Best Baseball Practice Nets - Tested, rated and reviewed (2024)

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#1 – Best hitting net for Baseball & Softball

For just abou any baseball or softball family, it really helps to have a good all-purpose, travel practice net for hitting or throwing into. Today it’s become so that there are many similar hitting nets out there. The 3 we trust to be good and not junk are the portable pop-up nets from:

1. Tanner Tees 7×7 Pop-up Net (with carry case)
2. Rukket 7×7 Pop Up Net (with or without heavy balls)
3. Bownet Original Big Mouth net – 7×7

Pros

• Team or individual Use. Ideal for travel teams or at-home practice. You probably won’t see this net used at baseball schools unless they need a portable net.
• Stability. During our test, I did NOT utilize the ground steaks that come with the net, and still it didn’t budge when I hit into itoff a batting tee. If it can handle the higher force of a weighted baseball off a bat no problem, then it’s a given that it can handle throwing into it.
• Travel-sized. When you break down the Bownet big mouth, it fits into a fairly slim travel bag (4′ long) with a shoulder strap – easy to carry (15 lbs) and easy to fit in a car.
• Safety. The large size helps reduce the chance of missing the net. And the “Big Mouth” pocket is meant to reduce bounce-back. I found the sock net didn’t always catch the baseball, but in our experience it did reduce bounce-backso I didn’t get hit by baseballs bouncing back after being smashed into the net.
• Versatile. Unlike my other favorite net, the 9 hole Pitchers Pocket (see review and video below), the Bownet Big Mouth can be used for both hitting and throwing practice. Soft toss, hitting off a batting tee, throwing practice for infielders/outfielders/catchers, pitchers… Pretty much any baseball or softball practice can be done with this baseball practice net.

• Easy to assemble. Of all the true travel nets (I’m not counting the Pitcher’s Pocket), the Bownet Big Mouth was the easiest and fastest to setup (90 seconds) and take down (60 seconds). The next fastest was the Sklz Quickster, which clocked in at a 2 minute setup time. So not a huge difference, but the Bow net baseball was simpler/less confusing and just easier, with fewer parts to break and cause trouble.
• Accessories.Unlike the Bownet, where you have to buy the strike zone separately, the Rukket net just comes with it. Also the weighted baseballs are AWESOME (see next).
• Weighted baseballs. The weighted baseballs are an optional bundle that you can choose. Personally, I like the weighted balls. They make for a great tee drill, where you have to figure out how to be really powerful in your lower half in order to keep proper form and hit the weighted ball with some force. It’s great for learning how to use your legs properly, as well as developing strength.

Cons

• I can’t think of too many cons for this net. The balls even stayed in the net and didn’t bounce out.
• No bounce back feature (If you are looking for this, check out below). If you are looking for a net that does bounce the ball back to you, this is not it.

Options. You can choose the net with or without the weighted baseballs

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#2 – Best bounceback /pitchback net for baseball or softball

The bounceback net is one of absolute favorite ways to practice throwing and fielding a baseball at home. You can get in many reps, and do many types of drills. It’s the best friend of energetic kids (and busy parents).

The Winner in this category of “best rebounder for baseball” has evolved over the years.

Originally, I had declared the rebounder from Rukket as my favorite one. But now, things have changed.

First let me say….

I’ve tried a LOT of different rebounders over the years…

❌ Some were good, but HUGE! As I said, the FORMER winner was the Rukket rebounder. And I still like it. But it fit in this category. It was SO BIG that it felt like it was always in the way. And it wasn’t portable at all. So finally I got fed up with it and gave it to a neighbor.

❌ Another really common problem is that the “all sport” rebounders have net holes too large, so the baseball didn’t bounce accurately. They’re great for soccer, but not baseball.

❌ The most common of all problems is just poor quality materials. These rebounders would quickly got holes in the net, or worst of all, they just wouldn’t bounce well.

For all these reasons, I was thrilled when I finally found the perfectly sized, high quality 3×3 Pro Rebounder

In fact, I was so thrilled, that we started selling it directly AND I created a whole series of follow-along fielding drills (videos) to go with it!
⚠️ The drills by themselves sell for $99 in the Academy at PBI, but you can actually get them for free when you buy the rebounder here 👉 Rebounder with Follow-Along fielding drill videos Here’s a video with more info on these fielding drills that you can do at home:

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#3 – Best Throwing Net – WINNER: Review of the Pitcher’s Pocket 9 Hole Net

NOT just for pitchers.

For catchers, pitchers, and infield throwing practice. The Pitcher’s Pocket 9 holeby Better Baseball was the first baseball practicenet I tested, and I really like it.

Comparing the Pitcher’s Pocket to the Big Mouthis like comparing apples and oranges. The Pitcher’s Pocket really isn’t a “travel sized” net(though it will fit in most cars). It has features the Bownet doesn’t – like immediate feedback regarding throwing accuracy. But it also isn’t as versatile as the Big Mouth, since you won’t use this practice net for hitting.

Pros

• Team or individual Use. The Pitcher’s Pocketis the throwingnet of choice for some very elite baseball schools I have worked with. It is alsoideal for individuals practicing at home. So, it’s durable enough to hold up to team use, but it’s not sized or priced out of range for individual use.
• Easy to assemble. And by that, I mean really easy. It comes fully assembled except you have to insert the legs.
• Sturdy. Stable enough to take high-velocity throwing. Durable enough for commercial use.
• Easy to store /Portable.
  1. Home – This net is really perfect for at-home throwing practice. It’slight enough for one person to easily move itaround, and it’s easy to store since the height drops and the legs spin to lay flat with the net.
  2. Field – Easy for one person to move around, and useful for a variety of positions. Catcher’s throwing to 2nd base. Pitcher’s strike zone. Or raise it up for infielders to work on accuracy throwing to first base.
  3. Car – The net fit in the back seat of my car, which is a sedan, but not the trunk. I’m sure it would fit in an average SUV no problem. So, by portable, I don’t mean “travel sized.” It’s not going to fit in your backpack or anything like that.
• Unique throwing target. The 9 pockets (12 or 16 pockets also available) are helpful for evaluating throwing accuracy. The feedback is immediate and concrete. The ball is where it is. No debating or disagreeing – except maybe for the occasional ball that hits a bungee cord instead and pops out. The net raises up to the height of a normal person, or lowers to simulate a strike zone. This means it can work for pitching drills, as well as catching, infield and outfield drills.For coaches thinking outside the box, the net could be use for competitive games during team practice. (If you have thought of a good game to utilize the pockets in this baseball throwing net, please let us know! We’ll send you a book of drills or a T-shirt or something.)
• Options. This throwing net comes in quite a few different colors. It’s also available in 9, 12, or 16 holes. The 9 hole is3′ 6″ Tallx 2′ 8″ Wide and the 16 hole is4’5″ Tall by 4′ Wide.

Cons

• Minor annoyance – I wasn’t a fan of the thumbscrews that are used to raise and lower the net, just because they can slip if not tightened enough. But they do get the job done, so it’s not really a big deal. Just make sure they’re tightened enough. The good part is it only takes alittle turn to loosen the screws and the net will raise or lower easily, or the legs can be turned to lay flat with the net for storage.
• Not really a travel net – If you’re looking for a baseball practice net that will break down into a very small travel size, this isn’t it. It will fit into most cars, but if your car is small, it’s going to take up you whole back seat.

Options. This throwing net comes in quite a few different colors. It’s also available in 9, 12, or 16 holes. The 9 hole is3′ 6″ Tallx 2′ 8″ Wide and the 16 hole is4’5″ Tall by 4′ Wide.

(Check out the video aboveto see the net in action)

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