Due to
the recently enacted economic stimulus package
you have an opportunity to use the tax rebate to your
advantage by purchasing a complete batting cage
between May 2nd and May 31st.
During this time I will offer a 10% discount
to do my part to stimulate
the economy (and help my business)!*
*Here is the fine print.
The 10% discount applies only to the
purchase of a batting cage with L-screen. The discount will be
applied to your invoice before I ship the cage. It won't appear on
your order form.
(I can't figure out how to change my
shopping cart!) However, the discount will
show up on the invoice you receive. For example, a 50' cage with
L-screen runs $642 with shipping. The total charged to your credit
card will be $577.80 ($642 - $64.20). If you use PayPal, I will
credit the 10% discount back to your account.
The discount does not apply to a cage
without an L-screen as there is already a $100 discount. It does
not apply to a net only order. It does not apply to a package deal
as you get free shipping on the cage and a discount on the machine which
exceeds the 10% discount.
It all started with a boy and his bat…
Are you visiting this web site because you have been using the following hitting program and want a better solution? Does this sound all too familiar?
Take about twenty balls in a bucket or plastic bag.
Drive to a local park or ball field, possibly waiting for availability.
Pitch (and duck on occasion) while your son or daughter hits.
Spend the same amount of time finding the balls as you did hitting them.
Lose some balls, because the ball and grass color are about the same – brown!
Repeat steps 3 – 5 until dark or you run out of balls.
Drive home exhausted, saying to yourself, there has to be a better way!
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: a 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 went to 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.
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 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.
Read on to discover the benefits and savings you can have by owning one of our hitting systems.
Sincerely,
Robert R. DeCloss, Ph.D.
Some
History, Comments, and Suggestions. We started in 1998 and our history has been interesting and
exciting. We sold our 1000th cage in July 2002, our 2000th cage in April
2004, and our 3000th cage in June 2006. We have sold cages
in 49 states and Washington, DC. The only state we haven't sold a
cage in, yet, is Wyoming. We have sold internationally as well.
We have cages in Canada, Curacao, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway,
and Puerto Rico.
More and more companies are copying our
idea, some are making subtle changes. You, as the
consumer, should be aware of what you are getting. For example,
I
got a call from a prospect, who became a client, saying that one of my competitors was offering a cage similar to
mine and at a cheaper price. They were even going to throw in the
L-screen. When I investigated further, I found out they were
offering poly net rather than knotted nylon. Poly net is quite a
bit less expensive than knotted nylon. In my opinion, knotted
nylon is a lot more durable than poly net. Knotted nylon is easy
to repair, poly net is not. So when shopping make sure to
compare what you are getting. Ask a lot of questions.
I get calls about accessories
for our cages. Some of my competition provides leaded rope, others
sell backdrops, still others offer other things for sale. I'm
cheap, sorry frugal, I try to find inexpensive alternatives. Here are some.
Leaded rope is expensive and heavy to ship. I used to offer it,
but now I make my net wider. It is 36' wide and the perimeter of
my frame is only 30', so there is 3' of overhang all the way around.
But if you still feel you need something, try a simple garden hose.
It is much cheaper than leaded rope and will do the same thing - provide
a little extra weight on the net so it won't blow around as much in
wind. Some companies offer expensive backdrops. I suggest an
inexpensive piece of carpet. Hang it from the roof corner
connectors.
Wind is the one weakness of our system. Strong cross winds can actually tip over the cage.
Our system is a free standing light weight system. If you are in a
windy climate and your cage is in the open, that is, you don't have a
barrier like a house, fence, or trees, you should anchor down the cage in
some fashion. Here are a few suggestions. Tie rope to the
roof corner connectors then anchor the other end of the rope in
the ground with a tent peg or stake. This method will handle most
reasonable winds. A few of my clients have offered some other
suggestions. One used "ree-bar" and pounded it next to some of the
leg poles and then wrapped wire around the leg pole and the ree-bar.
Another bought some 1" conduit and put some of them into the ground at
the same angle as the leg pole and then inserted the leg pole inside the
1" conduit. He then drilled a hole through the poles and inserted
a bolt or wire to secure the two together.
My cage is not perfect and may not be for
everyone. However I think we have made a good product and people
feel they are getting very good value for the dollar they spend.
We also provide excellent customer service and support.
