the backyard, batting cage frame kits have many options to fit your needs. With so many options available, consult this guide before buying to find out what products you’ll need and how to increase the lifespan of your batting cage. Generally, nets are sold separately as well as other add-ons that offer extra stability for larger cages and in high wind areas. Continue reading to learn about frames, netting, and add-ons to help you choose the best batting cage frame kit for your budget, space, and players. Frame Obviously the first step is deciding on the batting cage frame kit that fits your needs. Frame kits come in a variety of sizes; 35 to 70 feet in length with widths and heights each measuring up to 16 feet. If space allows, go with the larger size for maximum play efficiency and cage durability. Custom sizes are often available at extra cost, which saves you time and work when looking for that perfect fit. So how do you pick the right size batting cage? Length Longer batting cages allow more realistic game play. While the optimal length for a batting cage is 70 feet, not everyone has enough room in their backyard for a regulation-sized cage. There are advantages to smaller cages as well, such as saving space, money, and improving reaction time due to a shorter pitch. If you have the space and budget, longer cages are ideal to allow enough space for the hitter to swing. Additionally, more length allows room on the pitcher’s end for storing equipment such as machines, portable mounds, and ball carts. Width The standard width is 12 to 14 feet wide. Younger players tend to have sufficient room at 12 feet, while adults and bigger players (especially those with a greater wingspan) perform comfortably at 14 feet width. In order to accommodate all ages and sizes, choose a greater width. Height Generally 12 feet high allows players to move comfortably within the cage. When it comes to height, 8 to 12 inches of netting will sag on the ground to properly contain balls, which turns the 12 feet into approximately 11 feet of playable cage height. Again, if space or budget is an issue, batting cages of at least 8 feet tall will in most situations. With shorter cages, ball flight tracking is reduced along with the life-span of the net due to the proximity between the bat and netting. Netting Choosing the proper netting to go with your batting cage frame kit is important as it will contribute to the durability and lifespan of your cage. When it comes to nets, there are two things to consider: material and size. Net Material There are two types of netting materials used for baseball and softball: Nylon and Poly. Poly, which is less durable than nylon, is considered more of a backyard, hobby material. However, because poly is a plastic material, it is suitable for outside use without additional treatment. Sizing Once you decide on the type of material that suits your needs, it’s time to pick the size. Along with the size guides we discussed above, gauge also needs to be considered. The “#” and number (such as 36) refers to the diameter of the twine of the batting cage net. With batting cage netting, the higher the number, the thicker the diameter. Thicker diameters are more durable which leads to a longer lifespan of your netting. The standard net sizes for a batting cage frame kit are as follows: #36 Poly 70’L x 14’W x 12’H #36 Nylon 70’L x 14’W x 12’H #60 Nylon 70’L x 16’W x 16’H View more standard net sizes or get a custom sized net quote. Batting Cage Frame Kit Add-Ons Lastly, when choosing a batting cage frame kit and components, there are a few options available to increase your cage’s lifespan. The Bottom Anchor Kit helps keep the net in place, especially in windy areas. Similarly the Kicker Stabilization System also helps in high wind areas, and is usually recommended for nets over 12 feet high or heavy nets. As always, we are just a click away if you have any questions or need a custom quote.
