Common Baseball / Softball Questions What cage size fits my space?Most home setups use 20’–40’ length and 10’–12’ width. Leave ~3–5 ft of clearance around. Indoors, 9–10 ft ceiling works for tee/soft toss; more is better for full swings. Can I install a cage myself? What tools do I need?Yes—two people and basic tools (socket set, ladder, mallet/hammer). Ground anchors are included/available; plan on a few hours depending on length. Which net twine / gauge should I choose?#42 is great for families and light team use. #60 (or heavier) for daily/high-velocity use and longer outdoor durability. All Poly nets we consider to be backyard/hobby. We consider 21 gauge Little League, 36 gauge High School, 42 gauge University and 60 gauge Commercial. So I don’t mind for a 21 gauge Poly net to designate it Backyard/Hobby, High School. And a 36 Poly to be Backyard/Hobby, High School. Which pitching machine is right for my player’s age?Match speed range and ball type: youth need lower RPM ranges; high school needs higher speeds and spin control. Many machines support baseball & softball with the right wheels/feeds. Can I use real baseballs/softballs in a machine?Often yes, but dimple balls reduce wear on wheels and feed more consistently. Check the product spec for compatibility. How many lanes fit my building?A common lane is 70’ x 12–14’. Example: 60’x70’ room = 4–5 lanes depending on columns/egress. We can sketch layouts and lane counts for your dimensions. What is the best net material for outdoor use?#36 Nylon is by far our most popular material, but be sure to add latex if you’re using nylon outdoors. Poly is a plastic material, so is waterproof without any further treatment. However, the poly tends to break down much quicker than the nylon. We consider poly to be more of a hobby material. Shop Netting Can you build a custom net to any size?We sure can. Check out our NetCalculator, where you can enter your dimensions and receive an instant quote on a variety of materials. How do I know what type of balls to use with my pitching machine?Always use balls suggested by the manufacturer or ask for their referral on the best ball to use with their machines. The manufacturer calibrates the machine to pitch a specific density ball at maximum speed and performance, so it’s crucial to follow their advice. Here are the recommendations for the machines we carry: Machine Ball Type Lite Flite Pitching Machine Lite-Flite baseballs Lite-Flite softballs JUGS Bulldog poly baseballs JUGS Bulldog softballs Soft Toss Machine 11" or 12" softballs Baseballs JUGS LeatherLast Softballs JUGS Pearl JUGS Sting-Free balls JUGS Lite-Flite balls JUGS Softie balls JUGS Bulldog polyballs MVP Combo Pitching Machine Baseballs Softballs Sting-Free balls—dimpled and seam JUGS Lite-Flite and softie balls JUGS Pearl and LeatherLast JUGS BULLDOG poly balls Combo Pitching Machine 11″ or 12″ softballs Baseballs Sting-Free baseballs—dimpled and seam Sting-Free softballs—dimpled and seam Tennis balls Lite-Flite baseballs and softballs SOFTIE softballs and baseballs JUGS Pearl LeatherLast Softballs JUGS Bulldog baseballs and softballs Small Ball Pitching Machine JUGS polyurethane-foam 5-in./0.5-oz. Small-Balls BP1 Combo Pitching Machine 11″ or 12″ softballs Baseballs Sting-Free baseballs—dimpled and seam Sting-Free softballs—dimpled and seam Tennis balls Lite-Flite baseballs and softballs Softie softballs and baseballs Jugs Pearl LeatherLast Softballs Jugs Bulldog baseballs and softballs BP1 Baseball Pitching Machine Baseballs JUGS Sting-Free baseballs—dimpled and seam JUGS Lite-Flite and SOFTIE baseballs JUGS Pearl JUGS Bulldog baseballs BP1 Softball Pitching Machine 11″ or 12″ softballs, LeatherLast softballs Sting-Free softballs Lite-Flite softballs Softie softballs Bulldog polyballs BP2 Baseball Pitching Machine Baseballs JUGS Pearl JUGS Sting-Free baseballs—dimpled and seam JUGS Lite-Flite SOFTIE baseballs JUGS Bulldog baseballs BP3 Baseball Pitching Machine with Changeup Feature Baseballs JUGS Pearl JUGS Sting-Free baseballs—dimpled and seam JUGS Lite-Flite SOFTIE baseballs JUGS Bulldog baseballs Iron Mike Pitching Machines Dimpled balls