How to Construct Indoor Batting Cages
Playing baseball all year long can be difficult in northern regions, where the cold and snow pushes players indoors. But, by building an indoor batting cage, you can successfully keep improving your baseball skills throughout the year.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Garage or large building
- Matting
- White spray paint or tape
- Pre-made batting cage--OR the following materials:
- Cage netting
- Cage connectors
- L-screen netting
- L-screen connectors
- L-screen poles
- Extra twine
Instructions
-
Find Space, Then Build It
-
1
Determine whether you have enough space.
Indoor batting cages are large, so it would be hard to construct one inside your house. You will need a large outbuilding or garage. In the best of circumstances, you want a building that is 50 feet long, 11 feet wide and 11 feet high. It should also have an even, hard floor, like cement. -
2
Cover the floor with matting.
Various kinds of matting can be used, but make sure the one you choose lays flat and allows for quick movements. Thin indoor-outdoor carpeting is one suggestion, but you could also use rubber mats, which can be purchased at many local home improvement stores. -
-
3
Construct the batting cage.
The batter's area should be at one end of the building, and not near any doors or windows. Lay down a permanent home plate and paint the adjacent batter's box, which is 4 feet wide by 6 feet long. Behind the batter's box, you should put a mattress or other back-stop to shield the walls from any missed pitches. -
4
Construct the pitcher's mound.
The pitcher needs to be protected--especially in an indoor batting cage. Purchase a pre-made L-screen for the pitcher or make your own. -
5
Make the pitcher's screen.
To make the screen, you will need plastic tubing. The screen (which faces the batter's box) has a left side and a right side. The left side is taller--generally 6 feet high--to protect the pitcher. The right side is shorter, to allow for the pitches to be thrown--generally about 3-4 feet tall. (Of course, if the pitcher is left-handed, you'll want to reverse the heights.) -
6
String netting in between the tubes, so that a ball cannot go through. Secure the entire assembly on the pitcher's mound with twine.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The walls of your indoor batting cage should be padded, either with large rubber pads or substitute blankets.
There should not be any hanging lights or exposed bulbs in the building.
Some indoor batting cages use a long, elevated net to make sure the ball stays within the area.
It is important to protect the person pitching the ball at all times.
Also make sure those waiting for their turn bat are out of harm's way.
