PitchBack Baseball and Softball Pitching Net and Rebounder, Black/Red, 2' 9" x 4' 8"

I bought this for my nephew both as a thank you gift, as well as to help him since he is trying out for varsity baseball. This is a terrific tool, especially for him, because he wants to practice being either a pitcher or an outfielder. This device help both at the same time. The concept is simple, throw at the red box and the ball bounces back to you somewhere between a 30-45 degree angle, enabling you to catch some good pop-up balls. Though some energy is lost in the physics of the ball bouncing and reversing velocity, it basically pops back to you. If you throw it too high, then the angle is deflected higher and you have to scramble to catch that fly ball. If you throw too low, it comes back to you as a grounder (great if you want to play shortstop). The best part about this is that you can play by yourself as long as you want. A pitching machine means virtually the same pitches each time, and you must constantly reload if you are by yourself. If you want to stop in the middle of pitches, you will inevitably have balls to chase. With the pitching net, you only catch what you throw and unless your aim is really bad, you can play for hours with a single ball (hardball or softball). As a pro tip, if you are as bad at throwing and catching as I am, stand close to the net and practice lighting tossing at the red square. They say practice makes perfect, but in reality, practice makes habit so only perfect practice makes perfect. Hone your technique and aim at shorter distances, then over time start stepping back and increasing power -- all while maintaining your aim and technique. Practice correctly and you can expand your range later with less effort.

This is a great item for a child to start learning the game of baseball. My 5 yr old took to it right away and has really gotten into it. The net is of good quality as well as the poles used to build the frame. Its one of the easiest things to put together and you need absolutely no tools to do so. You get the grounders, fly balls and line drives all in one with this rebound net. Im extremely pleased with this purchase. Everything is of good quality and easy to assemble. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to introduce a young one to the sport of baseball. P.S. I wanted to add this little remark....when putting the net on the frame, it does take a little pulling to get the hooks set in the net. READ THE ENTIRE SECTION ON ATTACHING THE NET BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ATTACH THE NET. The easiest way to attach it is by the picture in the direction. 4 hooks on top. 4 hooks on bottom. 8 hooks on each side as follows. \\\\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\\\ This layout of hooking the net up is absolutely the easiest way to attach the net to the frame. Good luck and PLAY BALL!!!!!! Apparently, the layout doesnt look right after I publish my review. But you all should get the idea.

I like the way the ball rebounds when you pitch or throw a ball into it. My daughter will be able to practice softball pitching without me catching for her every time. Less hits in the shin and face for me. Assembly was easy. But, when I first started throwing balls into it, the frame would fall apart. The clips that hold the bars for the frame together are light metal clips that come loose when you throw a ball into the net. So, first I thought of duct tape. But, then I thought of the zip ties that held the bars together in the packaging. You can take zip ties and run them through the clips on the frame and hold the frame together. Ended up being a quick and easy solution. See the picture I attached to this review. Without using these zip ties, I would have given up on this net because it fell apart almost every time I threw a ball at it. With the zip ties in place, I haven't had a problem since. Hopefully the clips hold up over time, I have only used it for about 15 minutes. If not, I can go back to the duct tape idea again.

Most nets cost around $40 or $50. I saw this and thought, "hey, a good deal". Well, it wasn't. The problems start as soon as you open the box. The directions weren't easy to follow. Then we went to put it in (you can't use it on cement). We tried to put the stakes in the ground and it took quite a while, several different spots of grass, and a malet to finally get them to go in. I throw a ball - very lightly - at it and it tipped over. We put a few large cemement blocks and placed them on the two base tubes. If you throw it too high, it starts to collapse again and the ball comes back slowly. When you throw it too low, the ball bounces twenty feet behind you and way to high for you to catch. When you throw it in the middle, you get a line drive, but you it's not fast. So, I tried moving back farther, and I threw the ball literally no faster than 40 miles per hour and it collapsed. That's why it can't be used for pitching. If it's used for hitting balls into, the balls go all over the place instead of just falling. Well, I put it together again and threw another ball. This ball was even slower but it hit the side, and that side collapsed. I put it together, AGAIN, and threw the ball. Now, this ball was thrown around 30 MPH, and I've only been using the product for a minute or two. And the net literally rips. I threw a ball - only 30 MPH - and it rips! You may be trying to save money by using this product. But don't! Either buy the more expensive product, don't buy one at all, or make your own -- you can probably do a better job with your own hands and a $10 budget. The product wasn't worth the money at all. Five minutes of fixing the net until it broke was not what I expected.

