Top Things to Consider When Purchasing a Baseball Hitting Net

Games involving a bat and ball have come as far as Egyptian times. The game’s history remains a mystery and many have thought that it may have originated from rounders, a British game. It is also likely that baseball and rounders originated from to cricket. 

Even though there are many stories about baseball’s origin, one fact remains; it is considered as one of America’s most popular sport activities. During 2014’s league season baseball fans ate a total of 21 357 316 hotdogs. 

The game’s popularity has also spread to other countries. Today it is played in over 100 countries, which include Latin American countries and Asia. Outside the United States, Japan has the biggest professional league. You can learn more about the history of baseball here: https://www.sporcle.com/blog/2018/06/brief-history-of-baseball/#. 

Increasing one’s hitting techniques not only requires time and dedication, but also the correct equipment. Visiting your nearest batting cages can take up a lot of unnecessary time, which may lead to discouragement. 

Another option is a small investment to set yourself up for success at home. By simply purchasing the right netting for your needs, you will be well on your way.The question however remains, ‘how do I decide?”

Deciding Which Baseball Net Is the Best Buy

When purchasing a net there are some factors one needs to take into consideration, it is important to remember that they are available in different shapes and sizes and can be applied for different uses. Don’t be fooled by appearances as they might appear the same, but the quality of the material differs greatly. 

Identifying Quality

We all know that the less you pay for something, the lower quality you get and it really applies here. If you spot a massive sale and pay really low price, that is the quality you can expect. Inexperienced suppliers often sell low quality products, unintentionally, without standard testing or doing proper product research. 

A company with high standards will most certainly have a list of happy customers. These customers should be easily verified and can range from colleges toprofessional teams. You also have easy access to reviews online, make use of it. Do proper research about the suppliers referring to customer feedback, since well-known teams will not purchase substandard products for their facilities, nor will dissatisfied customers leave positive reviews. 

Make sure that the company you order from has adequate experience in the industry. It takes at least 10 years to truly grasp smaller details that relate to netting design quality and installation. If the company does not truly specialize in netting, consider taking your business elsewhere. 

Suppliers must be able to recommend which netting is best suited for each environment, level of age, the customer’s needs and budget. They should make recommendations based on hung-square and diamond, explain the difference between knotted or knotless. Customers are often confused between woven or sewn borders. Companies should be able to explain the difference and why one is better suited than the other. You can look at some baseball hitting net examples here.

Styles of Netting for baseball

Barrier

Common uses for barrier netting are field backstops in baseball, driving ranges and golf courses, for shielding homes from stray balls, rocks and animals. Its main purposes are to keep something in or out. The mesh diameter is based on the size of the object which should be contained. An example is, persons living on a golf course will select a diameter size which will stop a golf ball at high velocity. 

Protective

Safety netting is essential in baseball when players practice batting in cages. Protection screens are manufactured in the shape of L-screens. This allows pitchers to toss over-hand inside the screen’s cut-out. Safety screens also protect fielders in the course of batting practice.

Cage Nets

Batting cages are growing more popular across the US, not only at schools and colleges, but also at homes in backyards. Players now have the opportunity to refine hand and eye coordination in the comfort of their home. This drastically improves their performance during the game. Check out this video on practicing with the right baseball tee and net.  If space is limited, open-sided hitting cages is the way to go. It is also suited for golf hitting enclosures. The player can actively chip balls toward the net.

Reasons nets fail

Substandard material is often used for products that need industrial-like quality. The higher ranked level of players, the higher quality material must be used. Little league level can use number 21-gauge netting and high school players require number 36-gauge netting. For college players the recommended gauge netting number is 42 and for commercial or pro players 60-gauge is recommended. 

UV treated material is also vital. Black is a good color for deflection of UV, because white material is not durable if exposed to sunlight over a period of a couple of months. Materials should be infused with UV inhibitors during production and not surface coated as inhibitors on the surface easily wear-off. 

The use of water-resistant materials is absolutely crucial, as nets are often installed outdoors. Pre-mature deterioration is caused by water, but can be avoided by an oil-based coat. Another effective substance is a water-based latex, which does not discharge an unpleasant odor. This is something to keep in mind if netting is installed in an enclosed space, with little to no air-flow. 

Netting is denser if it is made up of twisted twine, which allows a denser surface for balls to ‘chew.’ Using the over and under braiding method, allows manufacturers to use less material, but to still attain a greater twine diameter. 

Knotted netting is also considered a higher standard than knotless. The intersection point is often weak, this is where the knotted method is reinforced. 

Now that the basics have been covered, you can easily make an informed decision when buying your next baseball net. The factors mentioned here can affect functionality, safety and netting’s life time.