Why Baseball Simulators Are Replacing Traditional Nets

Baseball training has always been about repetition, consistency, and refining technique. For decades, players have relied on traditional nets or batting cages. While useful, these setups offer limited feedback and very little personalisation. Today, technology has introduced a smarter alternative: the baseball simulator. For the same price as a net session, simulators provide data, video analysis, and customizable drills that accelerate player development.

Traditional Nets: Familiar but Limited

Nets and batting cages are the go-to option for most players. They’re accessible, widely available, and offer a straightforward way to get reps in.

• Cost in the UK: Renting a batting cage session costs about £20 to £35 per session.
• Cost in the USA: Commercial batting cages typically charge $20 to $40 per session.

The problem? Nets offer little feedback. Players can hit hundreds of balls, but they don’t get metrics on swing quality, launch angles, or ball trajectory. Improvement is often based on guesswork. Secondly, traditional nets or ball-throwing machines are not easy to operate for all and requires supervision.

Baseball Simulators: Data-Driven Training

A baseball simulator transforms training into a smarter, more efficient experience. Here’s how it works:

Register Your Profile
Every player creates a profile to store swing data, ball-tracking results, and videos. This allows you to measure progress over time, across all global BatFast Simulators.

Choose Your Game Mode
Want structured practice? Select match scenarios with pitch sequences. Looking for volume? Choose randomised balls to maximise the number of reps in a session, hitting over 300 balls in an hour.

Targeted Training
With drag-and-drop controls, you can select the exact pitch trajectory you want to face. Practice fastballs, curveballs, or inside deliveries repeatedly until you’ve mastered them.

Ball Tracking Cameras
Simulators capture ball speed, spin, exit velocity, and launch angle, metrics that are critical for understanding performance.

Video Analysis
Every swing is paired with video footage. Players can compare stance, posture, and swing mechanics against the ball data from the same pitch.

Post-Session Access
Once you finish, all your data and videos are saved to your profile, ready to review before your next baseball training session.

Cost Comparison: Same Price, Smarter Value

At BatFast, simulator sessions cost £20 to £30 per hour, with memberships starting at £40 per month. Compared to nets:

• UK nets: £20 – £35 per session.
• USA cages: $20 – $40 per session.

The cost is nearly identical, but the value isn’t. With nets, you’re paying for reps. With simulators, you’re investing in data, feedback, and smarter baseball training that accelerates improvement.

Conclusion: The Future of Baseball Training

Traditional nets will always have their place, but for players serious about improvement, baseball simulators are the future. For the same price, they deliver game-like scenarios, personalised drills, and powerful data analysis. The result? Smarter training, measurable progress, and better performance on the field.

To re-engineer the future of sport. For the Thrill of the Hit.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US today to learn more about how BatFast can help you elevate your business

FAQs

1. Is baseball training on a simulator better than traditional batting cages?
Yes. While batting cages help with repetition, a baseball simulator provides real-time feedback with ball-tracking cameras and video analysis. This makes training smarter, as you can track improvement and focus on specific skills rather than guessing.

2. How much does baseball training cost in the UK and the USA?
In the UK, batting cages typically cost £20 to £35 per session. In the USA, prices range from $15 to $40 per session. Baseball simulators are competitively priced at around £20 – £30 per session, with memberships starting at £40 per month, offering more value for the same cost.

3. Can a baseball simulator help me practice specific pitches?
Absolutely. Baseball simulators let you select pitch types and trajectories: fastballs, sliders, curveballs, or inside pitches, so you can train for specific in-game scenarios and refine your technique.

4. What kind of data does a baseball simulator provide?
Simulators track ball speed, spin rate, exit velocity, and launch angle. This data, combined with synchronised video replay, allows players to analyse posture, stance, and timing for deeper baseball training insights.

5. Who can benefit from baseball simulator training?
From beginners to professionals, anyone can benefit. New players get guided practice with game modes, while advanced players use analytics to fine-tune mechanics and prepare for real match situations.