The question I get more than any other is "which net should I buy?" — and the honest answer is that most people buy the wrong one, because they pick the biggest net they can afford instead of the right net for their space and their player. I've seen a 7x7 net wedged into a garage with seven feet of depth (every full swing hits the frame) and a 5x5 net set up in a backyard where a 12-year-old's home runs sail right over it. Both setups are useless, and both cost real money. Here's how to actually choose.
Step one: measure your space before you measure the net
Nobody tells you this, but the size on the box is the net's footprint, not the space you need around it. For a full swing with a baseball bat, you need about 12 feet from the hitter to the net — the bat, the arms, and the follow-through all need room. For pitching, you need 30-40 feet for a meaningful throwing distance. So the first question isn't "what size net?" — it's "what does my space give me?"
- Garage or basement: measure the depth first. Less than 12 feet means you'll be doing tee work and soft toss with a shorter distance, which changes what size net you can use
- Backyard: measure the clear area, and remember the wind. A big net in an open yard needs stakes or sandbags or it becomes a sail
- Indoor room: check the ceiling too — a full swing needs headroom as much as depth
The three sizes that actually matter
Here's the breakdown, honestly:
The 5x5 net
Small, light, cheap — and it's the right call for one specific job: young kids (8 and under) using soft balls or doing tee work at close range. For anyone swinging a real bat at real speed, 5x5 is too small — balls fly past the edges, and the small target teaches nothing about aim. It's a starter net, not a training net.
The 7x7 net
The workhorse. A 7x7 gives you a full-size target for full swings, room for strike zone targets, and enough mesh for pitching from shorter distances. This is the one I'd buy for 90 percent of families — it covers hitting, soft toss, and even fielding rebound drills. It's the size that survives as the kid grows, which is the real measure of value.
The 9-hole net
This one isn't a hitting net at all — it's a pitcher's target. The nine pockets give you a literal strike zone to attack, with the official 18x22 inch zone in the middle. If your player throws, this is the tool; if they only hit, skip it and get the flat 7x7.
Match the net to the player
Age and role decide everything:
- 8 and under, hitting: start with the 7x7 anyway. Kids grow fast, and the 5x5 will be outgrown in a season. Use soft balls indoors and the net lasts years.
- 9-14, hitter: 7x7, full stop. The $59.99 version handles full swings with the 7-strand knotless mesh, and the premium at $69.99 adds the strike zone target for accuracy games.
- Pitcher at any age: 9-hole at $55.55. Set it up at 30-40 feet and work the pockets. This is also the best arm-care tool for mechanics reps.
- Both hitter and pitcher in the house: the 7x7 plus the 9-hole is the full setup — two nets, about $125 total, and every practice need is covered.
The $59.99 vs $69.99 question
Here's the honest difference between the two 7x7 nets we make: the $59.99 version is a solid, no-frills net — 7-strand knotless polyester, steel base, assembles in two minutes, carries in a bag. The $69.99 premium version adds a second strike zone target, a heavier frame for outdoor wind, and ground stakes for stability. If you're setting up outdoors or you want the accuracy training built in, the extra ten bucks is worth it. If it's living in a garage corner, the $59.99 does the job.
The verdict by scenario
Here's the whole decision in four lines:
- Small space, soft balls, little kids: 5x5 is fine — but expect to upgrade
- Most families: 7x7 at $59.99 or $69.99, one and done
- Pitchers: 9-hole at $55.55, non-negotiable for command work
- Serious setup: 7x7 premium plus 9-hole — under $130 for a full hitting and pitching lab
A net is a multi-year investment, and the right size is the one that fits your space today and your player next year. Measure the room, count the players, pick the size that does both jobs — and stop guessing.