Q: With the netting on the outside of the poles, isn't there more chance for ricochet and injury?
A: No. Because of the flexibility of the EMT poles there is more give, so the ricochet is considerably less than with 2" steel poles set in cement. In actual use for over a year, even when the ball strikes directly on a pole it simply dies. Because of the give in the poles, the batted ball's energy is absorbed.
Q: How much does it sag?
A: A few inches. With cages where the netting is hung on the inside there is tremendous sag. This is why most cages are a minimum of 12' high in order to have about 10' of clearance inside the cage. In addition, because of our design, there is much less tension and wear at the corners and middle. The weight is evenly distributed over the entire width and length of the cage adding to the life of the netting.
Q: Is it sturdy?
A: Very. You won't be able to do chin ups or shimmy up the poles. It is, however, strong enough to support the netting and take the beating of the batted balls. Some people have told me that at first appearance the frame looks "flimsy", but after trying it out, they realize how sturdy and strong it really is. The connectors are made of steel and the angled joints are welded. The #15 netting, 120 lb. breaking strength per cord or 480 lb. per mesh, is very strong and will last for years. The #21 is rated at 200 lb. breaking strength per cord or 800 lb. per mesh. The #36 is rated at 350 lb. breaking strength per cord or 1,400 lb. per mesh.
Q: Can it be used indoors?
A: Yes. The only consideration is the floor upon which you are setting the cage. You may need to put rubber cups (not supplied) over the ends of the poles to protect the floor. However, when it is indoors you will have a free-standing system not requiring pulleys, cables or anything attached to the walls or ceiling.
Q: How quickly does it go up?
A: Amazingly fast! Two people can put it up in about 30 minutes: even we were surprised. The very first time may take a little longer, but once you attach all the connectors simply leave them attached to the poles that go across the top. The only tool required is a 7/16" wrench or socket used to bolt the poles into the connectors. If you desire to bolt the legs into the connectors, you will need to stand on a ladder. I have put up the cage by myself. It has been up for months at a time without the legs even being bolted into the connectors.
Q: Can it be used for softball?
A: Yes, even though the L-screen is designed for overhand pitching. The girl's softball team, at the high school where my son attends, recently purchased a 50' system. They stand behind the "tall" part of the screen and pitch around the edge. It seems to work ok.
Q: Since the cage is not fastened down, what about wind?
A: Very strong winds can be a problem. In extremely high winds the cage can actually tip over. Here are some solutions:
Solution #1: If the winds are temporary, simple take the net off the frame during the high winds and lay it on the ground. The frame doesn't care at all about high winds (there is no resistance).
Solution #2: Under the netting, tie a rope on each corner, run the rope parallel to the leg, then anchor it in the ground with a tent stake or peg. If you have a 70' cage, you may want to tie down one of the middle legs on each side. This will hold the frame to the ground and keep it from swaying and tipping over in strong winds. This has the added advantage that only the frame is anchored to the ground, so the netting is still loose and not anchored to the frame.
Q: How does the netting hold up?
A: With traditional cages, the net is tied or anchored at several points to the frame. This prevents the net from giving whenever the ball hits the net at or near the anchored points. As a result, at the point of impact there is tremendous force and if the net cannot give it may tear. If it doesn't tear, the abrasion is much greater and will wear down the netting much more quickly.
Unlike traditional cages, our netting gives on impact. Thus, there is less abrasion and stress on the netting. The physics of its design is based on the Law of Conservation of Momentum (the total momentum of a group of objects is the same after they interact as it was before). Before collision, a batted ball has positive momentum and the net has zero momentum. After the collision the total momentum is the same. But if the net can give at the time of impact, the initial momentum of the ball is shared between the ball and the net. The more the net can give, the more the momentum of the ball is reduced after the collision.
A good analogy would be that of trying to catch a tossed egg. If you stick your hand up and don't move you will most likely end up with egg on your face! If you allow your hand to move with the egg you can catch it and the egg won't break.
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