- Jun 18, 2010
- 2,615
- 38
I thought I'd share my backyard hitting and pitching area.
Our back yard is treed. I found a location with a natural chute through the trees to secure a 50'x12'x12' batting cage. I have the cage pulled up held by "S" hooks. For some reason the rabbits and deer like to chew on the net when it is down. When we are ready to practice, we unhook and let the net down. I secured the net directly to the trees using lag type bolts with hooks on the end. This image is looking from the pitchers plate to the hitting area.
I have two framed boxes made out of 2x8s, spaced 50' apart, exact length of the netted cage.
I leveled the ground on each end and set the framed 3-sided boxes on top of the ground. I then secured the boxes to the ground by driving in 3' long pre-cut rebar (purchased from Lowes). This image is looking from the hitters area back toward the pitchers plate.
I purchased an ATEC pitchers target that I set up opposite of the pitchers plat for DD to throw to. This setup is ideal because it gets me off the bucket, and I can stand next to DD while she pitches to coach, record, or just converse. The target is much better for DD as it doesn't lie. She either hits her spot or doesn't... there is no fudging or framing by the catcher. Practicing this way has improved her accuracy.
For hitting, I have an L-Screen ready.
The boxes are filled with mound clay and top dressed with infield mix.
Our back yard is treed. I found a location with a natural chute through the trees to secure a 50'x12'x12' batting cage. I have the cage pulled up held by "S" hooks. For some reason the rabbits and deer like to chew on the net when it is down. When we are ready to practice, we unhook and let the net down. I secured the net directly to the trees using lag type bolts with hooks on the end. This image is looking from the pitchers plate to the hitting area.
I have two framed boxes made out of 2x8s, spaced 50' apart, exact length of the netted cage.
I leveled the ground on each end and set the framed 3-sided boxes on top of the ground. I then secured the boxes to the ground by driving in 3' long pre-cut rebar (purchased from Lowes). This image is looking from the hitters area back toward the pitchers plate.
I purchased an ATEC pitchers target that I set up opposite of the pitchers plat for DD to throw to. This setup is ideal because it gets me off the bucket, and I can stand next to DD while she pitches to coach, record, or just converse. The target is much better for DD as it doesn't lie. She either hits her spot or doesn't... there is no fudging or framing by the catcher. Practicing this way has improved her accuracy.
For hitting, I have an L-Screen ready.
The boxes are filled with mound clay and top dressed with infield mix.