The net structure itself is great. Excellent rebound. You'll know you hit the strike zone when it comes straight back to you. HOWEVER, it's unstable as heck. Completely useless without backup stabilization. The included stakes are a joke. We are using a couple of scrap boards and a heavy bucket of dirt to keep it from falling over with every single pitch. The tube connectors are also super light duty, but some zip ties/twist ties around the tubes (through the little connector tabs) will keep everything together. The ribbon that came with ours was about half the length we needed, but thankfully we happened to have some red ribbon in our craft stash that worked perfectly. This is going to keep my baseball-crazed offspring very busy, but only purchase this if you can't afford a higher quality option and if you have something to stabilize it with! Otherwise you'll have a pretty disappointed kiddo on your hands.

My grandnephew is beginning T-ball this year, and I wanted a pitchback to help him learn to throw and to catch... or at least keep his eye on the ball (I think he'd rather chase it than catch it). This SKLZ Youth Pitchback is perfect. It is a great size - small enough to move easily, but big enough to provide plenty of rebound angles. At 5, he is small and doesn't have much of an arm (either in strength or coordination for throwing to a target). Having the target area to aim for and net to rebound his throws at different angles is great for keeping him (sort of) focused. And when he's done, the adults have just as much fun with it, too. The net seems to be well made, so will hopefully last (with proper care, of course) for years to come. It has 4 slip-on stakes to help secure it to the ground. They are small, so I am not sure they will stand up to hard pitching practice, but seem to do well enough even when we "older kids" are throwing. This is an inexpensive practice tool that I think would work well for anyone who wants to work on hitting the zone or catching. It is a youth pitchback, however, so regardless of how well it appears to be made, I'm not sure I would recommend it for someone older who wants to really hurl the ball.

As an avid baseball enthusiast and coach, I was eager to enhance my son's training regimen with the SKLZ PitchBack Baseball and Softball Pitching Net and Rebounder. However, my excitement quickly turned into frustration and disappointment after just a few weeks of use. One of the most glaring issues with this product is its lack of durability. Despite being purchased less than two months ago, the net has already begun to show signs of wear and tear. The rings, which are supposed to provide stability and rebound, have started to dry rot, compromising their effectiveness. This deterioration not only affects the overall performance of the PitchBack but also raises concerns about its longevity. Moreover, the net itself has proven to be far from robust. After repeated hits with the baseball, it began to tear in several areas, rendering it increasingly ineffective for its intended purpose. Whether it's due to poor craftsmanship or inadequate materials, the fact remains that the product failed to withstand the relatively modest demands of regular use. Beyond its lackluster durability, the SKLZ PitchBack also falls short in terms of functionality. While it initially appeared to offer a convenient and versatile solution for pitching and fielding practice, its subpar performance has left me questioning its value. Instead of providing reliable rebounding and target practice, it has become a source of frustration and inconvenience. Overall, my experience with the SKLZ PitchBack Baseball and Softball Pitching Net and Rebounder has been overwhelmingly negative. From the premature deterioration of the rings to the rapid deterioration of the net itself, it has failed to meet even the most basic expectations. As a consumer, I expected a product that would enhance my son's training routine, not one that would require constant maintenance and replacement. For anyone considering purchasing this product, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere for a more durable and reliable alternative.

My daughter just started softball 10U and this has been the best thing to help her. So easy to put together! Only complaint is the hooks don’t hold it in the ground good AT ALL but otherwise great purchase!