SAVE Hundreds On Our Batting Cages Over The Competition's
From time to time I do some comparison shopping on the internet.
Here are some of my findings and suggestions when shopping for a batting
cage system.
Shipping costs
are hard to determine. Many companies don't tell you what
shipping is until you "check out" of their shopping cart.
One well known company was over $1200 more than our system and I
still could not figure out the shipping costs.
It is difficult to compute the total cost of a cage.
Some companies have unbundled pricing and sell "net only" so trying to compare apples to apples is difficult.
They sell frame kits separate, or don't include an L-screen, or if
they do, don't include the poles for the L-screen.
Most companies
suggest buying the poles for the frame locally. This can save
you hundreds of dollars as these items are very heavy and shipping
them is very expensive. However, check out the prices
yourself. For example, some companies say they use 1 5/8" top rail, and
say the price will be under $6 per pole. As of 9/15/2007, at Lowe's
a 10'6" 1 3/8" top rail was $8.78. I couldn't find a 1 5/8"
top rail. So some of their prices online may be outdated.
Some companies
sell "poly" net rather than knotted nylon. Knotted nylon is
more expensive, but in my opinion, knotted nylon is stronger and
longer lasting than poly net. Knotted nylon doesn't curl like
poly net does. Poly net is difficult, if not impossible, to
repair. Knotted nylon is easy to repair.
Some companies
sell the connectors with thumb screws you tighten by hand.
Hitters will eventually hit the thumb screws and break them off.
We use 1/2" bolts.
Be diligent and ask a lot of questions. Find out the complete cost of a cage before you buy.
We are hundreds of dollars less, in some cases well over a thousand
dollars less, than some company's complete batting cage systems.
Others that look similar to our cage and are close in price, either don't offer an L-screen
or the poles for the L-screen or they sell poly net instead of
knotted nylon.
Find out their
return policy. Some allow up to 60 days. Ours is one full
year.
Caveat Emptor -
Let the Buyer Beware!
Receive an Added Bonus: A Complete L-screen, a $150 value. That's right. We give you a complete L-screen,
including the poles for the frame. Some companies don't
include the frame, just the net. So be careful when you
compare. We charge $150 for this item separately, others charge anywhere from $189 to $250.
What
we send you and what you have to buy. You will receive one box approximately 42" long by
17" wide by 17" tall. Since we make 40', 50', 60', and 70'
long cages your box will weigh 80, 90, 100, or 110 pounds,
respectively. 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 have to buy the 10' poles for the frame.
These are 3/4" EMT (electrical metallic tubing), standard electrical
conduit. They are 10' long steel galvanized pipe. The trade
name is "thin wall." The price is approximately $4.00 per pole.
We buy ours at places like Lowe's or Home Depot. For the 40', 50', 60' or 70' cage you will
need to buy 23, 28, 33, or 38 poles respectively. You will
need a 7/16" wrench, we use a ratchet or socket wrench, assembly
goes faster that way. That's it.
You can Assemble Our Cage Quickly Our instructions are easy to follow. My son and I have put our 50' cage up in 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 get years of trouble-free use from Our Cages. 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 5-7 years of use their net needs some
minor repair.
Do you have an odd shaped yard or uneven ground? Our Cage will fit. 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.
You can use Our Cages Indoors or Outdoors and they are Portable. 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 cage.
You will receive excellent Customer Service. Don't take our word for it. Read what others have to say about our product and our support.
