Discover why many highly successful institutions from coast to coast have entrusted us to design & install AirCages in their facility.

Specs:

• Winch is powered by 3/4 HP motor (1.5 HP used for tandem cages)
• Available with or without remote
• Frame constructed of 1-3/8" 13 gauge steel tubing
• Netting wraps over the top of the frame for simple installation, and easily folds onto top of frame for storage

Items included with 70'L x 14'W Retractable Batting Cage Kit: [top]
*Additional Hardware Often Required*

• (1) Electric winch (3/4 HP)
• (1) Wall mounted key switch
• (2) Keys (Additional Keys $12 each)
• (1) 100’ of ¼” cable – add for additional cable over 150’
• (8) ¼” cable clamps
• (8) 60’ of 1/8” cable – ceiling heights over 30’ add for additional cable
• (16) Cable clamps
• (16) Small pulleys
• (16) Eye bolts with nuts
• (2) Packs of zip ties (black)
• (16) Quick clips
• (40) Tech screws
• (4) Corners slip joints
• (2) Long frame ends
• (16) Tee slip joints
• (10) 165” cross members (8 used for lift points)
• (4) Full length frame side rails 24’long
• (2) 22’9” long frame side rails balance
• (16) Medium duty beam clamps threaded for 3/8” eyebolt
• Frame constructed of 1-3/8" OD 13 gauge steel tubing
• Additional Hardware Often Required

Point Load Data

70'L x 14' Cage:

• 45 lbs per lift point x 16 lift points
• 720 lbs total
• Winch torque (3/4 HP): 2,300 inch lbs
• 900 lbs inline pull

Tandems & other cages requiring drive-tube system:

• Continuous Drive-tube system
• Winch Torque (1 HP): 2,600 inch lbs
• Optional VFD Motor (Variable Frequency Drive)
• Side-load: 9 brackets x 100 lbs per attachment = 900 lbs total

*All overhead support points utilize a minimum of Grade-5 Fasteners

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Installation: [Pricing Estimates] (top)

We also offer nationwide installation for this batting cage system, which is very reasonably priced, considering the labor intensive & meticulous nature of this type of work -- our highly experienced crew averages approximately 36 total man hours per installation of (1) 70x14 System -- no shortcuts are taken; ever. For example, all overhead support points utilize a minimum of Grade-5 Fasteners.

We also offer inspections & maintenance on virtually every type of gym equipment -- combine additional services to make our trip even more cost-efficient for you! Contact Us to ask about our other services.

Who knows a mechanical system better than anyone else? Of course, the actual builders of the equipment! The same skillful in-house crew that fabricates our AirCage™ Retractable Batting Cage Systems, can also perform your installation.

Our Installation Crew has successfully completed over 400+ jobs over the past 7 years, and has yet to have an accident, an unsatisfied customer, or find a facility they couldn't make this system work flawlessly in - and they have encountered practically every obstacle you can imagine. The crew travels in a large trailer truck, loaded with a mobile work-shop & lodging, to make the trip as efficient as possible, and enable the crew to virtually fabricate on-site magic when necessary.

Don't make the mistake of attempting to save a few hundred bucks for cheap help, which may be cheaper per hour, but will most likely take twice as long overall -- in the end it's just not worth the liability. View pictures of our installation crew's previous work - and review a list of some of our references (please ask for direct contacts).

"Thank you guys so much for the work you did on our suspended batting cage system, it has been awesome. I have attached some photos of the cage and area. It looks and works great. It has been greatly used this COLD and wet spring! -Coach Joel Bemis- Glacier High School Softball, Kalispell, Montana

"The batting cage is working out wonderfully! Our guys love it and use
it all the time. It is functional and is a perfect fit in our Auxiliary
gym, where we are one of many groups to use the space. The fact that is
retracts up into the ceiling and becomes "out of sight, out of mind"
makes it ideal." -Coach Chris Brown
Head Baseball Coach
Montana State University-Billings

"The system is working as advertised, the baseball and the girls softball team get a ton of use out of it during the winter." -Jon Jacobs
Head Baseball Coach
McGregor High School
McGregor, MN 55760

"We have really enjoyed the indoor cage!" -Coach Hennemann
Pawnee HS
Pawnee, IL

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Add-on Items Required for some "unconventional" facilities: [top]
*See a general list of some of the specs which qualify a facility as "standard/conventional" -- these may vary.

Upgrade to 1 HP Winch: (+$500)
Stronger winch required for tandem cages or if using extremely heavy net.

