For my 2017 son. For indoor use in our basement. Got a proposal I'm working on so I am hoping to profit from the collective wisdom of the HSBW. Links and reviews appreciated, especially on how to keep secure to the ground. Probably move it to outside in warmer weather.
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Jeez, I'd love to see what you come up with, as I've been looking at the basement or the garage, but haven't come up with a solution that doesn't have the potential of damaging walls, ceilings, etc.
Swing-a-way, best tool with quick ball return and no holes in walls or complicated tunnel set up.
For indoor use in our basement. Links and reviews appreciated, especially on how to keep secure to the ground. Probably move it to outside in warmer weather.
We have an old Swing Away, used for warming up.
Then move to Jugs Net for soft toss + tee work.
http://jugssports.com/accessories/instant-screen/
Those in the know are moving to Bow Flex, our next purchase? http://www.bownet.net/page/sho...ig-mouth-hitting-net
I put a 10'w X 10'h w 20'L enclosed batting tunnel in my garage. Ceiling is 11'h, so I've got some nice clearance in there. Most garages are 10' at most? Paid about $250 for net from Texas company called SPI Nets, http://spinets.net/ . I had it custom made to my requested dimensions. I've got about 1-foot clearance from top of net to ceiling. To stop pop-ups from breaking fluorescent light and damaging ceiling I laid bubble wrap sheets on top of netting. This still allows the light to shine through yet protects ceiling and light fixture. The 10x10x20 is plenty big for front soft-toss with an L-screen, and endless T-work.
I started out with only a 12x14 single sheet of netting I suspended from ceiling in a con-cave or oval fashion. Son was able to do T-work, I could side soft-toss, he could also throw bullpens if he wanted to. I later progressed to the above 10x10x20 SPI net.
Simply suspending industrial type moving blankets from ceiling is also a great "receiver" for hit balls. Slows them down right quick before going through dry wall and into the kitchen.
Local eastern Carolina legend, Lonnie Chisenhall, was famous as a kid for hitting off tee in his backyard into his mother's bed sheets drying on clothes line. She was not impressed. Although now I think she is over it!
We use a large, heavy canvas painters tarp. It's good for t work and side toss. There is probably 3-4 feet that drags on the ground, so it stops the balls pretty good. You would probably need to keep it 2-3 feet from any walls.
We used a SoloHitter for my son and still have it after 10 years (anyone in NNJ is welcome to it). We would just break it down and move it inside to the basement during the winter. We used to replace the ball assembly once or twice a year (he would just totally wear it out). I think we spent like $99 for it (+ balls) and most definitely got our monies worth.
I ordered a net (10' x 20') from the web, cost me about $100. Placed it upstairs in my garage, stapled down a 12' x 12' piece of turf - works like a champ.
To eliminate the occasional broken window we use the Slider Balls - same size but lighter weight. If your thinking about putting this in the basement it'll probably save you replacing a lot of sheetrock.
My two boys work off the tee, and we can do lots of short toss as well.
To keep the net down, get the long canvas bags that hold sand. Does the trick really well.
Slider balls.
To stop pop-ups from breaking fluorescent light and damaging ceiling I laid bubble wrap sheets on top of netting. This still allows the light to shine through yet protects ceiling and light fixture.
That is a great idea.
Added photos of 2017's cage in garage. Just stumbled on them in the archives of my laptop. Bubble wrap can be seen piled on top of net ceiling, under florescent lite fixture on drywall ceiling. After son exploded about 4 of the 6' florescent lites (clean up a real pain) with pop-ups this idea came to me. Does the job.
Very nice set up #1, The dog is a nice touch! Tanks for the pix. I picked up a bow-net but have yet to set it up.
That's a nice setup! Gotta love home DIY engineering 
Good setup! Of course, we can all assume the wife's car got the boot to free the space!
We had good success with the swing away as well. We had some tough winters worked in basement and garage from senior year of high school through sophomore year of college. Then he transferred to a school in Tennessee and severe winters weren't such a problem. Still broken down in the garage
Very nice garage setup. Ran it by our in-home supervisor, and she vetoed it. Back to the drawing board.
