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 Researched · every figure sourced
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The contenders
Side by side
The hitting net
PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
Any age; 7 × 7 ft9.2 /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.
$119.99Amazon#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
The pitchback
Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
Ages 7 and up8.7 /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.
$32.29Amazon#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · 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.
Frame width is the other space question, and it is the one that decides whether a pitchback gets used: the models on the market run from about 2 ft 9 in to 65 in wide, and a young thrower needs the wide end. Best pitchback nets has the published dimensions side by side, plus which ones carry a strike-zone target.
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 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
In detail
The contenders, in full
The 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 sheetEvery figure sourced and linked
| 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) |
The rubric points behind the 9.2
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 9
- Portability (15%)
- 9
- Durability (20%)
- 8
- Value (20%)
- 9
Rubric points are scored out of 10 per criterion. The weighted result is published on this site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale, because everything listed here is a product we would tell a parent to buy — how the scale works.
Why we picked it
- 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
Good to know
7 ft is tight for a 12-year-old's line drives off a tee; the 8×8 is safer for older kids.
#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to PowerNet 7×7 PRO Training Net
The 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 sheetEvery figure sourced and linked
The rubric points behind the 8.7
- Setup time (20%)
- 8
- Stability (25%)
- 8
- Portability (15%)
- 6
- Durability (20%)
- 9
- Value (20%)
- 9
Rubric points are scored out of 10 per criterion. The weighted result is published on this site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale, because everything listed here is a product we would tell a parent to buy — how the scale works.
Why we picked it
- Rebounds grounders, line drives and pop-ups depending on angle
- Pitch target side with a ball collector
Good to know
Steel frame is not light.
#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Franklin 55 in 2-in-1 Switch-Hitter Return Trainer
How we picked these
Researched, certification-checked and sized for the age
Every pick on this page earns its place the same way: the certification is checked against the governing bodies' rules and the maker's stated stamp, so the gear is legal for the division it is bought for; sizing comes from the makers' own age, height and hand charts; the published specs (drop, barrel, construction, closure, cleat type) are read from the maker's page; and the patterns in verified buyer reviews sharpen the “best for” line on each card. Every figure links to where it came from, with the date.
Scores are editorial judgments built from that documented research, applied with the same weights to every product in a category, so the ranking is comparable top to bottom. 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
Certification rules come from the governing bodies' own pages (Little League, USA Baseball, USSSA, NOCSAE), sizes from the makers' published sizing charts, and specs from the maker's product page or the retailer listing named on each product. Every figure above links to the page it was read from, with the date. Amazon prices move often, so each buy button takes you to the current price. Read the full method.