How to Construct a Baseball Backstop

For the up-and-coming baseball all-star, practice is critical. However, getting in those extra hours of practice can be difficult if your home lacks the appropriate facilities. Instead of hauling your equipment to a practice field or batting cage, create your own practice facility in your own back yard. Creating a baseball backstop at home is a cheap and easy way to get in countless hours of practice without the need to travel.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring Tape
  • Chalk Line
  • Post Hole Diggers
  • Level
  • 3-10ft long 4x4 Boards
  • 75-lb Bag of Concrete Mix
  • Water
  • Power Drill
  • 12 Eye Hooks
  • 2-30ft by 8ft Nylon Nets
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the location of your backstop. You will need a large piece of land, preferably flat land, for the backstop. The land will need to be at least 80 feet wide to accommodate the backstop with additional space.

    • 2

      Measure the area where you will construct your backstop. Determine where you want your center point to be and place a marker there for measuring purposes. Measure 30 feet to the left and right of your center point to create the sides of your backstop. The side sections should be placed at a wide angle so that the backstop is shaped like a very wide 'v'; the angle should be approximately eight feet wide at the base. Snap the chalk line along the ground to create a guideline for later use.

    • 3

      Dig your post holes. Drill one hole at the center point and one hole at each end of the 30 ft lines. You should have three post holes total. Use your post hole digger to create three holes that have a depth of two ft each.

    • 4

      Place one of your 4x4s in the hole at the center point. Place the level on the top of the post to make sure your post is level.

    • 5

      Fill the hole with the dry concrete mix. You should use approximately 25 lbs, or one third of the bag, in each post hole. Add water to the hole. Follow the specific directions on the bag of concrete for best results. Allow the concrete to set for 24 hours before moving on.

    • 6

      Repeat the process explained in step five for the remaining posts. However, for the side posts you will need to angle the posts so that they line up with the center post along the chalk line you have snapped.

    • 7

      Prepare the posts for the net to be attached. Drill three holes on each of the outer posts. The holes should be drilled on the side of the post that points towards the center post. Place the holes at 2 ft, 4 ft, and 6 ft from the ground.

    • 8

      Drill the holes in the center post. Place three holes on each side of the center post so that you have six holes total. Place the holes at 2 ft, 4 ft, and 6 ft from the ground.

    • 9

      Insert one eye hook into each of the holes you have drilled, making sure that the eye hook is securely inserted into the wood.

    • 10

      Attach the nets to the eye hooks. Stretch each net across between the center post and the end post. Loop the net around the eye hook in the corresponding location.