| PART 2 - Standard Components | | | | Regular 5 gallon buckets are too short and can |
| The Optimal & Recommended Products | | | | make your back ache over time...plus they hold |
| I do have my favorites. All tend to be associated | | | | 20% less. These are priced right and do seem to |
| with hitting and pitching, though speed, defense | | | | last as long as you'd expect. |
| and strength products can figure into this | | | | Wilson A 1015 Baseballs is as good a ball as any |
| category...dependent upon your business model. | | | | training facility might need. Nice seams and good |
| Batting Cages & Tunnels | | | | feel too. They have a "B" grade cover ("A" being |
| This is the backbone of your work space and is | | | | the best) A better ball for a bit more money. No |
| of paramount importance... you don't want to buy | | | | bucket included. Sold by the dozen and savings by |
| this stuff twice! | | | | the 10 dozen case. |
| Most indoor facilities tend to use a cabling system | | | | My personal favorite ball for pitching machines is |
| to hang their nets as opposed to the steel | | | | BADEN Brand Ballistic Leather Machine Pitch |
| framework you see at a typical ballpark. We can | | | | Baseballs. This is a new concept where the ball |
| help you design and decide on your choices. | | | | has lower seams to throw straighter pitches with |
| Standard sizes cages are more inexpensive and | | | | less resistance from the high spin rate of the |
| will fit most, so see if these sizes will fit you: | | | | pitching machine tires or wheels plus it is stitched |
| (and yes, we can custom-build for your unique | | | | with KEVLAR, the bullet-proof vest material. This |
| building) | | | | reduces the premature wear even good game |
| Recommended Standard Sizes | | | | balls will experience, as they are stitched with |
| 12 ft H x 14 ft W x 55 ft L | | | | easily breakable cotton string. |
| 12 ft H x 14 ft W x 70 ft L | | | | Needless to say, these balls outlast most any |
| Please do NOT purchase 12 ft wide cages if you | | | | good quality leather balls when used in your |
| can avoid this...they are just too small for your LH | | | | pitching machines. Prices are surprisingly low. |
| and RH hitters and will potentially drive you nuts | | | | Purchase by the dozen with savings by the 10 |
| on a daily basis. You will probably have premature | | | | dozen case! |
| wear from RH hitters who follow through and | | | | Dimple Balls are absolutely practical and the choice |
| graze the net. | | | | for many heavy use hitting facilities. They are |
| We understand that many or even most facilities | | | | graded like anything else so many people who |
| are housed in buildings that have been converted | | | | have had bad luck with them figure that they are |
| from another use... one more reason to be dealing | | | | all bad. The truth is that many are bad and we |
| with someone with experience. | | | | only carry a pro ball. This means that not only are |
| Here's a few more helpful thoughts on the | | | | they "sting free" (meaning that they are not hard |
| subject of batting cages and nets: | | | | as rocks, which can damage expensive metal |
| The length of your cages will not determine the | | | | bats and raise hell with wheel-type pitching |
| future success of your hitters... but pitchers must | | | | machines). But they don't feel like you are hitting |
| practice at their game-distances. So, you can | | | | a tomato either... ours actually have a nice pop to |
| save some money and precious space utilizing | | | | them and they travel well. |
| shorter cages for hitters. The weight (strength) | | | | Yellow machine pitch dimple balls - this is the |
| of your netting is of highest importance...there are | | | | standard... sold by the dozen and by money-saving |
| variations in materials, and how they are knotted... | | | | 10 dz case for baseball and 6 dz case for our 12 |
| boring stuff but this will determine function, | | | | inch softballs. |
| longevity and your ultimate price. | | | | What a great idea... these long lasting dimple balls |
| Please speak with us about your options if you | | | | look like a real game ball to the hitter! |
| are unclear as to your available choices ...please | | | | Turf Infield |
| DO NOT SHOP BY LENGTH, WIDTH, HEIGHT | | | | This is the ultimate for any indoor facility...an entire |
| AND PRICE ONLY! | | | | turfed infield area for team and individual |
