JUGS Protector Blue Series Square Screen with Sock-Net

The JUGS Protector Blue Series Square Screen with Sock-Net is a 7 foot by 7 foot padded baseball screen with a 3 foot sock net built into the face. Hit a ball into the target area and it drops into the sock instead of rolling around the cage, which makes it a hitting station for soft toss and tee work as much as a protective screen. The heavy-duty 60-ply netting, padded 1.5 inch steel frame and bolted joints also let it stand in front of a feeder or pitcher during live arm drills.

The Sock-Net: Hitting Station and Ball Collector

The 3 foot Sock-Net is a deep pocket sewn into the screen. During soft toss or tee work, a hitter drives balls into the sock, and they collect at the bottom instead of scattering. A coach working a bucket of balls spends less time chasing and more time tossing, and a hitter alone at a tee can work through a whole bucket and then empty the sock in one trip.

The sock also gives the hitter a defined target. Driving balls into a 3 foot area rewards a square, middle-of-the-field swing and makes a mishit obvious, which is the feedback you want from tee and toss drills.

Three Drills, One Screen

• Tee work: place the tee a few feet in front of the screen and hit into the sock. Good for a quick warm-up before batting practice or a solo session at home.
• Soft toss: a coach kneels to the side and tosses into the hitting zone while the hitter drives balls into the sock. A JUGS Soft Toss Machine can take the place of a tossing coach.
• Live arm and pitcher drills: the square screen stands in front of a feeder or pitcher working on short-distance drills, with the full 7 by 7 face as cover.

Padded Frame and Heavy-Duty Netting

The frame is built from 1.5 inch diameter, 1.2 mm thick, 1020 cold-rolled steel tubing, so the screen stays put while taking line drives from close range. The netting is black, double-thick 60-ply Dacron polyester designed to absorb impact. Vinyl-covered pearl-foam padding wraps the frame to protect players and baseballs, and to extend the life of the screen. Joints bolt together, with no welding or lacing, which keeps setup quick and makes it easy to fit the Sock-Net option of the Protector Blue Series replacement netting when the original net wears out.

Setting Up a Sock-Net Hitting Station

Place the screen on flat ground with the sock facing the hitter. For tee work, set the tee a few feet in front of the screen, close enough that a well-struck ball reaches the sock on a line but far enough that the hitter's follow-through clears the frame. For soft toss, the tosser kneels off to the side at an angle so the ball crosses the plate area and the hitter drives it straight ahead into the sock. Keep a bucket nearby and empty the sock between rounds so the pocket does not get overloaded.

When the screen moves to live arm drills, turn it so the full face sits between the feeder and the hitter. The padded frame and 60-ply netting take the line drives, and the sock still catches balls that find it.

Taking Care of the Screen

Check the sock and the main net for broken strands before each session; the sock takes the most direct hits, so it is usually the first spot to show wear. Tighten any loose bolts at the joints, and look over the padding for tears where balls strike the frame. When the netting wears out, the frame stays in service and only the net needs replacing.

Choosing a Sock-Net Screen

JUGS builds its square Sock-Net screen at two levels. This Blue Series model covers youth leagues through college programs. The black JUGS Protector Series Square Screen with Sock-Net adds heavier netting, the Protector Series Wheel Kit for one-person moves and a 5-year frame and 2-year netting warranty, for hitting facilities that run toss stations all day.

If you need a screen to throw batting practice through instead of hitting into, the Protector Blue Series L-Shaped Pitchers Screen has a pitcher's cutout, and the Protector Blue Series Short-Toss Screen is built for close front toss. Softball coaches looking for a pitching screen should see the Protector Blue Series C-Shaped Softball Screen.

Who This Sock-Net Screen Is For

• Baseball coaches who run soft toss and tee stations at practice.
• Players hitting alone at home who want balls collected for them.
• Youth leagues, high schools and colleges setting up multi-station hitting practice.
• Backyard players with a cage who want one screen for drills and protection.

JUGS Protector Blue Series Square Screen with Sock-Net Specifications

• Sport: baseball
• Style: square protective screen with built-in Sock-Net
• Size: 7 feet by 7 feet
• Sock-Net: 3 feet
• Netting: black, double-thick 60-ply Dacron polyester
• Frame: 1.5 inch diameter, 1.2 mm thick, 1020 cold-rolled steel tubing
• Padding: vinyl-covered pearl foam
• Joints: bolted, no welding or lacing
• Use: soft toss, tee work, batting practice and live arm drills
• Skill level: backyard players, youth leagues, high schools, colleges
• Replacement net: available separately (Sock-Net option)
• Warranty: 1-year on netting, 2-year on frame

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sock-Net for?

The 3 foot sock catches and holds balls hit into it during soft toss and tee drills, which cuts down on cleanup and gives the hitter a target.

Can I use it as a protective screen during batting practice?

Yes. The 7 by 7 padded screen can stand in front of a feeder or pitcher during live arm drills. For throwing batting practice through a screen, an L-screen with a cutout is the better fit.

Can the net be replaced?

Yes. Order the Sock-Net option of the Protector Blue Series replacement netting.

How far from the screen should the tee be?

A few feet is typical: close enough that line drives reach the sock, and far enough that the bat and follow-through stay clear of the frame.

Is assembly hard?

No. The joints bolt together, with no welding or lacing.

What warranty comes with this screen?

The JUGS Protector Blue Series Square Screen with Sock-Net carries a 1-year warranty on the netting and a 2-year warranty on the frame.