Ok. So you've decided you want to buy your own batting cage to put in your backyard. Now you're trying to decide which one to get, poly or nylon. One company says that nylon is better than poly while another company says the opposite. So which one is right?

Let's take a brief look at both materials, how they are manufactured, and your requirements to get a better idea of which batting cage is right for you.

Nylon
Nylon twine is generally good for indoors. It is just as strong and durable as polyethylene twine. It is usually resin coated after the twine is processed to resist UV damage. It can be twisted (knotted) or braided (knotless). Nylon material costs more than poly, but is stronger than poly.

Poly
Poly twine is generally good for outdoors. It is just as strong and durable as nylon. It is usually UV treated by chemical bond before processing instead of coated, meaning the UV inhibitors are "built in". It can be twisted or braided. Poly material costs less than nylon, but is not as strong.

Either material should give you at least 4 or 5 years of good use, as long as you take care of your batting cage. Some people even use Armor-All to recoat their nets, both poly and nylon for extra protection. (This has not been proven to be effective, but it sounds good!)

Note* - Some retailers will claim that nylon has greater tensile strength than poly. This claim is irrelevant because you want the net to hang loose so that it absorbs the impact of the ball. Tensile strength is more for tennis rackets or rebounders.

Your requirements
If you are only going to use your batting cage for a year or two, then either one is fine. But if you hope to be using it several years, then remember this rule of thumb:

• If you are planning to put your batting cage indoors, the nylon net is probably your better choice.
• If however, you are putting your batting cage outdoors, the poly net is better.

If you've made your decision of which material you are going to go with, you may also want to consider learning the difference between twisted (knotted) and braided (knotless).