| The ultimate price of your nets will include their | | | | defensive work. Due to the cost , many who |
| years of service! | | | | choose to do this will arrange their batting cage |
| Pitcher's L Screens | | | | layout so that cages can be pulled to one end of |
| Buy one for every batters cage. I like the 7 ft x | | | | the building by "shower curtain rod" method for |
| 7 ft and absolutely recommend good ones...not | | | | double use of the same area. Again, you may |
| necessarily the Pro Stuff. Much of that tends to | | | | want to call us to discuss ideas. |
| be too big (8 ft x 8 ft), and too heavy for indoor | | | | Sport Specific Speed and agility training days or |
| use. Just make sure you are getting very heavy | | | | hours can also be added to more than justify this |
| pillow case-style netting (we carry two strengths | | | | expense and build more streams of revenue while |
| of net) because you will be very close to batters | | | | really helping players improve quicker...all under one |
| and need heavy double-sided netting that is thick | | | | roof! |
| enough to reasonably assure that you will see | | | | Hitting Stations |
| your next birthday. AND YES, do get the wheel | | | | Wasting practice time is a huge sin that we have |
| kits...and thank me later. | | | | all watched over and over... players are bored and |
| Turf & Stance Mats | | | | skills may not get taught or committed to muscle |
| Concrete floors eat balls and are very difficult for | | | | memory while players are waiting their turn in the |
| coaches to stand on for hours every day. | | | | cage. |
| Turf is a very popular but expensive piece of | | | | Anytime you can use machinery to "multiply " |
| your budget. We happen to be based in Atlanta, | | | | your coaching staff, you and your players will |
| Georgia where most turf is manufactured so we | | | | benefit. Most equipment is not designed for your |
| have spent many hours learning inside these | | | | heavy, daily use so be a bit catious when |
| plants. Turf is graded and designed for various | | | | choosing. |
| sports and applications so all synthetic athletic turf | | | | The above are great teaching and learning ideas |
| is not all created equal. Please call and let us help | | | | that will also add revenue streams. |
| you in making these decisions. | | | | They combine the cornerstones of building good |
| Home Plate Stance Mats are 6 ft x 12 ft heavy | | | | repeatable swings and come from some great |
| synthetic turf batters mats that are both | | | | inventors of modern baseball training aids. |
| spike-proof and weather-proof and should last | | | | Please consider these as opportunities to both |
| you many years without showing failure. Most | | | | you as a successful and innovative innovator. |
| have the parallel-only lines of the batters box | | | | Don't short-change your kids on the maximum |
| tufted in with white turf, basic models have | | | | quality learning that new and modern teaching |
| rubber painted homeplates, deluxe have flocked | | | | ideas can give them! |
| white homeplates, ALL our stance mats are | | | | Remember, any limited extra space can be put to |
| matched with a heavy, thick backer for cushioning | | | | good use IF you give it some thought. Consider |
| and support indoors or out and will last for many | | | | every station you utilize outdoors and call us to |
| years without failure! | | | | discuss how we may be able to help you design |
| Turf Infield - An Ultimate Tool That Separates | | | | and bring it indoors. |
| Your Facility From the Pack | | | | |
| Any facility that contains a large enough turfed | | | | 1. Batting Tee Stations |
| area for taking infield practice cannot be beaten | | | | 2. Soft Toss Stations - Automated |
| by new or existing competition that don't have | | | | We have the best soft toss machine I have ever |
| same abilities...especially in colder weather areas. It | | | | used... and it can be utilized for baseball and |
| is a large investment but one that totally | | | | fastpitch with no change over or down time! Its |
| escalates any facility to an elite status. | | | | also on wheels and moves in aand out of cages |
| Please call us to discuss and for some advise. The | | | | with no hassle. |
| info we will need are your dimensions and what | | | | |
| type of existing floor that you have. | | | | 1. Soft Toss Stations - Manual - We have an |