Return Pulley System: (+$250)

This system is used mainly in a facility where the size of the cage is close to the same length as the area the cage would be positioned, or obstructions hinder installation. The Return-Pull system pulls a series of cables in two separate directions, allowing a 70’ long cage to be installed in a facility as long as 75’.

Beam Brackets / Clamps: (Approx +$250 / depends on size of beams & # required)

Required when joists are not Angle-Iron with gap between, which is used to thread bolts to support pulleys. Custom clamps fabricated to grip beams to support pulley lift points. Used in lieu of drilling into overhead truss structures.

Ceiling Brackets / Clamps: (Approx $60 ea)

If beams are not on the correct centers required for supporting the pulleys at the necessary width, we can fabricate custom brackets to step the center drop-points over to 12'W (for a 14'W cage). If distance is too great, Strand System below is required.

Strand Mounting System: (Approx +$850 / depends on total linear coverage needed)

Required when there is not access to sufficient number of mounting points for pulleys.  Typically a result of obstructions below trusses which would be in pathway of cables, or if spacing of trusses is greater than 14'W, or between 8'-10' on-center (for a 14'W system -- 12'W or other dimensions have different requirements).

Hardware components include a very taut cable system called "strand", steel wall mounting plates, and strand support tubing which provides the additional support structure necessary to stabilize the system.

Steel Tube Extensions for Pulleys: (Approx $50 ea)

Required to work around obstructions in ceiling which hang below joists in area of batting cage. Custom steel tubes which anchor into joists / beams & extend pulleys beyond obstructions to allow for clear cable path.

Winch Tube Mount (+$250)

Creates an adjustable & stable mounting point for the winch. Can be mounted to trusses or a block/concrete wall or headers. Allows for winch to be mounted around tube, which can then be swiveled as needed to adjust cable line, to avoid issues such as tangling which may occur if the cable isn't in a perfectly straight line with the pulleys. The mounting flange is also adjustable up to 3-4", which creates a versatile winch mount without going through the trouble of drilling & re-drilling multiple times to get everything lined up just right. Our seasoned crew even uses this winch mounting tube during installation, which makes installation go MUCH smoother. *If client prefers to custom fabricate tube on site, this can be omitted [PICTURE]

Drive-Pipe System: (Approx +$1,500 / depends on total linear coverage needed & required positioning of Drive-Pipe)

Required when obstructions hang below beams in area of batting cage, or there aren't mounting points for winch & return-pulley. Used in lieu of numerous fabricated tube extensions & extra cables/pulleys to work-around obstructions in path-way of cage.

Consists of 2-3/8" Schedule-10 Black Tube running length of batting cage, and is supported by a 1/4” laser cut bracket with (3) phenolic wheels on which the drive shaft rotates. The cage is lifted by 1/8” galvanized aircraft cable. The cables wind up on individual reels located on the drive shaft at each lift point on frame of cage.

More versatile & stronger system which interacts with winch & pulleys - keeps everything in controlled area directly over cage, instead of requiring cables to run length of facility. Can also handle un-even weight distribution on cage, i.e. basic system requires net to be wrapped on top of frame evenly -- drive-pipe system can handle 100 lbs on one side, and 10 lbs on opposite side, and cage will still retract straight & evenly.

A Drive-Pipe Winch System can virtually be installed in any location, and STILL RETRACT YOUR BATTING CAGE. i.e. it could be installed several feet below and off to the side of the height of your pulleys, whereas a standard winch operated system requires the winch to essentially be in-line with the pulleys. Drive-pipe System weighs approximately 2 lbs / linear ft. [Pictures]

Winch Curtain Lock with Bracket (CL1000): (+$830)

Safety mechanism for winch, keeping cage secure regardless of conditions. Highly recommend for tandem or very long cages - or when cage is retracted very highly or positioned over spectators or players. Includes custom laser-cut bracket to make curtain-lock compatible with facility.

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FAQs

What is NOT included with the Kit? [top]

• Batting Cage Net -- we don't include a net in the price because there are many options with prices that vary greatly - so we prefer to let our customers choose the best net for their situation. If you need a recommendation, just ask.
• You may review our Stock Size Net options - OR get an instant quote here, for a custom size or heavier gauge. We highly recommend using #42 or #60 Nylon for programs with heavy usage. Remember, you wouldn't put KIA quality rims on a Cadillac.
• Installation -- our Professional Installation crew based in Ohio can install this AirCage™ system in ANY building. Don't make the mistake of attempting to save a few hundred bucks for cheap help which may be cheaper per hour, but will most likely take twice as long overall -- in the end it's just not worth the liability. View pictures of our installation crew's previous work - and review a list of some of our references. Just ask for direct contacts.