We have had our cage a week now and I can't believe how easy it was to set up and use. It works better than I imagined and is extremely sturdy and durable. We live on an open hilltop and the wind blows constant. We had our first inquiry about the cage today. A gentleman from South Arkansas saw it and stop to ask. Thanks for everything - Bentonville, AR
Wow, Easy and very impressive looking. My husband and 15 year old son put it together in less than an hour. It looks very awesome and impressive. All of my family, including my 7 year old daughter is really enjoying it. The neighbor kids are waiting in line to take a turn. We also purchased the Zooka pitching machine, between your setup and the pitching machine, we have made an excellent investment in our kids and their future in sports. We are all enjoying practicing much more now. Thank you! - Cloverdale, CA
Just got it up recently. My son loves it!! He is a high school sophomore just starting the baseball season here in the East and loves the extra time in the cage. It was easy to put up (didn't time it but it wasn't that long). You had a great idea with this cage (providing the net and interconnecting pieces). It was what I was looking for. My daughter (11 years old) is also in the cage getting ready for softball season (little league). I'll take some pictures of the kids in the cage soon and forward them on. Thanks - Mystic, CT
Received my 60 ft. batting cage in early January box was a little beat up but everything was there. What a great product my son is hitting like never before his batting average has went from probably about 250 to 300 last year to about 650 to 700 this year. We have a friend who plays Triple A baseball, and he took my son out to the cage and they had little soft toss hitting contest, he said if he had this cage when he was growing up he would have been in it all the time he also thought it was a great product. Any way thanks for a great product at a great price. Thanks again.- Kissimmee, FL
This is an excellent cage. I should've ordered this cage a year or two ago, but I was a little skeptical. It arrived in a timely manner and was packaged nicely. Easy installation and works above expectations. You have a product worthy of its value and use. I'm gonna paint the poles black because I have it set up next to some woods and no one will be able to even see it from the road, except when it's in use. Thanks - Chatsworth, GA
Oh, thanks for asking. It is working out just great, we give it an A+. Our son's batting average has improved a lot. On his own, he sets up a video camera, uses the pitching machine, and then looks at his swing later. I gave someone your name, they may be calling you to place an order. Thanks again. - Parma, ID
We just got back from Omaha from a baseball tournament. My sons 11 year old team took 2nd place and received the sportsmanship award. The cage works great. My son and I set it up in about an hour. The investment was well worth it considering the years of use it will get. You can't beat the price. You may give my phone number out. I will happily give a good reference on this product. - Roselle, IL
This is the best thing since sliced bread. I coach a 13 year old Babe Ruth team and we now have practice in my back yard 3 days a week. Our whole team is hitting well because of the extra time they get to hit. The convenience of practicing at home for me is great. My time is limited as it is for many coaches. Not having to travel to a field every night after work is a huge advantage. The kids can't wait to get to practice, which was not the case before we started being able to hit every practice. I split the team into 3 groups. 4 boys each group. They all do tee work before being allowed in the cage all are busy and don't goof off. Several parents are considering buying their own. Assembly was easy and the team helped put it up. This was a good team building experience. No one can get over how affordable it is and how well it works. Thanks for supplying such a great product at such an affordable price. - Louisville, KY
Bob, I wanted to take
this opportunity to thank you for such a great product. I did a
lot of shopping of other cages before settling on this one and I
have to say it has been everything that was promised and more!
Setup was a breeze. It took myself and my sons about 45 minutes
to get it set up. I would definitely recommend your product and
company to anyone in the market for a home practice cage. Thanks
again and keep up the good work! SA
P.S. - The Zooka pitching machine is a fine product as well!
- Baton Rouge, LA
We absolutely love the cage. Both of my sons, ages 13 and 10, have used it several times a week since we got it earlier this summer. They both hit very well during their seasons and post-seasons. The convenience of the cage is great. I've recommended it to several people already. - Starkville, MS
Hi Bob, My name is
PA. I live in Freeport NY. I purchased your cage in 2002 or
2003. We use it all year round. My son Pete is 16 now. I am the
coach of the Long Island Blue Demons. The summer of 07 was a
story book year for us. We won the national championship in Babe
Ruth. We won the state championship in Queens NY. We then won
the regional championship at Penn State. We then went to
Andalusia Alabama and won the national championship. What a
ride. Against the Florida team, my son Pete led off with a bomb
well over the 375 mark in left. Center. Hey, you can look it up!
We just hit and hit and hit. Most of the boys from that ball
club hit in your cage. I was in Philly last week and we
spoke briefly. Just wanted to thank you Bob. PA -
Freeport, NY
This batting cage is unbelievable. Worth the money at twice the price. Everything MR. DeCloss said it was. Everyone in neighborhood wants to try it. Thanks MR. DeCloss. Great product. - Odessa, TX
Visit our Customer Comments page to see hundreds more comments from our customers.
You have no risk. We are so confident of our
cages, we are offering a 100% Money Back Guarantee
on the cage system - for one full year. (This does not apply to
pitching machines and accessories as these manufacturers have their own
warranty, guarantee, and return policies.)
SAVE Hundreds On Our Batting Cages Over The Competition's