| Pitching Machines | | | | excellent selection of portable and stationary net |
| - Iron Mike Arm Style Machines aka Master | | | | and safety screens ...plus custom applications too! |
| Pitching Machine Model MP4 or MP6. | | | | 2. Stationary Hitting Stations - Many need only |
| These workhorses are almost identical but carry | | | | one person to operate. Some are attached to |
| a hefty price difference. | | | | fence posts, some are free standing. Se what fits |
| Each can be set up for baseball or softball use | | | | and extra corner you had no plans for. It all adds |
| (and changed in 5 minutes or less). You can dump | | | | up! |
| up to 600 bb or 400 sb in the large hopper. | | | | 3. Underload & Overload Training Devises |
| Include is a FREE corded remote control, perfect | | | | See Bratt's Weighted Bats, Edge Power Weighted |
| for teaching and to help keep the area safer. | | | | Gloves, SwftStick Underload Training Bats, Ripken |
| These models throw accurate fastballs-only at | | | | Kinect Training Bats. Great stuuf that will hold up |
| speeds ranging from 25 to 85 mph every 7 | | | | to your heavy use. |
| seconds... with very little maintenance making | | | | Additional Items We Find Useful |
| them perfect for heavy users and pro ballclubs | | | | |
| alike. They will perform for years without problem | | | | 1. Radar Guns - This link shows you all our |
| or issue! | | | | offerings but one good one with a padded case is |
| - BATA Brand Wheel-Type Pitching Machines | | | | all you need. The best radar gun on the market, |
| The advantage of this type of pitching machine is | | | | bar none, is the Stalker Brand baseball & |
| that many can be set up to throw LH and RH | | | | Softball Radar Gun. This is what MLB Scouts use... |
| breaking balls as well as fastballs... all at various | | | | period. Our association with the manufacturer has |
| speeds (usually manually adjusted). The | | | | given us a window into what the good radar guns |
| disadvantage is that they require auto ball feeders | | | | should do (technology evolves and so do these |
| or a 2nd person to hand feed the machine. | | | | fine instruments). The newest models are actually |
| Although important and absolutely recommended, | | | | superior to the older standard models that still |
| I would purchase only the good stuff, such as our | | | | dominate Big League Baseball. But since they hold |
| Bata Brand, which we have carried for over 7 | | | | up so well, it will be some seasons before the |
| years without one motor replacement...and the | | | | new AND LESS EXPENSIVE models are seen |
| wheels seem to go forever even in heavy duty | | | | begin carried by today's pro scouts. Click to see |
| Spring training or Institutional use...just a great | | | | the new and older model Stalker Radar Guns. |
| machine (FYI - I recommend the BATA 2 but the | | | | 2. Bleachers and Bench Seating |
| newer BATA 3 is the newest and very popular in | | | | 3. Pitching Targets, Nets & Screens - we |
| facilities for its randomization of fastballs or | | | | carry most all size and strengths in catch nets, |
| breaking balls without adjustment). | | | | hitters sock nets, baffle nets and cage dividers, |
| Portable Pitching Mounds | | | | Strike Zone Pads, ZIP Nets for garage opening |
| 6" Tall Mounds for up to age 12 | | | | types of applications. Many of our screens have |
| 10" Tall for adult size players (If purchasing one | | | | optional wheel kits for true portablility (more |
| size, choose the adult sizes). | | | | important than you might think). |
| Leather Baseballs & Leather Softballs | | | | 4. Pitchers Rubbers, Throwdown Bases and |
| Balls are a recurring expense and one you should | | | | related items. |
| think about from the beginning. | | | | 5. Aluminum bats, wood training bats, one handed |
| Pitchers must throw good leather baseballs | | | | bats, good quality one size fits all helmets with |
| however no pitchers ERA will improve because | | | | and without facemasks. These are all necessary |
| you purchased the best game balls you can find. | | | | as many of your students may not even own |
| Same goes for your hitters though you have | | | | some of these basics. |
| more choices for them (see below). | | | | 6. Shatterproof full length mirrors |
| I really like Wilson A 1030 practice balls that come | | | | 7. |
| with a 6 gallon TALL coaches bucket and snap-lid. | | | | |