Heater Sports Xtender 66 Ft. Backyard Batting Cage

The Heater Sports Xtender 66 Ft. Batting Cage is a 66 foot long, 12 foot wide, 10 foot high real ball tunnel and the shortest Xtender cage that holds the full 60 feet 6 inches between the pitching rubber and home plate used in high school, college and adult baseball. That makes it the length where a backyard cage stops being a shortened batting practice lane and starts working as a regulation-distance tunnel for hitters and pitchers alike. Softball players can use it too, since the Xtender is designed for baseball or softball.

Room for the Full 60 Ft. 6 In. Distance

Subtract 60 feet 6 inches from 66 feet and about 5 1/2 feet remain behind the plate. That is enough for a hitting mat and a backstop or a catcher, so a machine set at the regulation distance throws a pitch with the same flight time a high school hitter sees in a game. Timing, pitch recognition and the feel of a fastball getting on top of you all depend on that distance, and shorter cages can only approximate it by turning the machine up. For hitters at the Little League Junior level and above, this is the length that lets backyard reps match game reps.

A Pitching Tunnel as Well as a Batting Cage

The same 66 feet that serves the hitter also works for a pitcher. Throwing bullpens to a catcher at full distance inside a net keeps every missed pitch contained, which is useful in a neighborhood yard and on a cold day when the field is closed. A pitcher can work on command at the true distance, then turn the cage back over to hitters for machine rounds. For a household with a pitcher and a position player, or a player who does both, one cage covers both kinds of work, and the full-length net makes it easy to leave the catcher's gear at home on days when a simple target or backstop will do.

A 30 Ft. Section and a 36 Ft. Section

The Xtender 66 ships direct in two boxes: one holds a complete 30 foot Xtender cage and the other a complete Xtender 36 cage. Following the instructions, the two join into one 66 foot tunnel. They are the same cages we carry separately as the Xtender 30 and the Xtender 36, so either half can also stand alone as a shorter cage when the full length is not needed.

Frame Design

Each frame support is a hybrid. The side walls are steel tubing, which holds the cage straight and gives the batter the width to swing without crowding the net. The overhead arch is a fiberglass rod that flexes with wind instead of bending or breaking, important on a structure this long where every gust catches a lot of net. Steel power stakes fix the supports to the ground, nylon support ropes keep the line tight, and foam pads cover the supports so balls that hit near the frame do not hammer bare metal.

Stronger Netting Through Smaller Mesh

The cage net uses 1 1/4 inch polyester mesh instead of the 2 inch mesh seen on many entry-level cages. A tighter mesh puts more strands in the way of each ball, sharing the impact and reducing wear on any single strand. When hitters at regulation distance are driving balls into the back and side netting every day, that density is what helps the net hold its shape season after season.

Pitching Machine Harness

The built-in harness is designed for Heater Sports pitching machines, so a machine like the Heater Sports Real Baseball Pitching Machine or the Heater Pro Curve can be set up for real baseball rounds inside the tunnel. Machines from other brands can be used in the cage on their own stands without the harness.

Who the Xtender 66 Is For

• High school, college and adult baseball hitters who want regulation pitching distance at home
• Pitchers who want a contained lane for bullpens at full distance
• Families with a deep lot or a long side yard that can take a 66 by 12 foot footprint
• Owners of an Xtender 30 or Xtender 36 who want to build up to a regulation-length tunnel

The cage is recommended for ages 6 to adult, so younger siblings can use the same tunnel with the machine moved closer.

Training Applications

• Machine batting practice at the full 60 feet 6 inches
• Pitcher bullpens to a catcher at regulation distance
• Velocity ladders, moving the machine closer round by round to shorten reaction time
• Split use as a 30 foot and a 36 foot cage for two hitters at once

Before You Buy

Plan for a 66 by 12 foot area plus clearance along the sides for stakes, ropes and walking room. The cage is designed for outdoor use staked into soil and can be adapted for indoor use in a building with the length and height to hold it; measure your ceiling against the cage height before planning an indoor setup.

Xtender 66 Ft. Batting Cage Specifications

• Model: XT66
• Dimensions: 66 ft. long x 12 ft. wide x 10 ft. high
• Configuration: ships in two boxes, a complete Xtender 30 ft. cage and a complete Xtender 36 ft. cage that join end to end
• Frame: steel tubing side supports with flexible fiberglass rod middle arches
• Frame protection: foam pad over each frame support
• Netting: 1 1/4 inch polyester mesh
• Anchoring: steel ground stakes and nylon support ropes
• Pitching machine harness: built in, designed for Heater Sports pitching machines
• Sport: baseball or softball
• Recommended ages: 6 years to adult
• Setting: outdoor use, can be adapted for indoor use
• Expandable: connects with other Xtender cages for more length
• Warranty: 1 year limited
• Patents: US 8,172,703 B2 and US 8,496,545 B2

What Is Included

• Xtender 30 ft. cage and Xtender 36 ft. cage, shipped in two boxes
• 1 1/4 inch polyester netting
• Steel tubing side supports and fiberglass arch rods
• Foam frame pads
• Steel ground stakes and nylon support ropes
• Built-in pitching machine harness
• Assembly instructions

A pitching machine, balls and a protective screen are sold separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Xtender 66 fit the regulation 60 feet 6 inches?

Yes, with about 5 1/2 feet left behind the plate for a mat and a backstop or catcher.

I need more room behind the plate. What is the next size up?

The Xtender 72 Ft. Batting Cage holds the same distance with about 11 1/2 feet behind the plate.

What is the next size down?

The Xtender 60 Ft. Batting Cage. It is a few feet short of a regulation distance but covers 50 foot and 46 foot youth distances.

Can pitchers throw in it?

Yes. At 66 feet the cage holds a full mound-to-plate distance, so a pitcher and catcher can work inside the net.

Does it work for softball?

Yes. The Xtender 66 is designed for baseball or softball, and the same 1 1/4 inch mesh stops both balls.

Can I use the two sections as separate cages?

Yes. Each box is a complete cage, so the 30 foot and 36 foot sections can be set up on their own when the full regulation length is not needed.

Is there a warranty?

Yes. The Xtender 66 carries a 1 year limited warranty.