Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: Can I just walk in or do I need a membership?
A: You can enjoy using our facility as a walk-in customer (as space permits). We recommend that you phone ahead, especially during the winter months, to ensure that tunnel space is available at the time you want to visit. We are currently offering seasonal passes that allow holders to visit our facility as often as desired for one low price. Membership packages will also be available to help reduce the overall cost for frequent customers. These membership packages will be rolled out sometime later this year.
Q: How do I pay to use the hitting machines or pitching mounds? Do they use tokens?
A: All space in our facility is rented by time. Tokens are not an option. You can come in and rent as little as 15 minutes. The maximum time is up to you and the tunnel availability. During your rental time you may use the tunnel space as you wish. For instance, if you are in a tunnel with a baseball pitching machine but wish to use an L-Screen and a pitcher for live hitting, you may do so (assuming the L-Screens are available at that time). Rental rates (for both individuals and teams) are posted on this web-site.
Q: Can I wear cleats in the facility?
A: Metal Cleats are allowed ONLY on the clay pitcher's mounds. They must be removed when exiting the mounds or going onto the Pro Sport turf. We have set-up a change area for your convenience. If you bring metal cleats, make sure you have a change of shoes. Rubber/Plastic Cleats are acceptable foot gear throughout the facility, including the artificial grass. We have found, however, that the turf provides excellent traction and regular athletic shoes work very well.
Q: Are lessons available?
A: Yes, we currently have a full set of trained and certified baseball and softball instructors. Lessons can be obtained in various forms; Private Lessons, Semi-Private (2 students per class), Group (3-4 students per class), and Clinics (3-6 students per class in a pre-defined multi-week format). Each is offered to allow flexibility considering the athlete's needs and the parent's financial situation.
Q: What are the credentials of the instructors?
A: All instructors have years of playing, coaching, and teaching experience. In addition, our instructors have completed an 8-hour training and certification class. Our training focuses on the basic principles of the sport and the mechanics of hitting and pitching as presented by Right View Pro (video instruction). This training provides our staff with a uniform approach to training that works to tune and improve the skills the athlete already posesses. The personal and instructional biographies of each instructor are available on this web-site.
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: Is your facility open to the public?
A: Absolutely. We established BASES - Baseball And Softball Essential Skills Training Facility as a place where any young ballplayer could come to practice. Just because you may not have heard about us or just because you didn't know we were here, we ARE open for everyone. We are NOT a private club or a membership only facility.
Q: What if only want to hit a few rounds?
A: Not a problem. You can rent a cage for as little as 15 minutes. In the baseball cages, that equates to about 7 rounds of hitting (2 minutes per round) of 18 pitches each (126 pitches). In the fastpitch cages, that equates to about 4 rounds of hitting (4 minutes per round) of 30 pitches each (120 pitches). That breaks down to about $1 per 10 pitches. This is about the same (or less) as most outdoor cages.
Q: Do you have slow pitch softball cages?
A: We rent cages to slow pitch softball teams on a regular basis. Those teams generally pitch to themselves from behind an L-Screen or softball screen. Unfortunately, we DO NOT have slow pitch machines, so you need at least one other person to come in with you to share in the pitching responsibility.
Q: Do I have to bring my own bat and helmet?
A: We recommend it but it is not necessary. We have several sizes of baseball bats and fastpitch bats that you can borrow (at NO EXTRA CHARGE). We do use regular baseballs in our Iron Mike pitching machines, so you don't have to worry about bat damage from hitting machine baseballs. Unfortunately, we do use machine balls in the AccuFire II fastpitch machines because they are recommended by the machine's manufacturer.
Q: How old do you have to be to use the cages?
A: There is no strict minimum age. We find that 8 years of age seems to be the age where about 50% of the boys and girls are able to hit the machine pitched balls consistently. Depending on your child's overall ability and experience you may find that this age may vary slightly in either direction. The slowest machine speed for baseball is about 38 mph (compared to about 32 mph when dad tosses the ball) and about 38-40 mph (compared to about 32 mph for a standard under-hand soft throw) for fastpitch softball. If the machines are too fast for your youngster, you may always rent the cage and pitch to them. The advantages of self-pitch at BASES are: 1) it doesn't rain inside, 2) the temperature is fairly consistent (never too hot or too cold), and 3) you don't have to chase the balls all over the neighborhood.
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