As our ShellCage Multi-Lane Batting Cage Systems become more popular every year, (read how ShellCage multilane tunnels can help increase a facility’s usefulness and revenue), we’ve been getting a lot of questions about how to install them. This 2-part installation guide will help.

For example purposes, let’s consider a ShellCage with three standard size tunnels that are 12 feet wide, 70 feet long, and 12 feet high. With three tunnels, there are three netting components: a Shell Net that covers the entire footprint of the cage, in this case the Shell Net is 36 feet wide and 70 feet long.

The Shell is suspended from its own dedicated cable lines that span the length of the shell and attach to the walls. Overhead cable lines are generally spaced 6 – 8 ft to help prevent the ceiling of the tunnel from sagging. That means, in this example there are 7 overhead cable lines dedicated to the Shell.

The two remaining netting components are divider curtains that run the length of the tunnel. The dimensions of the curtains in this particular case are 72 feet long and 12 feet tall. Each divider curtain is attached to its own dedicated cable lines.

Step 1. Install Anchor Plates

Anchor Plates should be installed 1 foot shorter than total net height. A foot or so of net sag on the ground will help prevent baseballs and softballs from escaping the tunnel. That means for a 12 foot tall net would be installed at 11 feet high.

NEVER INSTALL DIRECTLY INTO DRYWAll

Anchor plates are typically spaced 6 – 8 feet apart at desired height.

Install Multiplates where the divider curtain will be positioned. Multiplates are a special type of Anchor Plate that have multiple attachment points. This allows multiple cable lines to terminate at a single location. Be sure to install your Multiplate so that the attachment points are in the vertical position.

For our 36 ft wide Shell, this means we’ll have 14 total Anchor Plates. 4 of those Anchor Plates will be Multiplates. If your first plate is at position 0, then six feet from there will be another anchor plate. A multiplate will be installed at 12’ an Anchor Plate at 18’, a Multiplate at 24’, and finally another Anchor Plate at 36’ from zero. Do the same for the opposite wall.

Step 2. Install Your Cable Line Assemblies for the Shell Net

For our 3 lane ShellCage, there will be 7 cable line assemblies supporting the Shell Net.
If you will be collapsing your ShellNet against one wall, be sure to install your turnbuckles on the opposite wall. This will allow you to collapse the net closer to the wall when storing.

Connect your Cable Lines to the Anchor Plates that will not have the Turnbuckle connected to it. This end is called the Dead End, or Terminal End, of the cable line. Secure the cable with the Cable Clamps.

When connecting cable lines to the Multi Plates, be sure to install them in the top attachment point positions. This will allow you to install the cable lines for the divider curtains below the ShellNet.

Connect the opposite end of the Cable Line to the Turnbuckle, and connect the Turnbuckle to the Anchor Point. Secure with Cable Clamps. This is now the Live End of the Cable Line. You can start adding tension to the line, but do not fully tension the Cable Line at this time. The Live End of the Cable Line should look like this.

If you’ve ordered Roller Wheels for your ShellNet, you’ll want to divide those and your Snap Hooks equally among your Cable Lines. You’ll want the majority of your Roller Wheels concentrated on the Live End side of the Cable Lines to help with collapsing and expanding the net.
Roll your Shell Net out under the Cable Lines at this time.

Attach the Snap Hooks to the Ceiling Rib Lines and Ceiling Border Ropes of the net, NEVER to the mesh of the net itself.

Step 3. Attach ShellNet to Cable Lines

It is best to first secure the corners of the net to the line then move into the middle lines. This will help distribute the weight of the net and make installation easier.

Lift one corner of the net to the line and clip a couple of the Snap Hooks to the Cable Line or Roller Wheel Eye. Move to the opposite end of the Cable Line and clip the Snap Hook to the Cable Line or Roller Wheel. It may help to clip a couple of Snap Hooks up in each corner.

Proceed to the opposite corner. Then begin moving towards the middle lines. To make installation easier, you wil need to add more tension to the Cable Lines as you work.

Once your net is up, you can increase the tension on your Cable Lines to remove slack. DO NOT overtighten the tension on your cables.

If you still encounter slack in your Cable Lines, additional reinforcement at the Anchor Points may be necessary.

At this time your ShellCage Net should be fully installed. Next week we’ll finish installation with Part 2: Installing Your Divider Curtains.