I live in the Galleria area. Anyone know where some relatively close batting cages are? I'm going to start playing in a rec league, but it's been awhile since I've hit a ball. In fact, I had to go get a new glove, since my only other one is a size youth, if that says anything about the last time I've played.
I don't know how close you'll think it is...but Baseball USA on the Tollway just north of I-10 (near CityCentre) has cages.
http://www.baseballusa.com/ $1/16 pitches for coin operated cages. Goes from 40 to about 65 or 70 mph.
Yeah, I've seen it. It's off of Beltway 8 exit Hammerly. I live in the South side and go to Golf and Games here off 45 and Almeda. $30 gets you a full hour of batting cages.
Why do you guys or gals go to batting cages? EDIT: I just saw your statement, OP. I apologize I missed it the first time. I know some people go just for fun... and others to continue training... I was wondering if there are other reasons... I'd like to take my kids some day... just to show them... batting is fun, but waiting 8 turns and standing out there fielding seems a bit boring to me. Good thing there are batting cages out there, but... why aren't there fielding cages?
because unlike pitching/hitting which is contained vertically..fielding is not. i go because i love it...because i miss playing (my last competitive baseball game ever was one of the worst days of my life - sheltered life, i know)...but mostly i go so my kids can practice.
ummm..no, thanks. actually Baseball USA has long vertical cages that you could conceivably hit grounders in....but they're used for hitting/pitching practice instead. but you'd be completely limited as to motion left or right. the whole concept of "ranging over to the ball" would be lost.
Hmmm... gives me somewhere to start... a-la "virtual golf screens"... where you hit the ball and it goes into the screen and simulated as a long drive... but backwards for a baseball fielder... you know?
:grin: OK, then. Like this: Spoiler <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSgJ3f1YSYQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSgJ3f1YSYQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> But instead, put the golf player virtual dude INSIDE the screen, and make the ball come to the REAL dude with a glove... and the ball comes fast out of the hole (that's what she said) and the fielder has to grab it... etc.
what's the advantage to this over having someone (for free) hit you or throw you grounders, pop-ups and line drives?
That's exactly the same thing a coworker just told me... but my response was that the same could be said for batting cages for hitters... no? I mean, you COULD have someone pitching to you (for free), but you pay for batting cages. All I'm saying is that there is no one out there practicing fielding in cages, is all. So... it CAN be done... no? Fielding as practice is probably reserved only to doing it with an organized team... I think.
no...because someone pitching to you has to have: 1. velocity, AND 2. control. Most people don't. And you wear your arm out pitching like that. You get more reps against machines that put the ball in a spot where you can hit it at over and over again. And your last point is true too...1/2 of fielding is what you do with the ball after you've fielded it....depending on the game situation.
