JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen with Wheel Kit
The JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen with Wheel Kit is a 7 ft x 7 ft baseball protective screen built for the person feeding a pitching machine. A 3 ft x 3 ft cut-out gives the screen its L shape and leaves room for the ball to leave the machine, while the full-height side covers the feeder once the pitch is on its way to the plate. Double-thick polyester netting, a padded 1.5 inch steel frame and a wheel kit that now comes standard make it a screen for daily batting practice in high school, college and facility cages, and in serious backyard setups.
It is one of five screens in the black Protector Series, which share the same frame, netting and padding. This is the one to choose when someone stands at the machine for every round.
Why Machine Feeders Need an L-Screen
Feeding a pitching machine puts a coach or player a few feet from the release point with both hands busy loading baseballs. A hard-hit ball back up the middle reaches that spot very quickly. An L-screen solves the problem by covering the feeder's body and head with netting while the cut-out leaves a clear lane for the pitch. The feeder drops the ball in, then stays behind the tall side of the screen as the hitter swings.
The 3 ft x 3 ft opening is large enough to set a machine such as the JUGS mini3 Baseball Pitching Machine, the JUGS BP2 or the JUGS BP3 Baseball Pitching Machine so its throwing wheels clear the netting. The same layout serves a coach throwing batting practice from a shortened distance, who releases the ball through the cut-out and finishes behind the netting.
Steel Frame With Double-Bolted Joints
The frame is built from 1.5 inch cold-rolled steel tubing. Heavier tubing keeps a 7 ft x 7 ft screen standing steady when line drives hit it round after round, and it holds its shape after seasons of being rolled on and off the field.
The joints are double-bolted rather than welded or laced. Assembly is a matter of bolting the sections together, and there is no lacing to work through before the screen is ready.
Double-Thick Netting and Padded Frame
The netting is double-thick 691-90 ply polyester, chosen to stand up to hard-hit baseballs and the volume of a full practice. On an L-screen the netting directly in front of the feeder takes most of the hits, so netting weight matters more here than on a screen that only catches the odd foul ball.
The frame is wrapped in pearl-foam padding with a vinyl cover. The padding reduces the rebound when a ball hits the tubing, so fewer balls ricochet back toward the hitter or the feeder, and it softens the impact on the steel, which helps the screen last longer. When the netting eventually wears, Protector Series Replacement Netting is sold in an L-Shaped size that fits this frame, so the steel and padding stay in service.
Moving the JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen
A steel 7 ft x 7 ft screen is heavy to drag across turf or dirt, and on many teams moving it is a two-person job. This screen comes standard with the Protector Series Wheel Kit, which lets one person move and position it. To engage the wheels, lift the screen directly above the wheel kit and kick the wheels underneath, then roll the screen where it needs to go.
That makes it practical to roll the screen from the cage to the field, out of the way between stations, or into storage at the end of practice.
Who This Baseball L-Screen Is For
- High school and college programs that run machine batting practice every day and need a screen that holds up to that volume.
- Hitting facilities and professional settings where a machine is fed for hours at a time.
- Backyard players and families with a home batting cage and a pitching machine who want facility-grade protection for the parent feeding it.
- Coaches who throw live batting practice from a shortened distance and want a screen behind them.
If the main job is protecting a feeder for a fastpitch softball machine, the Protector Series C-Shaped Softball Screen is the version built for that.
Setting Up for Machine Batting Practice
- Bolt the frame together; the double-bolted joints need no welding or lacing.
- Lift the screen directly above the wheel kit and kick the wheels under it.
- Roll the screen in front of the machine, line the cut-out up with the machine's release point, and set the screen down.
- Stand behind the full-height side while feeding, and stay there until the hitter has finished the swing.
- Between rounds, use the wheels to slide the screen out of the way for ball collection.
A Bucket of JUGS Pearl Baseballs next to the machine and a Back-Saver Portable Ball Basket for pick-up keep rounds moving.
Choosing Among the Protector Series Screens
All five black Protector Series screens use the same steel, netting, padding and wheel kit; the difference is the shape and the job:
- L-Shaped Screen (this page): 7 ft x 7 ft with a 3 ft x 3 ft cut-out, for baseball machine feeders and batting practice throwers.
- C-Shaped Softball Screen: 7 ft x 5 ft with a 33 x 18 inch cut-out, for fastpitch softball machine feeders.
- Square Baseman Screen: a solid 7 ft x 7 ft screen for first basemen, fielders and coaches.
- Square Screen with Sock-Net: 7 ft x 7 ft with a 3 ft sock that catches and holds balls during tee and toss work.
- Short-Toss Screen: a compact 7 ft x 4 ft screen for close-range toss drills.
For a lighter-duty option, the Protector Blue Series L-Shaped Pitchers Screen and the Standard L-Shaped Pitchers Screen are also available.
What Is Included
- JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen (steel frame, netting and padding)
- Protector Series Wheel Kit
The pitching machine and baseballs are sold separately.
JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen with Wheel Kit Specifications
- Sport: baseball
- Screen size: 7 ft x 7 ft
- Cut-out: 3 ft x 3 ft
- Frame: 1.5 inch cold-rolled steel tubing
- Joints: double-bolted, no welding or lacing
- Netting: double-thick 691-90 ply polyester
- Padding: pearl-foam, vinyl-covered
- Mobility: Protector Series Wheel Kit included
- Levels: backyard players, high schools, colleges, professionals and hitting facilities
- Warranty: 5 years on the frame, 2 years on the netting
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the wheel kit included?
Yes. The Protector Series L-Shaped Screen now comes standard with the Protector Series Wheel Kit, so one person can move and position it.
How big is the cut-out?
The cut-out is 3 ft x 3 ft on a 7 ft x 7 ft screen, enough room to set a baseball pitching machine so the pitch clears the netting.
Can I use it for softball?
This screen is designed for baseball machine feeding. For a fastpitch softball machine, the Protector Series C-Shaped Softball Screen has a cut-out sized for softball.
Does it need welding or lacing to assemble?
No. The frame uses double-bolted joints, so it goes together with bolts and needs no welding or lacing.
Can I replace the netting later?
Yes. Protector Series Replacement Netting is available in an L-Shaped size made to fit this frame.
What warranty does the screen carry?
The JUGS Protector Series L-Shaped Screen carries a 5-year warranty on the frame and a 2-year warranty on the netting.