How can I get a quote for this system? [top]

• First, if you have a skilled fabrication shop & engineer on your staff, we are happy to simply send you our basic kit, as outlined here - base pricing applies for the basic kit. Please keep in mind that based on your facility specs, custom fabrication may be required to make the system compatible with your ceiling. We highly recommend providing us with your specs & pictures, and allowing our experienced crew to perform the fabrication for you, which is done at a very reasonable price.
• The most important step to receiving a Finalized price quote is to complete our online Questionnaire Form, and also return several pictures of your facility -- the sooner we have this info, the sooner we can finalize your hardware list & quote -- you may also fax the completed form to 1.800.577.3046
• You may review our general pricing for 3 different sizes here.
• If you need to print a copy of an estimate for our standard 70'L x 14'W system, you may find it here: Generic Pricing Proposal.
• This system can also be customized to fit ANY size building - so feel free to Contact Us for a price estimate for another size.
• If you would like "firm" pricing, we will need to review your facility specs & pictures, to ensure the system is designed to be compatible with your ceiling instantly out of the box. Don't be baited by lower priced systems, which will be a "one size fits all" design, and may require a large amount of fabrication after you receive it to make it fit with your ceiling -- leave this to the experts and let us do it right the first time.
• Please also provide several pictures: 2-3 full-scale of entire facility, and 2-3 focused on area in ceiling targeted for installation. Also include pics of any obstructions in ceiling, i.e. ducts, divider curtain, piping etc.
• Contact Us with any questions about this process, or to get assistance with completing your Specs.
• If you don't have all the info or pics the 1st time, please just complete as much info as you can, and we will attempt to finalize your pricing, and will let you know if we need additional info.

What are the potential up-charges, and what equipment does it require? [top]

You may review a list of some of the items we have used in the past to create work-arounds to make the system compatible with various facilities, here. However, please realize that this list is not exhaustive, and pricing may vary - this is simply to provide a "ball-park" of the potential up-charges so you aren't caught completely off-guard.

We should mention that we have yet to find ONE facility we weren't able to install this system in - and we have performed hundreds of jobs over the past several years, and encountered virtually EVERY obstacle.

What is your definition of a standard facility that requires no up-charges? [top]

*A "Standard" facility which is instantly compatible with our "base" system, and requires no additional hardware, includes the following main features:

• Flat ceiling
• Bar-Joist "truss" Ceiling structure with Angle-Irons
• Angles include at least a 1/2" open gap between them
• Cage can be positioned parallel to trusses
• Trusses are 14' (on-center) apart, or 7' apart or less
• Trusses are symmetrical throughout facility
• There are no other beams or trusses which hang lower than the mounting surface, which will obstruct with the cage path or cables which need a clear path to the winch
• Ceiling height of 25' or lower (distance from floor to "mounting surface" / trusses)
• Winch can be mounted to truss or solid block wall
• There is at least as much room between the end of the cage and the winch, as there is height from the floor to the ceiling. i.e. If there is only 10' between the end of the cage & the winch, but the cage needs to retract up 20', it would only be able to retract a total of 10', so it would not be completely retracted to the ceiling - this is where the Return Pulley System comes in.
• No obstructions hang below the trusses or "mounting surface" (includes lights, ducts, piping, wires, air-socks, banners etc.) -- these all obstruct the path of the cables which feed into the pulleys -- these can be worked around by our shop fabricating tube extensions which maneuver around the obstacle

*Please realize that this list is not exhaustive. If your facility does not meet all of the criteria above, don't panic - we may still be able to avoid using additional hardware, or the up-charges may not be too high. Review the list of potential extra hardware needed here, or simply contact us to discuss your situation. We can make this system work in ANY facility for a reasonable price - we offer the best value in the industry, guaranteed.

How long will this Batting Cage System last? [top]

• If the cage is treated well - meaning no one is permitted to hang on the net or frame, & the motor is not abused with rapid start & stop activity, this system will easily last 25+ years.
• The first item you will need to replace is the net, which can have a life-span ranging from 1-15 years depending on the quality chosen.
• We recommend regular inspections of this system  (which should be done with any overhead equipment), to ensure it is still secure. The frequency is dependent on your level of use, but annual inspections are advised.

Is this system safe hanging over-head in my facility? [top]

Yes, it is VERY safe and secure. Our crew takes no shortcuts, and we have the strictest of codes to ensure the system is installed with the proper hardware which is specifically Rated/Certified for this type of application. The winch is also attached in 9 different points, and uses vibration-proof Nylon bolts which will not come loose during usage.

