How to Build a Batting Cage With PVC

Improve your skills with a simple, convenient batting cage made from durable PVC pipe. PVC pipe is extremely sturdy and is widely available at most hardware stores. It is easier to manipulate than many other building materials, allowing inexperienced builders to construct impressive creations. This material can be used to create a batting cage that is small enough to be built indoors for year-round practice. The small size and easy disassembly of the batting cage makes it ideal for indoor or outdoor use. Gain the competitive edge next season by starting now to exercise your skills year-round.

Things You'll Need

• 5 5-foot segments of PVC pipe
• 4 10-foot segments of PVC
• 4 9-foot segments of PVC
• 8 three-way corner connectors
• Drill
• 40 eye hooks
• 38 D-clips
• Nylon netting (slightly larger than 10 feet by 9 feet)
• 2 4-foot sections of rope

Instructions

1. Lay two 5-foot segments of pipe parallel to each other. Place two 10-foot segments of pipe perpendicular to the 5-foot segments, creating a rectangle. Attach each piece together with a three-way corner connector.

2. Place a 9-foot segment of pipe in the upward-facing opening of each three-way corner connector. Place a three-way connector on the top of each of these pipes, with the middle opening facing downward over the 9-foot segment of pipe.

3. Connect the top layer of three-way corner connectors with 5-foot and 10-foot segments of pipe. The batting cage should now resemble a large, empty PVC pipe box.

4. Drill holes every foot or so along the front face of the batting cage. The front face should be one of the sides that are 10 feet wide. Screw eye hooks into each of the holes.

5. Attach the netting to the eye hooks with D-clips. The netting should hang loosely from the frame, and there should be some draping onto the floor.

6. Drill one hole in the top corner of the back of the frame. Insert an eye hook into each hole. Tie a section of rope to each eye hook.

7. Drill one hole in each end of a 5-foot segment of pipe. Insert an eye hook into each hole. Have someone hold the pipe six feet above the ground. Tie the other end of the ropes to the eye hooks in the 5-foot section of pipe. The ropes must thread through the net to tie the pole in place. This pole will cause an indent, or cage, to form in the net.

Tips & Warnings

• All PVC pipe should be at least 2" diameter.

• Fewer eye hooks and D-clips can be used if they are spaced farther apart. To be effective, however, don't hang the net with more than a 2-foot interval between hooks.

• Dry-fit the entire project together before gluing any of the pipes together. Disassemble each section in small pieces and glue it together. For easy disassembly, glue the top rectangle together and the lower rectangle together. Do not glue the vertical pieces in place. This will allow the net to be disassembled into three convenient sections --- the top, bottom and vertical connectors. For added strength, use a drill to screw the fittings and the vertical connectors together. This screw can be removed for disassembly.

References

• Batting Cage
• Batting Cage Frame