Top Tips for Designing Your Home Batting Cage

Batting Cage Location

Whether your setting up a batting cage for team or personal use, before you start, you want to find a space for it. You want to find an area that is relatively flat, especially where you set the pitching machine and where the batter’s box will go.

Though, if you cannot find a flat enough surface for your batting cage, you can always level out the ground. It may take some work, and you may have to get creative about your use of space, but it will be worth it.

Also, consider that once you set up your batting cage, you will want to use sandbags or stakes to hold down the net. So, the space you choose should be big enough to allow you to not only secure the bottom of the bet but for you to get to those points with relative ease.

Batting Cage Diameters

After you find a spot large enough for your batting cage, you will want to dig 36” holes to mark where you will put your four main posts. Depending on the type of soil you have, you can do this with a post hole digger or an auger.

Before you start digging holes for the posts, you will want to determine the type of material that is best for your batting cage. This will largely depend on where you live and if you want to be able to take your batting cage down during the winter months.

Your options include:

• Galvanized steel posts

• 4×4 wood posts

• PVC pipe-schedule 40

• 3″ square tubing 14 gauge

Follow these steps to set up your posts:

1. Mark the 4 corners for your main posts

2. Dig 4 36” inch holes (you may want 6 for extra support)

3. Tamp Pea gravel into the hole

4. Set post in hole

5. Pour cement/ water mix into hole

6. Use support posts to level main pain

Also, consider that it will take a day or two for the cement to dry, so plan accordingly. That extra time will give you a chance to go out and buy extra materials.

Depending on the age, size, and skill level of the person or people using the batting cage, you will want to measure it out to be anywhere from 20’ to 80’ long. The typical width will be about 10’ to 12’ wide depending on the wingspan of the batter or average wingspan of the batters.

Along with planning for the width and length of your batting cage, you will want to consider its height. This is important because you not only want enough excess netting on the ground for sandbags, but you also want enough over the top to sag about a foot.

For most batting cages, 8’ is the standard height, but this again depends on the age, size, and skill level of the player or players using it and may be up to 15’. Consider the smaller the batting cage, the quicker the netting will wear out due to the force of the ball against the net.

Materials Needed for Your Batting Cage Poles

Batting Cage Frames

After you determine the location of your main posts, you will want to set up a frame. These come in arched, rectangle, square, or trapezoid shapes, and will depend on the usable space available to you.

Once you determine the shape of the frame for your batting cage, you will want to use materials that will ensure the steadiness of your batting cage. A well built frame, which will be sturdy enough to hold the netting, will consist of fiberglass, fiberglass with steel rods, and steel.

Batting Cage Netting

After you set up the frame, you can put your net (batting cage netting is nylon and polyethylene) over the cage. You will want to connect the net to each post using the ropes on the net. 

At the top of each post, there should be eye bolts through which you will thread wire rope or cables to help hold up the posts. The tension from the cables will help to secure your posts making it easier for you to cover your batting cage with a net.

Also, you will want to use carabiners to attach the net to the cable every 3’ to 5’. It will also be a good idea to use sand bags or tent stakes to keep the net in place, so as to ensure balls don’t ricochet off if it. 

After You Set Up Your Batting Cage

After you set up your batting cage, you will want to consider the type of flooring you want for your batting cage. You will have your choice of artificial turf, rubber flooring, sports court material, concrete, and dirt.

Of course, once you choose the type of surface you want for your batting cage, you will need to consider getting some other material.

• Rubber and Vinyl backstop

• Pitching machines

• Balls

• Helmets (at least two)

• Home Plate Batting Mats

The good news is not only do we have a wide selection of pre-made batting cages, but we also have a wide selection of those items necessary to make your child’s or team’s playing experience amazing.