Practice & Gear Bag · Head to head
Hitting net vs pitchback net: which one to buy first for a kid, and what each actually trains
They look alike in the box and do opposite jobs: a hitting net catches balls, a pitchback throws them back. Which skill each trains, what the makers say about size and setup, and why the hitting net is the first purchase for almost every family.
By Mike M.Updated Sourced · gear tested by us: 0
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The contenders
Side by side
Stock photoThe hitting net
PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
Any age; 7 × 7 ft9.0 /1049 sq ft of knotless net on a one-piece weighted frame; sets up in under two minutes with no tools; catches tee work, soft toss, pitching and fielding throws.
Check price · Amazon#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
Stock photoThe pitchback
Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
Ages 7 and up8.1 /1055 x 36 in steel Y-frame; a three-way throw-and-field trainer on one side, a pitch target with a ball collector on the other. Returns what you throw at it.
Check price · Amazon#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
The verdict
What each does
A hitting net is a big, slack, bow-framed pocket: the ball goes in and drops. PowerNet's 7×7 PRO lists 49 square feet of net on a one-piece frame with a weighted steel base, sets up in under two minutes with no tools, and is described by the maker as usable for hitting, pitching, batting and fielding practice and as a portable backstop. A pitchback (rebounder) is a small, taut, angled net on a rigid frame: the ball hits it and comes back. Franklin's 55 in return trainer, per the retailer listing, has a 55 × 36 in steel Y-frame, a three-way throw-and-field trainer on one side and a pitch target with a ball-collection system on the other.
Which skills each trains
| Skill | Hitting net | Pitchback |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting off a tee | Yes, the main job | No |
| Soft toss | Yes | No |
| Pitching to a target | Yes, with a strike-zone target | Yes, on the target side; the ball comes back |
| Fielding grounders solo | No (a parent throws) | Yes, angled low |
| Catching line drives and pop-ups solo | No | Yes, angled up |
| Throwing accuracy | Somewhat, at a target | Yes, and the rebound punishes a bad throw |
Space and setup
The hitting net needs about ten feet in front of it and a place to stand; it folds into a bag. The pitchback needs twenty to thirty feet of runway for a rebound to be worth fielding, and a rigid steel frame does not fold as small. Both want a flat spot; a pitchback on a slope returns everything downhill. Neither should be left up all season in the sun.
If you buy both
Put the pitchback beside the hitting net, angled away from the hitter. One kid hits off the tee into the net while a sibling throws at the pitchback; that is the backyard on the setup page. A bucket of balls serves both.
Side by side
| Evidence | PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net | Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 7 × 7 ft (49 sq ft) net (maker) | 55 × 36 in steel 'Y' frame with 3/4 in steel tubing (retailer listing) |
| Base | Weighted steel base with square legs; one-piece PRO frame (maker) | — |
| Setup | Under 2 minutes, no tools; frame folds and legs swing in (maker) | — |
| Included | Net, carry bag with shoulder strap, ground stakes (maker) | Throw-and-field trainer on one side, pitch target and ball collection on the other (retailer listing) |
| Construction | — | All-weather steel; 24-ply PE net with target ribbon; flip-style switch-hitter pitch target for right- and left-handed batters (retailer listing) |
| Fits | Any age; 7 × 7 ft | Ages 7 and up |
| Score | 9.0/10 | 8.1/10 |
In detail
The contenders, in full
Stock photoThe hitting net
PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
49 sq ft of knotless net on a one-piece weighted frame; sets up in under two minutes with no tools; catches tee work, soft toss, pitching and fielding throws.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | Hitting net |
|---|---|
| Fits | Any age; 7 × 7 ft |
| Sizes | 7 × 7 ft (49 sq ft) net (maker) |
| Base | Weighted steel base with square legs; one-piece PRO frame (maker) |
| Included | Net, carry bag with shoulder strap, ground stakes (maker) |
| Setup | Under 2 minutes, no tools; frame folds and legs swing in (maker) |
How the 9.0 score breaks down
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 9
- Portability (15%)
- 9
- Durability (20%)
- 8
- Value (20%)
- 9
What the spec sheet supports
- Two-minute setup with no tools is what makes a net get used
- Weighted base plus stakes for windy days
- Doubles as a backstop for pitching and a target for fielding throws
Where it falls short
- 7 ft is tight for a 12-year-old's line drives off a tee; the 8×8 is safer for older kids
- Bow-frame nets wear at the pole sleeves over years
Skip this if…
…your hitter is 12 or older and strong; buy the 8×8 XLP.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
Stock photoThe pitchback
Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
55 x 36 in steel Y-frame; a three-way throw-and-field trainer on one side, a pitch target with a ball collector on the other. Returns what you throw at it.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
How the 8.1 score breaks down
- Setup time (20%)
- 8
- Stability (25%)
- 8
- Portability (15%)
- 6
- Durability (20%)
- 9
- Value (20%)
- 9
What the spec sheet supports
- Rebounds grounders, line drives and pop-ups depending on angle
- Pitch target side with a ball collector
Where it falls short
- Steel frame is not light
- A pitchback returns what you throw; a wild 7-year-old gets wild returns
Skip this if…
…you already own a 7×7 net; a net plus a parent is a better catch partner.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
How we picked these
Gear we claim to have tested: 0
Plenty of sites say they swung every bat on the list in a lab. We don't say that, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: check each bat against the governing bodies' certification rules and the maker's stated stamp; compile sizing from the makers' own age, height and hand charts; read the published specs (drop, barrel, construction, closure, cleat type); and read the complaint patterns in retailer reviews for the “skip it if” line. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not test results. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Questions parents ask
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a hitting net and a pitchback?
Can you hit into a pitchback net?
Can you throw into a hitting net?
What age is a pitchback good for?
Keep reading
Related on Bat & Bucket
Receipts
Sources
- PowerNet: 7x7 FT PRO training net (one-piece frame)
- BaseballMonkey: Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
We don't claim to have swung, worn or tested this gear, and we don't pretend to. Gear we claim to have tested: 0. Certification rules come from the governing bodies' own pages (Little League, USA Baseball, USSSA, NOCSAE), sizes from the makers' sizing charts, and specs from the maker's product page or the retailer listing named on each product. Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.