The overall weight of our 70'L x 14'W standard sized system (including net) is 550 lbs, which equates to only 7.8 lbs per linear foot. The overall weight is also dispersed by approximately 16-18 pulley attachment points, which requires each attachment point to support about 30-50 lbs at the absolute maximum.

We have had ZERO accidents or injuries during the past 7+ years of installing this system (hundreds). However, just in case, of course we do maintain Workers Compensation & Liability Insurance with The Hartford (company name Practice Sports, Inc.), so in case of a freak accident, you are covered. However, our Liability coverage expires after the first year, unless a certified inspection is performed by an independent company, or us. See directly below for more info on safety inspections.

Regular Safety Inspections: [top]

We STRONGLY recommend performing regular safety inspections of all over-head equipment, including ours. Our equipment should NEVER come loose, but you just never know who may have accessed the system and compromised it's integrity - and with the risk of injury you can't afford NOT to know for sure.

The frequency necessary depends on usage, but at a minimum we recommend annual inspections by a certified company. Relocating the system or modifying/altering/"fixing" the system in any way also voids any liability and warranty, unless otherwise explicitly approved by Practice Sports, Inc. in writing. Please contact us to discuss your plans prior to making modifications.

If you would like our crew to perform an inspection of your batting cage or any other equipment in your facility such as bleachers, basketball hoops, divider curtains etc., simply Contact Us for a quote, and we would be happy to help.

We do also offer maintenance services for a variety of other gym applications - so just ask!

*Practice Sports, Inc. and all of our subsidiaries / partners are not liable for any injury or damage sustained as a result of usage of our equipment.

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Recent AirCage Client List (From Jan 2006-Dec 2008):[top]

36 Clients / 18 States: Arkansas: 1; Colorado: 1; Delaware: 1; Idaho: 1; Illinois: 6; Iowa: 1; Michigan: 2; Montana: 3; Minnesota: 1; New Hampshire: 1; New Mexico: 1; New Jersey: 2; New York: 5; Pennsylvania: 4; Rhode Island: 1; Tennessee: 1; Virginia: 1; Wisconsin: 1

Recent Clients: (From Jan 2006-Dec 2008):
*Direct contacts provided upon request, at permission of client - please do not contact without prior consent.

Army Academy at West Point Foley Athletic Center 717A Howze Road West Point, NY 10996 *Purchased (2) 70'L x 16'W x 14'H Retractable Batting Cages, Custom Fabrication, and Installation

University of Arkansas 1180 W. LadyBack Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72701 *Purchased (2) 70'L x 22'W Retractable Batting Cages, (2) #42 Nylon Batting Cage Nets: 70'L x 22'W x 12'H, Custom Fabrication

University of Memphis 570 Normal St Memphis, TN 38152 *Purchased (1) 70'x14' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net with Latex Dip, and Installation

University of Pennsylvania 3451 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 *Purchased (2) 70'L x 16'W x 14'H Retractable Batting Cages, #36 Custom Nylon Nets, and Installation

Delaware St University 255 College Rd Dover, DE 19901 *Purchased (1) 70 x 28 Retractable Cage, #60 Nylon Cage Net with sliding curtain, Custom fabrication for drop-ceiling, Installation

Fordham University Fordham University 441 East Fordham Road Bronx, NY 10458 *Purchased (2) 70'x14' Retractable Batting Cages, #36 Nylon Nets, and Installation

US Info Systems (dba Vision Sports)
35 W Jefferson Ave
Pearl River, NY 10965
*Purchased (1) Retractable Batting Cage System: 70'L x 26'W, #42 Nylon Net: 70x26x20 with 70x20 #42 Curtain, (1) Retractable Batting Cage System: 70'L x 14'W
#42 Nylon Net: 70x14x14, Custom fabrication, and Installation

Pottstown High School
750 N. Washington
Pottstown, PA 19464
*Purchased (1) 70'x14' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net with Latex Dip, Custom fabrication, and Installation

East Peoria High School
1401 E Washington St
East Peoria, IL 61611
*Purchased (1) 70'x14' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net with Latex Dip, Custom fabrication, and Installation

Linn-Mar High School
3333 North Tenth Street
Marion, IA 52302
*Purchased (1) 65'L x 16'W Retractable Batting Cage, Custom net, Custom Fabrication, and Installation

Lake Shore Central Schools
959 Beach Rd
Angola, NY 14006-9782
*Purchased (1) 75'L x 12'W Retractable Batting Cage, Custom #60 Nylon net, Custom Fabrication, and Installation

