Building a Backyard Batting Cage
Before you start planning to turn your backyard into Fenway Park, lets go over some main issues with batting cages. Batting cages, if not built correctly can become a major eye sore in your backyard. Have you ever seen the batting cage in someones backyard that looks like a bunch of trees threw up on it. The top of the cage is now a nest for a giant Pterodactyl and you kids are using it more as a fort than as a batting cage. To prevent this, you must make sure that you do your homework.
A batting cage must be built to not only withstand the blows of the ball from someones bat but to also withstand the elements of weather. These elements include, wind, rain, sunlight, snow, etc. Not only is it necessary to build the cage correctly but the materials used must be designed to withstand these elements as well.
Here are some questions to answer before planning your batting cage.
- Is the batting cage permanent are do you plan to be able to put it up and down for the season?
- What kind of slab will you be using, dirt, cement, rubber, turf or grass?
- Will you suspend the netting from cable or a metal piping frame?
- What size will the cage be, height, width and length?
- Will the batting cage be covered or exposed to the elements?
- How close is the batting cage to your house or your neighbors house?
- Will you build the cage yourself, are do you plan to have help?
- Will you purchase a batting cage kit or buy the parts separately?