Have you checked out our Facebook page?  Take a look, like us if you wish, and get involved in the discussions!  Our current discussion should get the juices flowing.  Should a batter keep his hands back or move them back them during the swing?  Give us your feedback and also vote.  Visit us at:  Wheelhouse Facebook Page

Hi, my name is Bob DeCloss. I am the owner and president of Cages*Plus. My son, Daniel and I repeated the above procedure, for several years. We needed something better. Daniel was getting stronger too, which I realized after getting tagged a few times when pitching to him from in front of the mound with no protection. I looked to see what types of batting cages were on the market and they were way out of my price range. Not only that, they were permanent. I wanted something affordable and portable.

Using my mathematics and physics background, I invented a totally new design: the first batting cage with netting draped over the frame. After using it for some time my son said, “You know, dad, I'll bet there are a lot of people out there who'd love to have what we have.” So in 1998 we began marketing using the Internet and discovered that my son was right! We have had a blast. It has been a real joy listening to hundreds and hundreds of families say how appreciative they are to have something they can afford and use in their own yard.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then we are really flattered. The competition used to ignore us, then they said beware of 'homemade remedies', now they copy us. But our batting cage is still your best buy for outdoor or indoor use, baseball or softball, and individual or team use. Our batting cages are safe, durable, and portable. They adapt well to odd shaped yards and comply with Homeowner's Covenants and Restrictions. We now offer golf nets as either an insert into the batting cage or as a stand alone practice net as well.

WARNING: I am more and more concerned about some of my competitor's copies. Be very careful. Some of these cages are made with 1 3/8" poles ON THE INSIDE! Remember my design is based on "The Law of Conservation of Momentum" which states: The total momentum of a group of objects is the same after they interact as it was before. Momentum of an object is its mass times its velocity (p=mv). Before collision, a batted ball has positive momentum and the pole has zero momentum. After the collision the total momentum is the same. But if the pole cannot give at the time of impact the final momentum of the ball will be about the same as the initial momentum of the ball. Thus there can be tremendous ricochet and this is very dangerous. My poles are 3/4" EMT and have flexibility and absorb the momentum of the batted baseball so the ball just dies and falls to the ground. I want batter and pitcher to be safe.

We hope you find what you are looking for at a price you can afford. Of course, we think we have the best product on the market today. Give us a call, we'd love to talk to you. Oh, that son of mine, who loved baseball, and spent hours everyday in his batting cage after school and after practice – his high school team took second in state his junior year, and won the state title his freshman, sophomore, and senior year.

Robert R. DeCloss, Ph.D.

New Commercial

The box will contain the cage netting, cage connectors, L-screen netting, L-screen connectors, L-screen poles, extra twine, packing slip, copy of your invoice, and assembly instructions. You will receive one box approximately 42" long by 17" wide by 17" tall.  Since we make 40', 50', 60', and 70' long batting cages your box will weigh 80, 90, 100, or 110 pounds, respectively.

A Complete L-screen, a $150 value.  That's right.  We give you a complete L-screen, including the poles for the L-screen.  Some companies don't include the L-screen poles, just the net.  So be careful when you compare.  We charge $150 for this item separately, others charge anywhere from $189 to $250.

You will have to buy the 10' poles for the frame. UPS only ships up to 9' and the frame poles are 10' long.  Shipping the poles would add hundreds of dollars to the shipping cost. These steel galvanized poles are 3/4" EMT (electrical metallic tubing), standard electrical conduit. The trade name is "thin wall" and they are readily available at Lowe's or Home Depot.

This can save you hundreds of dollars on coin operated machines. Leave it set up in your yard all year long (we recommend taking it down if you are in a snowy climate). Because you can take it down easily, it complies with neighborhood's Covenants and Restrictions. Some clients take it down in the winter. Some move it to a gymnasium or other indoor facility.  It has been reported by some of our clients that it is a neighborhood magnet. Take it to your team practice - be the envy of the rest of your team! We have some teams where five players on the same team have our batting cage.

Our instructions are easy to follow. My son and I can put up a 50' batting cage up in about 15 minutes. It may take you longer the first few times. But it really is easy. On the other hand, our competition's instructions are lengthy and complicated, involving snap hooks, turnbuckles, aircraft cable, cutting tubing to certain lengths and requiring some to have a "swedge" ends while others don't. And the list goes on. Our system requires no cutting or no additional hardware to buy. You just buy the standard 10' long 3/4" EMT poles and you're ready to go. You will need a 7/16" wrench, we use a ratchet or socket wrench, assembly goes faster that way. That's it.

Since we started in 1998, none of our clients have had a single hole in the netting due to being hit with a baseball nor has the netting deteriorated due to weather or UV from the sun. This is due mainly to the unique design we invented. The netting is draped over the frame and not attached anywhere to the frame. Because of this, the net can give, there is less wear and tear and abrasion on the net, hence longer life and more years of trouble free use for you. I will admit, even we have been surprised. We have had clients run over the net with a lawn mower and animals have gathered to chew on the net (we provide patches and repair kits for such occurrences free of charge). While I can't say for certain how long your net will last I am getting some calls from clients that after 5-10 years of use their net needs some minor repair.

Does the space between your fence and house taper? Is your ground uneven? Is your yard too short? None of these are problems with our cage. We have clients who have had these problems and our cage works. Put up as much or as little of the cage, up to the length of your cage let the excess hang on the end. Does your yard taper? No problem. The poles are flexible, you can even taper the width if necessary.

When shopping around for batting cages ask a lot of questions and compare "apples to apples" so to speak. We only sell knotted nylon and do not sell poly net. Knotted nylon is between 72% to 125% stronger than poly net.  Poly is quite a bit cheaper than knotted nylon, but you would have to get about a #42 poly to be as strong as our #21 knotted nylon and by then you would be spending more money.  In my opinion and experience knotted nylon lasts a lot longer than poly. It fits the frame better and holds its shape. It is easier to manipulate. We include the poles for the L-screen while other vendors do not. Some sell "net only" cages and then you have to spend hundreds of dollars more to complete the cage, buying turn buckles, S hooks, cables, in ground sleeves, and much heavier and more expensive frame poles. The only thing you have to buy extra with a batting cage from us are the frame poles - 3/4" EMT (electrical conduit) and they are ready to go off the shelf from places like Home Depot and Lowe's. No cutting, no bending. No complicated instructions to follow.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call.