Netting Learning Center
How are the nets constructed?
Baseball Batting Cages guarantees its products are made from the highest quality materials, and top-notch construction methods. Even the best materials will destruct if assembled poorly. Our nets are assembled with the premier manufacturing techniques of the industry.
Each batting cage is built from premium polyethylene or nylon and comes equipped with a thick rope border to ensure the nets maintain shape. Simply sewing on this border could result in the materials easily breaking apart at the seams. We weave the rope border in and out of the net's meshes. From there, the rope border is securely fastened to the net.
Our heavy rope borders run along the top, bottom and vertical sides of the cage, encasing the entire net. Additionally, we add a reinforcement rib line that runs from front to back of the cage, providing additional support that keeps your net held high to maximize your practice area. Each batting cage net comes with a door for easy entrance and exit, a feature you will struggle to find anywhere else.
What twine makes sense?
We continue to sell thousands of these batting cages worldwide. Colleges, professionals and amateurs alike all ask the same question: What makes your nets so durable? At Baseball Batting Cages, our SELECT premium netting is among the strongest available, made from both premium nylon and premium polyethylene. The sturdy polyethylene does not absorb water and resists breakdown in direct sunlight, is abrasion resistant, and is shrink proof. Our SELECT batting cages are treated with the two most advanced chemicals for UV Protection available. During the extrusion process, the UV chemicals are infused into each thread. This means the UV inhibitor will not only not wear off; it is literally built into the twine. Unlike our opponents, even our nylon nets come with UV inhibitors built into every strand, just like our poly nets. A batting cage is only as good as the materials which make it, and we only use the best.
Nylon or Polyethylene?
Choosing the type of batting cage that works for you largely depends on your needs. We recommend our SELECT premium polyethylene batting cages for the best price + quality combination. However, nylon and SELECT each offer advantages and disadvantages according to the environment they will be utilized in.
If you plan on using your batting cage indoors, and minding a careful budget is NOT an obstacle, nylon netting is best. Nylon has the highest break strength and is by far the most durable batting cage netting when not exposed to the elements. Further, the nets resist abrasion well and will hold up best in an indoor setting. Though not as strong, polyethylene is also a tremendous option.
However, the cost for nylon nets can be rather expensive. Nylon nets also absorb water, which may cause rotting or shrinking. They can lose up to 20% of their strength depending on the conditions they are exposed to. If used indoors, nylon netting should remain durable and long lasting.
If you are working with a smaller budget, polyethylene netting may be the better choice. Polyethylene netting will not break down due to outdoor conditions and will not absorb water; therefore, it will not rot or shrink like nylon. However, its initial break strength will not match nylon.
Each fiber which is used to make our nylon and polyethylene nets is treated with the two most advanced chemicals for UV protection. This UV inhibitor is infused into the threads, which ensures advanced protection from the brutal sunlight. Many of our competitors will spray a UV protector on after the netting is made, which will often wear off rather quickly. Each thread of our nets is saturated with UV protection during the extrusion process, meaning the UV inhibitors are built into the thread rather than sprayed on afterward. This serves to protect your nets from the brutal outdoor conditions.
How do I pick twine size?
So what do all those numbers by the twine mean? It's simple: the bigger the number, the thicker the twine. We want what's easiest for you, so our numbering system is simple and straight-forward. We also specialize in backyard batting cages for sale and commercial backyard batting cages for sale.
#12 Thinnest twine size. Only used for light, recreational usage. We do not recommend or sell this twine size for batting cages.
#18 Absolute minimum suitable size for baseball nets. We do not recommend or sell this twine size for batting cages.
#21 Common size for residential usage. Recommended for home and little league use only.
#24 A small step up from the #21.
#30 Size appropriate for residential usage. Recommended for Middle School and below.
#36 Minimum twine size used in SELECT Batting Cages. Size appropriate for high schoolers.
#42 Size appropriate for heavy-duty commercial and college usage. Popular amongst baseball professionals.
#45 Available as Knotted or Knotless. Square or diamond hung. The thickest twine size we offer. The best combination of strength and weight on the market.
#60 Super heavy duty netting. Often deemed overkill due to weight and lack of elasticity.
Other companies make confusing distinctions in their twine size by using strange numbering or wording that may lead you to believe the twine is thicker than it actually is. They code their twine sizes so you won't know exactly what you are buying. It's unfair to you and frankly, bad business. Our simple system means you know exactly what sized twine you will be getting: The bigger the number the thicker the twine size.
Twisted vs. Braided netting?
All of our nets are made from two different styles of twine: twisted or braided. Twisted cord is utilized in all knotted nets while braided cord is used to make the knotless nets. So which style of twine is better?
This remains a point of debate within our industry. All knotted netting is composed of twisted cord and knotless netting is made on a knitting machine. Our extensive tests prove that twisted knotted netting is far superior to braided netting. The knotted netting is heavier and more durable than braided netting. The knitting process, which makes braided netting, leaves air inside the meshes, whereas the twisted knotted net is solid.
Knotted or knotless?
Knotted batting cage netting is the industry standard and typically found in a square pattern. Though the knots are points of wear in the net, they are extremely durable and tend to push away hit balls from the inside of the net, which helps prevent wear on the sides of the net.
Knotless nets do not have points of accelerated wear. However, a knotted net will still outlast a knotless net.
Square hung or diamond hung?
Each net style provides different advantages.
The diamond-hung nets reduce waste netting, which decreases cost. Our diamond-hung design enables the net to hang looser and allows for the shock of the ball's impact to spread across several meshes rather than just one single spot (which produces the high wear points on square-hung nets).
The square-hung nets require more material because all netting is made on the diamond and has to be squared, which requires additional material. This makes them more costly. However, the net will hang straighter and reduce pulling from the cage. Square-hung nets naturally conform to the shape of the batting cage.
The rope border is threaded through the edges of the net, rather than sewn on, which further improves durability. Further, a square-hung net typically offers easier installation and better visibility. Square-hung nets are the most popular choice on the market today.What is "break strength?"
By dictionary definition, a net's break strength is determined by how much tension a strand will endure before "necking." "Necking" is when the material's cross section begins to significantly bend. This does not pertain to long-term durability, but the initial ability of the net to sustain tension out of the box. Others may promise that high break strength equals the most durable net. This is not the truth. Break strength does not equal durability, and initial break strength does not equal functional break strength.
Many sites advertise break strength as the deciding factor of a net's durability. They mislead customers into believing one net is stronger or more durable than another simply because of a stronger break strength. The best comparison we can offer is to a tennis racket. Break strength measures how much force a strand will take until it snaps. This is important for tennis rackets, because they are wound tight. However, batting cage nets hang loose so the net will give once it is hit by the ball. Therefore, break strength isn't really important to batting cages.
A more important factor is abrasion resistance. The constant scraping of the ball along the interior of the net makes abrasion resistance a better indicator of a net's durability. Our extensive testing proves that our nets are among the industry's leaders in abrasion resistance.
The real measure of a batting cage's strength is related to a number of factors:
- How will the net respond to weather conditions?
- What is the size and weight of the twine?
- How does the twine resist abrasion?
- Will the twine retain it's strength over time?
- How is the batting cage constructed?
Before making any decision on a net, be sure to consider each of these factors. Choosing the right net depends on two factors: a) Your needs and b) Net quality.