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Best Batting Cages In The Bay Area

(credit: Jeff Carlick/Getty Images)

Batting cages offer baseball and softball enthusiasts the best opportunity to perfect their swings. Indoor cages offer the benefits of practice without field distractions such as sun or wind, and outdoor cages help a hitter with a pitching machine concentrate on the power to work on the area of swing that needs improvement. Here are five top-rated batting cage venues to try around the Bay Area.

Batter's Box
933 Old Mason St.
San Francisco, CA 94129
(707) 412-8228
www.battersboxsf.com

Located at beautiful Crissy field, Batter's Box provides a safe, fun and challenging experience for ball game fans of all ages. This premiere softball and baseball batting cage is the first of its kind in San Francisco history. The variable speed pitching machines with a virtual pitcher give even the youngest batter a safe experience, while experienced adults will find excitement along with a challenge as they practice. Batter's Box is the perfect place to work on your game with a lesson or seasonal camp, throw a birthday party, rent a cage for friends or an office or club team, or enjoy a few rounds of casual fun with family or friends.

The Cage
25 Karen Road
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 394-4012
www.cagebaseball.com

The Cage is a premier indoor softball and baseball facility with a whopping 5,000 square feet of training space. There are five professional-grade batting cages plus two clay pitching mounds for players to work on their swing. There are also two indoor waiting areas with flat TVs, free Internet access and ample parking to help make time at The Cage both productive and relaxing. The Cage owners Jeff Hipps and Matt Brown have more than 20 years of combined experience in Major League Baseball and provide individual instruction and team training to players of all ages. The Cage offers two tunnels 85' long, 25' wide and 15' high, and is a private facility available by appointment only.

Payless Batting Cages
2700 E. Olivera Road
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 825-7526
www.bayareabattingcages.com

Conveniently located in Willow Pass Fields and open seven days a week, Payless has a large fan base of players and their kids who like the clean facility, properly working equipment, bats and helmets for use and friendly staff. Being surrounded by well-maintained baseball fields is another plus for this super convenient spot, as hitters can get additional practice. Pro instruction for private and group training is available for every level, from beginners who want to learn about the game, to experienced players eager to take their games to the next level. Visit the website to learn about the Baseball/Softball Camps for youth training that provide instruction in a safe environment for boys and girls to develop their skills. Payless offers five covered dual all-season baseball/softball cages with ball drying equipment to assure perfect pitches during winter months.

Future Pro Baseball
1704 Rollins Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 270-4545
www.futureprobb.com

Future Pro is the real deal and an ideal place for young people to learn from the pros. According to the Future Pro website, "Operated by former San Francisco Giant Terry Whitfield, FUTURE PRO is a state-of-the-art batting cage facility, which also provides professional level batting and pitching instructions for players of all ages looking to develop and improve their baseball skills." Baseball and softball aficionados will enjoy the two-speed LED pitching machines that provide a realistic game-like experience with left- and right-handed pitches, and the special toss machines for hitters. Need more guidance? Terry Whitfield provides hitting instruction to students of all ages and has been coaching hitters for over 20 years. Also here is Future Pro's pitching coach Ed Ricks who previously played with the Yankees, White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Bats and helmets are also available.

Athletic Edge
260 Water St., Suite F
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-5905
www.athleticedgenow.com

Athletic Edge is a good indoor batting place for batting and pitching practice in any weather, plus private coaching lessons are available too. There is even a full pro shop right on the premises, so all of your baseball and softball needs are covered. There is so much happening at Athletic Edge including batting cages, camps and clinics for youth, private lessons, fall leagues, travel ball, AE Academy and the AE Sport Shop. Visit the website for full details on everything Athletic Edge offers.

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


 

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