Batting Netting, Tips  on Picking the right one for you

Batting Cages are wonderful pieces of equipment that allow players both young and seasoned to practice batting skills.   Batting cages are usually made of a frame of metal or piping with a net draped over top.  This Batting cage netting prevents the ball from escaping the cage.   Batting cages are particularly useful when there is not a great deal of room in which to practice.  The ball has no way of escaping and hitting a window or a vehicle.  Batting cages are made for backyard use and the cage netting is made of two different materials. 

The first material that batting cage netting is made of is Nylon.  This is also the most common material for backyard batting cages.  Strength of the netting is measured in a specific way.  They take one strand of the material and stretch it until it breaks.   This is called the tensile strength.  If you have #21 netting it breaks at about 220 pounds of resistance.   The higher the number the more tensile strength it has.  Therefore, the heavier netting or higher number netting is going to protect the ball much more effectively than the lighter weight or lower number netting.  It will also last longer. 

There are also Polyethylene nets made for batting cages.  Here they take plastic and melt it then form it into strands.  These strands are then braided or knotted into net.  Because plastic is used they can make it in most colors by using that color plastic.  Usually this type of netting is black and also has UV protection in liquid form added when making the strands.  The color will not fade and the netting virtually lasts for a very long time.  It does not absorb water and will not add extra weight to the cage nor will it get moldy.    If you live in an area where the weather changes, it would be best to get polyethylene netting for the batting cage.   It will hold up to the weather better.  

Nylon cage netting is less expensive than the polyethylene.   It is also easier to repair if damage is ever done to the netting.   It is also a softer material and easier to set up and work with.  The Polyethylene netting is very stiff.   However, the netting will never fade and it is much stronger than nylon netting. 

If you have a very limited area for a batting cage you can still have a function practice area.  Get a shorter cage to accommodate the area you have but use the polyethylene netting.  This will allow players to still hit hard and there will be no way the ball will escape because the netting is so strong.   If you have a great deal of room for your batting cage, go with the longer cage and cheaper nylon netting. 

Make sure to get a higher number of tensile strength if you are purchasing a nylon net.  You will get much more for you money.  Little league players can benefit from the light #21 weight but if you want the net to grow with them it is better to get medium #36 or higher.  It will cost you more but the netting will last much longer.   If you plan on having your batting cage netting for a long time remember that it does tend to wear around the poles that are holding it up.   Make sure to inspect them for any tears on a regular basis.  Nylon netting is easy to fix although it is possible to fix the polyethylene netting as well.

Also make sure to take the netting down during the winter.   Both nettings do not do well when the snow starts to fly. Heavy weight of snow will weigh the netting down and put pressure on it.  It is unlikely a player will be practicing during the snowy months any way so put it away and put it back up in the spring. Most high school teams and community softball, baseball league organizations won’t practice in the colder months. This will allow the netting to last much longer. 

Nylon netting and polyethylene netting are both great materials for a batting cage.  Take into consideration how long you want it to last, the strength you need for the players you have, and the look you wish the batting netting to have.  Nylon netting is cheaper but polyethylene wears better and last longer.  It is up to the budget you have and what you want out of it but, remember batting cage safety for all the players should be the number one concern. 

 

Short, How to Improve Your Hitting Video