are more consistent and will last longer. All machines throw regular leather balls as long as they are equipped with a Positive Feed Unit or Ball Feed Enhancer. Bata Pitching Machines (Baseball or Softball option) Ballistic leather Dimpled baseballs Softballs Hack Attack Pitching Machines Baden Kevlar Ballistic Seamed Baseballs/Softballs Baden Dimpled Baseballs/Softballs Another key point – NEVER use regulation balls as they wear down not only the machines but also the balls. When a machine states it throws real balls, they mean it feels, sounds, and reacts like a real game ball. Read more about pitching machine balls. Are your nets "hung-square" or "diamond"?Most all of our Baseball Batting Cage Nets/Tunnels & Barrier Nets are “hung-square” — this means the shape of the mesh, when looking directly at the net, is shaped like a square. Many people prefer square-hung nets because they look “cleaner” and more professional, and offer a better line of sight into the tunnel. Most of our Golf Netting is “hung-diamond” – this is mainly because golf impact netting is usually used at a close distance, and we’ve found that diamond-hung nets tent to flex with the impact of the ball a little better than square, limiting the “bounce-back” effect, which is critical is small areas, especially when a golf balls are involved, which have high “spring effects” as it is. Are your "border ropes" knotted around the outside of your nets, or just threaded through without being tied?This is a an important feature, and could cause problems if not fabricated properly. ALL of our “standard Nylon & Poly” nets (excluding DuPont netting), whether they are baseball barrier nets, tunnels, or golf nets etc. include KNOTTED border ropes around the outside perimeter. This means the thick 3/8″ border rope, which is used as an attachment point, is knotted with twine, instead of simply “woven” in and out of the mesh. If the rope is not TIED, it will eventually slide like a curtain, and you will have a big mess of netting to contend with. When comparing nets, be sure to specifically ask about this feature, and also ask how often the knots are tied — some are technically “knotted”, but only tied very 6′-10′, which can still cause bad draping problems — ours are tied every 6″-12″ at the MOST, and often every mesh (roughly 2″), when deemed appropriate. What features come "standard" with your batting cage tunnels?The standard features included with all of our “deluxe stock sized” Batting Cage Nets are: Tied/Knotted 3/8″ Border Rope Middle Rib-Line on top (12′ or wider) Steel Snaps in corners Lead-Core Bottom Rope (some models) Door-Way Baffle/Impact-Net Custom Batting Cage Nets are constructed “a la carte”, so you can choose exactly which items you would like to have included. The ‘standard features’ included with all of our ‘Barrier Nets’ are: Tied/Knotted 3/8″ Border Rope around outside (Woven Border Rope on DuPont nets) Steel Snaps in corners What are the basic “specs” for your nets? Most of our baseball nets are all “hung-square” – read a comparison of Square vs Diamond. Standard sizes are 1-7/8″ diameter mesh for baseball, or 7/8″ diameter for golf netting. Knotted construction – far superior to knotless for direct impact sports usage. Ultra-Violet resistant & Dyed Black for maximum sun resistance. Black is the best color for reflecting sunlight (darker colors are the most effective – white is the worst). Indoor lighting can also create UV rays – so it’s still important to use a UV-treated netting even when using inside. When a white net is exposed to UV-light, it will eventually turn an ugly gray color and deteriorate much quicker. Tools to help you select a netOur staff has gone to great lengths to develop several online tools to make it easy for you to assess which netting is best for your situation. Please find these below: Net Examiner: Pics, est life-spans etc. Net Calculator: Instant pricing – even now allows you to Buy It Now! Net Analysis: Detailed break-down on netting facts & myths Cage Builder: Quick questionnaire to select the best netting for your application
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