Things to Consider When Choosing Batting Net Cages

The baseball bats may be an essential piece of gear for practicing baseball and softball, however, you cannot improve your skills and game without a proper baseball cage too. Also known as a batting cage, it’s a netted enclosure that helps players practice hitting to improve their batting skills.

Building such a cage can certainly help you improve your skills, but keep in mind that you won’t be able to achieve anything without choosing a good baseball cage net. The truth is that good and quality nets can make a huge difference because they’re specifically designed to maintain a safe environment, protect the players and keep the balls in place. 

Generally coming in a rectangular shape, these baseball hitting cage nets are crucial for batting practice, allowing you to focus on your swings without the need to chase balls. Thanks to their cage-like appearance, these nets also protect you and the other players from stray balls.

Things to Consider When Choosing Baseball Hitting Cage Nets

An important thing you should know about batting nets (if new to this) is that not all of them are the same, which explains the difference in prices as well. The higher the net quality, the higher the price and the main difference is in the material and durability when exposed to weather, wear and tear.

Material

The material plays a major role in how good and beneficial a net can be, which is why you should take into account the most popular materials available on the market.

Polyethylene

Poly nets certainly are the most affordable option available on the market, perfect for being used by beginners, softball players and children. It has been said that nets made from this material are a bit stiffer and more brittle, however, this doesn’t mean that they will tear after a few uses. The reason for their use by beginners and softball players is that they tend not to strike the net with extreme speed and force, as is the case with serious baseball players and professionals. So, if you are just stepping into this baseball world, a poly net would be just fine for your needs.

Nylon

As you can assume, nylon is much tougher than polyethylene and, consequently, more durable. According to manufacturers, this material has higher impact absorption and abrasion resistance than polyethylene, making it more durable and more expensive as well. While the polyethylene alternative is the better choice for beginners, nylon is the perfect choice for professional players. Nylon nets certainly are a worthy investment because they can last a very long time.

Twine Size

An important thing to know is that these nets can come in different thicknesses, and quite often net thickness is also known as twine size. Some of the most popular twine sizes are #24, #36, and #42, however, it isn’t strange seeing #30 and #45. Keep in mind that the higher the number, the better the net. 

That’s because the higher the size is, the thicker and more durable the net would be. Practice shows that professional players and those who practice baseball for a long time should choose a higher twine size, and recreational players and beginners can opt for the smaller twine size net. You should also know that nets can come in knotted and knotless designs, where the knotted one seems to be more resistant to unravelling after damage.

Durability

Another important thing to take into account when shopping for a net is its durability and your playing skills. For instance, if you are a player who uses the cage on a daily basis, you will need something sturdier and more durable, like the #42 twine size, because it’s thicker and more durable. 

Some manufacturers also offer custom-made baseball hitting cage nets available in #60 and even #96 twine size, extremely durable and able to absorb impact and resist tears for years to come. The latter is the perfect option for use in professional settings. If you are a recreational player and a beginner, then you will be just fine by choosing #21. For those times when your skills get better, you can either choose a #36 or go higher and invest in a more durable net instead of paying more for investing in a lower net number.

Weather Exposure

Given the fact that both of these materials are synthetic and man-made, this means that both of them can withstand rough weather exposure. They can both be exposed to rain, snow and sun, which is one of the biggest advantages over any other type of net.

The most interesting thing is that even though poly nets are more affordable, this material seems to be less affected by moisture. However, poly can certainly become more brittle in the cold, but if you just remove the net and store it inside during the colder months, you won’t have any problems using it for a longer period of time.