Best hitters backdrop?

This isn’t any offer of advice, but I really am curious about something I hope you be able to answer.

What makes you and the others believe the backdrop for the hitters is causing problems?

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"Best hitters backdrop?"

Lots and lots and lots of this...





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I think you be suprised by how high up it would have to be.... I don't think 20' would do it.
We have a 12' tall section in center... cover it with green windscreen... and when you stand in the box, the pitcher and the ball are well above the sight-line.
But we do have a 'vetch' covered bank behind the fence that probably gains 30+ feet of elevation and that still does not quite put "nothing but green" behind the mound.

Stats - I have thrown on the field and the backdrop of trees that don't leaf out until April/May presents challenges in picking up the ball. Even after the trees leaf out, there are issues when the sun shines on the leaves and makes contrast difficult. Pretty much a no brainer from a site-specific perspective.

I agree..a backdrop is a great thing to have.. we put up a high green screen on our backstop so the outfielders can pick up the ball off the bat better. Or maybe its just for us older folks who are havin 'sight issues' when we shag some balls now and then!
But if you take the line of sight from the box, through the top of the pitchers arm slot, to the outfield fence... and leave yourself some 'head room' on top of that you'll be quite a ways off the ground.... given a fairly level surface.
A section of chain link that high would need heavier posts and heavy chain link( or lots of cross rails)and now your into some $$$.
I'm sure it could be done... not sure it could be done cheap.

Of course, some would argue... the fact that you hit from whatever view you have, day in & day out, gives that team an edge.
I can't think of any HS field in these parts with a full batters eye screen.

quote:

Originally posted by Eyeontheball:
Stats - I have thrown on the field and the backdrop of trees that don't leaf out until April/May presents challenges in picking up the ball. Even after the trees leaf out, there are issues when the sun shines on the leaves and makes contrast difficult. Pretty much a no brainer from a site-specific perspective.

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I don’t doubt you and others believe the backdrop is a problem. What I was trying to find out was, has anyone done anything to see if its affecting play. What I was thinking was maybe comparing the stats between home and away games, or even between home games and games where the backdrop was considered to be a good one.

FI, if you as a pitcher have great success at home but less away, especially where the backdrop is better, it would add substance to your claim, and of course it would be the opposite for the hitters. But as I point out, it’s a double edged sword. If you’re correct, it will improve your hitters, but it will improve your opponents’ as well.

My take on the hitter's eye is not whether it affords a home field advantage or not, but whether it improves the game. Although some may not agree with my "its not all about winning" perspective, I think in this case that improving the playing conditions for all trumps everything.

That said, most of the high schools in the Denver area now have hitters backdrops. I've seen chainlink with a dark plastic woven through the links and also windscreen over a substantial frame. I'm aware that this will cost $1000's, but the intent of my OP was to see if anyone had experience or an opinion about a particular style or method of construction. Thanks!

We had a windscreen covering about 50' of the center field fence. I absolutely loathed it. It required constant maintenance, and would work loose in heavy winds. Eventually, I used metal hooks to attach the corners, and it helped some, certainly worked better than zip ties. Unfortunately, our windscreen had been cut at the bottom by lazy mowing crews, which made the challenge of keeping it in place that much more difficult. Recently, I purchased fence slats, which are fairly expensive, but relatively easy to install, and low maintenance.