10 Reasons You NEED a Backyard Batting Cage

I’ll cut to the chase: We buy a lot of crap for our baseball and softball players. The hottest new bat. The glove for every position. Sliding mitts. Batting gloves.. The list goes on and on. And some of that gear might translate to better performance on the field, but it’s not a guarantee. What if there was an investment we could make that our players wouldn’t outgrow and that is guaranteed to help them perform better?

There is. And it’s a backyard batting cage. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you need one, I’ll tell you right now, you do. But if you need convincing, here are the top 10 reasons you need a backyard batting cage. Let’s dig in.

10 Reasons You Need a Batting Cage in Your Backyard

1. Convenience

The main reason, and the foundation on which every other reason on the list is built, for a backyard batting cage is the convenience. Having a cage in your backyard makes it easy to go out and take hacks any time you want without loading the equipment and balls into the car or truck and heading to the local fields. 

And, since the cage keeps the balls contained, you can practice in your neighborhood and collect them quickly when you’re done. You don’t have to worry about losing balls or hitting the neighbors’ houses. 

2. Bonding

Once you have a batting cage in your backyard, you and your player, or your player and their best friends, are bound to spend a lot of time there. This is a great opportunity to talk about the game, school, life, relationships, or any number of other things. While they’re focused on hitting, they’re more likely to open up and share with you, strengthening the bond.

3. Technique Development

Ever ask a kid to tweak their swing a bit, only to have them succeed for a few swings and then revert to their old technique? That’s because it takes thousands of swings to nail down a new movement or technique, just like breaking in a glove before it’s ready for second base. They can’t just make the adjustment in five swings—It takes time.

Backyard batting cages are the perfect place for developing technique. Players can get a lot of reps in very little time. If they have the stamina, they can hit hundreds of balls an hour, allowing them to focus on their technique and adjust it before game day.

4. Defensive and Offensive Practice

When we think of batting cages, we always think of offensive work. But cages are also the perfect place for defensive practice as well. The controlled environment helps the player feel more comfortable, concentrates the area in which they can work, and allows them to really hone their footwork, glove work, and even throws to a degree.

For instance, think of a catcher. Park them at one side of the cage and front toss them some baseballs or softballs. Allow them to practice popping up, getting set, and throwing to the back of the cage as if they were throwing to second base. If the throws are wild, the cage will keep them contained. 

5. Off-Season Work

Whether you believe in specialization or time to put down the bat, the truth is that most of the best players are practicing in the off-season. A batting cage in the backyard allows baseball and softball players to get extra reps in even after the season has ended and the local fields have put their nets away. Extending the season, or starting the season early, can help players feel better prepared, and they can extend it right in their own yards.

6. Stress Relief

It doesn’t matter how much you prepare, baseball and softball are games of failure, and some days, you’ll fail big. Why not have a safe place in the backyard where your softball or baseball player can blow off steam, mashing balls off the tee and reducing stress?

And it’s not just a place to blow off game-related failure. Batting cages are great for reducing academic stress, taking breaks from studying, or even when those college acceptance or denial letters start pouring in.

7. Coaching Sessions

Tired of taking your child to a facility across the county to get some extra reps in with their personal coach? Most coaches will do house calls too, especially if you have a backyard hitting cage to work in. They can bring their drills and lessons to your yard rather than you burning up the highway.

And here’s the thing about private lessons: Most coaches are willing to do them because they get the entire fee. They don’t have to split their fee with the facility or field, so it’s a win-win for you and the coach.

8. Hit Real Baseballs or Softballs

This is a major benefit and one I feel really translates to the game (and might even save you some money). When you have a hitting cage in your backyard, your player can hit real baseballs and softballs rather than dimple balls like those arcade or fun center batting cages. This gives them a better feel for how well they hit the ball, allows for a better flight path on the pitch, and saves money over buying tokens from a teenager behind the counter who’s never picked up a bat in their life.

But here’s another factor to consider with backyard batting cages: Dimple balls and other fake balls damage composite bats—that’s why manufacturers state you shouldn’t hit them. They compress a lot, preventing the transfer of energy through the trampoline effect, forcing the bat to absorb the force for longer, and eventually deadening the bat.

Weighted balls aren’t good either!

9. Customization and Add-ons

As your backyard batting tunnel becomes a more important part of your player’s training regimen, you can customize it and add on to the features to make it even more useful. Adding hitting trackers like Hit Trax or Swingman allows players to analyze their swing speed, launch angle, and other factors, helping them become more efficient with each adjustment.

Also, pitchers can add portable mounds, providing a place to throw bullpens when they’re not able to find a catcher. Lights around the outside of the cage give players a spot to practice when the sun goes down as well. Add some speakers and your backyard cage is essentially a party spot.

10. Memories

Ask any baseball or softball player if they remember the fields or facilities where they put in the most work, and they’ll all tell you yes. Why not make one of those facilities your own backyard? They’ll remember the nights you worked together after work, the pep talks, the lessons, the times with their friends, the wins, the failures, and more.

What Are Your Batting Cage Type Options?

Those are just a few of the best reasons to have a batting cage in your backyard. And just like there are different types of gloves and other equipment in diamond sports, there are a few options to choose from:

• Suspension batting cages: Fully-suspended batting cages are the cream of the crop. These cages have four thick metal poles, two at either end, and steel braided line stretched between them. The batting cage net hangs from the braided line, and since there aren’t any poles or “ribs” along the way, the ball never ricochets off of anything. It flies true, hits the net, and collects on the ground. These are the pro-grade cages, so they can be a little expensive ($5,000 to $15,000)
• In-ground, shoe-box batting cages: These cages are made up of square ribs spaced every 12 to 16 feet. They require concrete footings and can pose a ricochet threat if the net is too close to the poles, but they’re generally affordable and fairly durable.
• Portable batting cages: Portable batting cages don’t require concrete footings and can typically be set up in an hour. Like shoe-box cages, they have ribs spaced over the length of the cage, but due to their trapezoid shape, they’re less likely to cause ricochets from the sides of the cage, making these freestanding batting cages a great option for a backyard.

Which type of batting cage to choose from depends on the yard and budget. For well-manicured yards and a healthy budget, nothing beats the look and usefulness of a suspension cage, and when the cage isn’t in use, the net can usually be retracted to one side or the other. For smaller backyards or folks who’d rather not designate a space to a permanent batting cage, the trapezoid batting cage is by far the best option, as they’re portable and can easily be taken down after the season.

So, Do You Need a Backyard Batting Cage?

Yes! You do! Your player will get more out of the investment you put into a backyard cage than any gear you buy them. The amount of time they spend back there honing their skills will translate to more hits at the plate and more outs in the field. Give your player the backyard facility of their dreams by installing a cage in your yard today. 

Backyard Batting Cage FAQs

How much does it cost to build a backyard batting cage?

Backyard batting cages can cost anywhere from $500 to $20,000, depending on the size, materials, and installation. Nets alone usually run at least $250 for a shorter cage. 

Can I build a batting cage in my backyard?

In most cases, you can certainly build a batting cage in your backyard. The yard must be reasonably flat, and you might need a permit from the local jurisdiction, but even small yards can benefit from a short cage. 

Can you make money owning a batting cage?

Yes, you can. There are services like CageList.com that allow homeowners to rent their batting cages out to local players or teams. In many cases, it’s more affordable for these teams to rent a cage for two hours than renting a facility. 

What do you put on the ground of a batting cage?

Ideally, a batting cage will be built on a bed of crushed stone and then compacted, with a layer of sports turf installed on top. But, there are plenty of cages built directly on grass or gravel.