Gowanda High School
10674 Prospect St
Gowanda, NY 14070
*Purchased (1) 70'L x 14'W Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon net, Custom Fabrication, and Installation

The Varsity Shop Training Center
2085-B Franklin Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
(248) 874-4920
*Purchased (3) 70'L x 14'W x 14'H, (1) 55'L x 14'W x 14'H, & (1) 70'L x 28'W x 13'8"H Ceiling CurtainCages, #36 Nylon nets, Multiple Perimeter Nets, and Professional Installation

Houston High School
9755 Wolf River Blvd
Germantown, TN 38139
*Purchased (1) 70'L x 14'W x 14'H & (1) 75'L x 25'W x 14'H Retractable Batting Cages, Multiple cable operated barrier nets, #36 Nylon nets, and Professional Installation

Cumberland High School
2600 Mendon Road
Cumberland, RI 02864
*Ordered 65'x12' Retractable Batting Cage, Custom #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

Chatham High School
255 Lafayette Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

Delaware Valley HS
258 Routes 6 & 209
Milford, PA 18337
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

Great Valley High School
225 North Phoenixville Pike
Malvern, PA 19355
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

Harbor Springs High School
327 E. Bluff Drive
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage & #36 Nylon Net

Lena-Winslow High School
401 Fremont St
Lena, IL 61048
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage & #36 Nylon Net

Luna Community College
366 Luna Drive
Las Vegas, NM 87701
*Ordered (2) 55' Retractable Batting Cage Systems & (2) #36 Nylon Nets

McGregor HS
Coach Jon Jacobs
McGregor, MN
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, Nylon Net, and Installation

Mettler Center
2906 Crossing Ct
Champaign, IL 61822
*Purchased Custom 70' x 28' Retractable Batting Cage System & Custom #36 Nylon Net w/divider curtain, Custom Fabrication, & Professional Installation Services

Montana St University
Coach Chris Brown
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage & #36 Nylon Net

University of Montana-Great Falls
Coach Gary Ehnes
1301 20th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59405
*Ordered 60' Retractable Batting Cage & #36 Nylon Net

Monroe High School
1600 26th St.
Monroe, WI 53566
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

Mountain View High School
2000 Millennium Way
Meridian, ID 83642
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net

Osbourn Park High School
9005 Tudor Lane
Manassas, VA 20110
*Ordered 53'x14' Retractable Batting Cage, #21 Nylon Net & Installation

Pawnee HS
Pawnee, IL
Coach Chris Hennemann
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage & #36 Nylon Net

Pittsfield High School
Baseball Coach Schultz
201 East Higbee St
Pittsfield, IL 62363
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

South Beloit Senior High
245 Prairie Hill Rd
South Beloit, IL 61080
*Ordered 70' Retractable Batting Cage, #36 Nylon Net, and Installation

*Please ask for direct contacts.

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• Lightweight unit, only 68 pounds/30.84 kilograms.
• Attached to solid wall or ceiling truss in 9 different points, and uses vibration-proof Nylon bolts which will not come loose during usage.
• A powerful, instantly reversing 3/4 HP motor is governed to stall at 14 amps to prevent overload. It develops over 1,000 pounds/453.51 kilograms of line pull at a speed of 9 feet/2.74 meters per minute.
• The average amp-draw is 9.8 Amps, which means it can utilize a standard "lighting" circuit.
• A large grooved drum, with a 4 1/2 inch/11.42 centimeter diameter, assures long cable life and proper coiling.
• A hardened steel worm gear is supported for both radial and thrust loads, unlike winches that use an unsupported high-speed gear that can create a great strain on the motor, shortening its life.
• Positive locking, the double reduction worm gear drive provides a 200:1 reduction rate that creates a strong cable hold under load. This eliminates the need for special brakes that can overload the motor, causing it to generate excessive heat and shorten its life.
• Sealed gear case uses precision ground bearings and premium seals for superior performance and a lifetime of maintenance-free operation.
• Can be mounted in any position for flexibility during installation.
• Extensive Life Cycle testing assures high quality and long life.
• UL Listed.
• 1/4" aircraft cable wraps at 5.25 per minute.
• Motor has reversing feature to prevent motor burnout.
• Rotary type limit switch located in the 110 volt circuit stops hoist in raised or lowered positions for accurate positioning.

Limited Warranty: 5 year

Shipping weight: 68 lbs.

*Remote available for additional $425.00 - includes 1 transmitter & 1 receiver. Transmitter remote pad can control multiple winch systems in the same gym, i.e. enter code for winch #1 to operate batting cage nets, enter code for winch #2 to operate basketball hoops etc.