The baseball season may have ended but most, if not all, batting cages will most likely still be open to us diehard fans. What do you know? With a few more batting sessions, you might just sharpen your killer swing even more for the next time you go against the boys. After all, we’re usually only as good as we practice, right?
But getting better at baseball or any other sport for that matter often requires the right gear, equipment, and a working facility. In this case, for the facility, we’re referring to batting cages. It’s easier to improve or get better at something when the conditions are right and everything works as it should. Us OG fans know it and so do batting cage owners, as well as every baseball team that exists. However, today, we’ll only be focusing on batting cage owners.
If you’re thinking of opening up a batting cage soon or you already have one but just can’t seem to make up your mind on the type of grass to use, this article is for you. We’ll go over why artificial turf has become the better choice amongst many lovers of the game. Click here to learn more about how to start a batting cage business.
For the longest time, one of the decisions batting cage owners have struggled with is choosing between having real grass or artificial grass or turf on batting grounds. Both have their pros and cons. However, over the last few years, the latter has become the more popular choice; and for good reasons. Let’s get into them.
Key Markers When Considering Artificial Turfs over Natural Grass in Batting Cages
1. Installation
A lot of pre-planting work goes into planting natural grass for recreational activities. First, the ground has to be prepared, getting rid of existing shrubbery, and applying fertilizer to the ground. The next step is doing the planting which often requires top skills and expertise.
Synthetic grass, on the other hand, saves you all the hard work, long hours, and a ton of money as the installation is quite straightforward. Simply take the correct measurements of the desired location and have the turf cut to specification. Unlike planting grass, artificial turfs can be installed in a day, sometimes under a few hours.
2. Maintenance
You’ve probably already guessed this one. While passion may have led you to start a batting cage business, keeping it alive for as long as possible may require more than an unquenchable love of the game. It is a business after all, and cutting costs is one goal that most businesses across board have in common.
In other words, less maintenance means less money to spend on keeping the facility in prime condition for batting. Unlike natural grass which requires a lot when it comes to maintenance, artificial turfs require minimal maintenance. The most you’d probably have to do is put together a decent drain to keep the turf dry when it rains. Of course, if your cage is indoors, this is one less thing to worry about or spend money on.
3. Look and Feel
Chances are that you’ve seen and felt artificial grass before. However, if for some reason you haven’t, it might interest you to know that some synthetic grasses are quite difficult to distinguish from real ones. This is especially true when it comes to how they look. In fact, if you run a quick Google search on say, “artificial turf in batting cage” you’d immediately notice that they are almost indistinguishable from real grass. Don’t forget the added benefit of not having to worry too much about mud and dirt.
4. Durability
Synthetic grasses can last between 15 and 20 years with proper maintenance. It’s also nice to know that their color won’t fade and that they are environmentally safe. One would literally be killing multiple birds with one stone. With real grass, however, a lack of adequate maintenance could see the grasses lose their lush green color; not to mention “bald patches” which are also another common grass problem.
Choosing the Right Artificial Grass Company
By now you’ve probably already seen why synthetic grass has become the “people’s choice” when it comes to batting cages. What’s next is finding a company that will take care of your needs and answer all your questions.
Ideally, you want to prioritize companies that have been in the game for quite some time. For instance, artificial grasses are made from several materials including nylon and polyethylene. Older companies will most probably have tested different materials and can better advise you on which ones are more appropriate. You’d also want to consider the pile height as the ideal grass length varies depending on use case and application. Visit https://www.homestratosphere.com/ to learn more about the types of artificial grass.
Conclusion
You want to take your time and ensure the fundamentals of the business are in place. The type of grass you use for your batting cage is extremely important and so are other pieces of equipment like the pitching machine. Unlike some other businesses, batting cages will always be in demand as long as the lovely game of baseball exists. However, only adequate planning before execution will set you up for success.
