How to Build a Pitching Screen

A pitching screen, designed to protect a pitcher from injury during batting practice, can be expensive if purchased new. However, you can build one out of PVC pipe material with very little cost or effort. A basic L-shaped pitching screen will take two to three hours to construct, and can save you more than $100 of the cost of purchasing one new.

Things You'll Need

  • 45 feet of 2-inch PVC pipe
  • 4 90-degree elbow fittings
  • 4 45-degree wye bend fittings
  • 3 end cap fittings or plugs
  • 2 90-degree side outlet elbow fittings
  • Pipe glue and primer
  • Cargo net, 7 feet by 7 feet
  • 6 1-inch screws
  • Screwgun
  • Nylon rope
  • Sand
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the 45 feet of pipe into the following dimensions using the hacksaw: One piece, 7 feet; Eight pieces, 3 1/2 feet; Two pieces, 4 feet 11 inches.

    • 2

      Attach two of the 3 1/2-foot pieces with a wye bend fittings, putting an elbow on top and a side outlet elbow on bottom. Use primer and glue at each of the joints. Make sure the elbow and side outlets are pointing the same direction, and the wye points down.

    • 3

      Attach three more 3 1/2-foot pieces in a stair-step pattern with elbows at the joints. Join the remaining wye fitting to the end elbow with the coupling and add another 3 1/2-foot piece to the end of the wye. At the end of the last piece attach the remaining side outlet elbow.

    • 4

      Attach the 7-foot piece to the two side outlet unions, then attach the elbow at the top of the piece made in Step 2 to the Step 3 piece. Glue the 5-foot pieces to the wyes and add wyes to the ends. Add the remaining 3 1/2-foot pieces to the side outlet elbows and attach them to the wyes. This completes the frame.

    • 5

      Stretch the net across the frame and tie it to the frame at 6-inch intervals with the nylon rope. At the corners, add a 1-inch screw through the frame to hold the net in place. You can add more screw if desired. Trim the net at the frame's L.

    • 6

      Pour sand into the frame to give it weight. Add the caps or plugs at the remaining openings in the wyes.