Let me see your "At Home Practice Facilities"

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Aug 26, 2011
1,285
0
Houston, Texas
I am so envious. Unfortunately for DD, I am the only one who is actively involved in her softball life. DH will go to games here and there, but that is the extent of his involvement. He's more a football/boy scout dad (and is more involved in the boys' stuff...works out this way since I have little room in life outside softball, kids and work LOL).

I have been trying to figure out ways to set up garage, but I am not a handy(wo)man. Wanted DH to hang industrial carpet from ceiling of garage, and he just looked at me like I had 3 heads. Sigh. We have been getting by...driving to fields to practice (no wonder I have no time!).
 
Jan 24, 2009
617
18
Mak,
A basic garage set-up can be done on the cheap. If you have the garage, then the expensive part is in place ;)

One of DD's travel ball families (daughter's catcher for years) moved next door last year. Their 3 kids use our cage a lot too, and for bad weather/snow they made a hitting set-up in their 2car garage that both families use. Very basic, but functional:

There is a taped outline on the concrete of a regulation home plate, a couple of tanner tees, and a portable net made by skilz--similar to the bownet. It has it's limitations but is fine for tee work and side toss, and the pitcher's in the families use the net as well. They have a salamander-type heater that keeps the chill off, but I suspect that isn't a problem in TX.

Your carpet idea is great too! Sounds like you are on the right track. My advice is to do what you can in the NOW. Try to think ahead but do fill the need for now. The truth is that none of us are ever really 'finished' with our setup. We all long for better facilities and have projects in mind, but the NEED for 'something' trumps the WANT for the 'ideal' set up if that makes sense. You can add and tweak your set up as time/money/space allows, but you cannot go back and let her swing more last year! Do what you can now.

I should add: what you think you need/want evolves over time. For example, when I built a cage, I wanted lighting and thought I needed a pitching machine. Fortunately I left the lighting for down the road and now consider it a poor use of funds. I did buy pitching machines but now realize that a pitching screen is the way to go. We haven't used a pitching machine for a few years. Again, keep this in mind as it is the best thing I have said in these ramblings:

You can add and tweak your set up as time/money/space allows, but you cannot go back and let her swing more last year! Do what you can now. And have fun!

VW
 
Jun 21, 2010
481
0
What VW said. I have a bucket of balls ( three dozen ), a tanner T, and the Big Mouth Bownet. Two car garage. Setup the Bownet in one corner, taped batter box on the floor and DD works on the T for a few buckets. Then I soft toss another few buckets. Bownets are easy to put up and break down--DD can do this on her own. We also have a full size batting cage outside, but it's too cold out to use.
 
Oct 19, 2009
1,023
38
I'm right here.
MAK...I hung a homemade mat that can be hit and pitched into; ball stops and drops. Used simple basic materials. The bracket however is a heavy duty 8" shelf bracket lagged into the wall that extends only 8" from the wall so it does not interfere with the garage door tracks. Carpet is 8'x6'. Total cost was probably around $40.

hm6.jpg

hm2.jpg
 
Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
Straightleg can post his or Howards two of the best set ups I have seen using a garage. For those that have been to Howards/hitters its like being at a test facility! I use my basement, but I'm spoiled in that we have an indoor facility with a field and three batting cages at the high school 5 min's from my house. I now use for lessons.
 
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Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
garage.jpg Here's our little setup in the garage. We can hook the net up and then detach from bungee cords and use the other nets if needed. We like to keep the cars in the garage:)
 
Jan 17, 2013
38
0
We've been able to do some pretty sweet backyard installations...
batting-cage-001.jpg
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cage_photo.jpg
 
Aug 1, 2008
2,314
63
ohio
Straightleg can post his or Howards two of the best set ups I have seen using a garage. For those that have been to Howards/hitters its like being at a test facility! I use my basement, but I'm spoiled in that we have an indoor facility with a field and three batting cages at the high school 5 min's from my house. I now use for lessons.


Here is mine

001-3.jpg

treehouseandhittingarea006-1.jpg

garage001-1.jpg

DSCN0013-1.jpg
 
Aug 1, 2008
2,314
63
ohio
Here is another. I have light panels in the roof. I can get 2 gars in garage and leave the hitting area up.
Take out cars, throw down the astro turf and tees.

DSCN0017_zps623cae8a.jpg




SL
 
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