The Problem With Buying Net Is That Good & Cheap Don't Go Together!
All net looks good coming out of the box. The problem is what happens after seasons of weather get to it. Now you are stuck with whatever you purchased.
If you measure your length, width and height and buy on price alone... you may not get your monies worth.
Ask Your Questions Before You Buy!
What is barrier netting made from?
Virgin nylon is the material of choice for a combination of strength, anti abrasion and outdoor conditions.
How about strength?
The heavier the grade, the thicker and more costly the finished product. It's generally seen on a number scale from lightest, being a #15 or 18 (not really recommended), #21 being the medium and most popular, especially for larger pieces due to their more manageable total weight. The heavier #36, #42 & #60 are often seen where there are heaviest uses & larger budgets such, as college and pro ballparks.
How about cost?
Net is sold by the square foot, but custom sizing and features are figured in as well.
You will want to balance price along with the total weight, especially for very large pieces. Think #21 or #36 for most applications.
Do I need the same grade/weight throughout my ballpark?
No, not really. You may choose to invest a bit more in your backstop, and where fan and player protection is more the issue.
Keeping balls out of the woods might only require a lighter net.
Again, balance cost against years of service... the heavier the net, the more material your net contains and the longer it will last you.
How large are the holes... and why?
Each mesh opening is 1 ¾" where it is knotted and bonded together. This is a standard to not allow a baseball or softball to penetrate and will prevent ball impacts from stretching the material over time.
How about visibility for fans?
Again, think #21 and #36. And read about net that is "hung square"... much easier to see through. Human eyes just deal with the squares easier than the diamond shape.
What does hung square or hung diamond mean?
Hung on the square means that each of the 1 3/4" net mesh are built to be hung so they look like a series of squares. What this means to you is that when all of these squares become your net, it will have a defined shape of length and width. Some also say it's easier on the eye for fans. It tends to be most popular behind home plate. A disadvantage may be some added cost due to the additional labor and material it takes to build.
Hung on the diamond is exactly that. When you look at each of the 1 ¾" mesh, it is in a diamond shape. If you pull it left and right, you will notice that it easily becomes wider and actually shorter diamond shape. If you pull it top and bottom, it will get taller while the width becomes shorter. Either directional pull will make each mesh form a thinner/skinnier shape... do you get it?
Are golf course barrier nets the same?
It's the same principal so the same rules apply other than the size of the holes (mesh) required. The smaller golf ball needs our 1" golf netting. The cost is a bit more because there is more material and obviously, many more knots and labor involved. The rest is virtually identical to what's used in baseball or softball barriers.
How do I hang a barrier net?
Large nets are generally hung from cable which runs horizontally and vertically between some sort of uprights (older facilities use telephone poles, while newer ballparks, golf courses etc tend to have steel poles which are sunk in the ground in sleeves. They are concreted in first (ask us if you are unclear or have questions).
Limit or avoid zip ties and allowing barrier net to come into contact with any other hard surfaces... especially where wind is an issue... Avoid abrasion where and when you can for longest life.
What's so important about rope borders?
Rope Border is woven into all 4 sides of the perimeter of your barrier net with heavy black poly rope so it will retain its shape and not prematurely wear or sag.
I couldn't imagine hanging any net without this heavy polyethylene roping.
It also assists in resisting abrasion where your net comes in contact with the attachment clips or carabineers.
How many years does barrier netting last?
This is a loaded question. The best answer is that you consider purchasing the heaviest net you can from someone who understands the product (many, just sell net and really don't know much).
The short story is that it depends on the strength of the net & the climate you live in. Hot, long summers in the south go on for months and believe it or not, winter winds up north can be very abrasive.
I have seen medium grade #21 netting in the south that is 7-8 years old and doing well. It was one of ours so I know what they bought. Yet I have seen others that... well, as I said... ask your questions before you buy!
And remember, anything you tie to your net can cause abrasion. Poly roping tends to be least abrasive, especially if there is wind. If zip ties are used... keep them fairly tight with little room to wiggle, rub and prematurely wear the net.
Do I need anything else?
We can supply you with rust resistant metal clips or carabineers for attaching to your cable... just ask and we'll help you figure how many you will need. Aircraft cable and turnbuckles are available locally and of course, we can put a kit together for you if needed.
No Player Is Too Young To Improve... The single greatest training item a ballplayer could ever ask for is a batting cage where he or she can swing whenever they want!
Adding a pitching machine is the cherry on top of the ice cream... but without a batting cage, players just don't seem to swing enough or advance as quickly!
It just takes the big people to help make our backyards, ballfields and facilities better and hopefully safer... and so much more fun!
