These are the 5 best baseball rebounders & pitchback nets (2023)

Your kid isn’t going to wait around for baseball practice to work on short hops. These rebounders/pitchback return nets are perfect for backyard fielding drills when your obsessive boy or girl refuses to call it quits even after the sun goes down. A few disclaimers:

• Plan on spending around $100. Give up the hope of finding something durable and reliable that holds up against even moderate use for a few bucks. Buy one and forget about it. I spend the entirety of my 20s wasting money on “budget” everything. They don’t last and you wind up spending the money anyway. Don’t do it. Nothing on this list is less than $60. If you want to go cheaper, good luck to you.
• These are not designed for high schoolers/adults to practice pitching. You don’t want a rebounder for that kind of thing (slow pitch or fast pitch). A 10, 11 or 12 year old can possibly use a rebounder as a pitchback, but once you reach enough velocity a rebounder can get on the dangerous side. Throw it hard enough and you can wind up rebounding a ball through a kitchen window.
• These are primarily used for fielding drills. Even young kids probably shouldn’t use these for pitching practice. You’re better off with a pitching net with a strike zone guide and a bag of balls.

Here’s a list of a few of the most common styles of rebounders across multiple price points you’ll find in 2023:

1. SKLZ Baseball and Softball Rebounder Net for Pitching and Fielding Training

• Size: 4 feet x 4.5 feet
• Use for: baseball and softball fielding drills

This black and yellow pitchback from SKLZ is a nice big target for young players to focus their training with plenty of room for error. Many other rebounds are angled in one or two spots so you can aim at different parts to produce a grounder, line drive, or fly ball. This rebounder net is flat and requires manual adjustment to change the tilt. The angle of the rebound is consistent across the whole surface, so you don’t have to thread the needle to get the precise rebound you’re looking for. A good pick for younger kids just getting started who really need to focus on developing the muscle memory of catching the ball in different ways – without having to worry so much about throwing accurately. High marks for durability/sturdiness, which for my money is the most important attribute.

In summary + pros and cons:

• Lightweight but heavy duty
• Portable and easily stored
• Flat design – you can’t throw to different sections for grounders/fly balls. Requires manual adjustment. But more room for error
• Good for young kids
• Some reviewers suggest the rebound is weak (this might be a pro for you)

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Franklin Sports Baseball Pitching Target and Rebounder Net – 2-in-1 Pitch Trainer + Pitchback Net – Baseball Return Screen + Pitching Practice Target

• Size: 68” x 44”
• Used for: baseball and softball fielding drills, pitching practice

Here’s a 2-for-1 option you can use both as a rebounder/pitchback for fielding drills and a collector for pitching practice. Hit your spot in the strike zone and you’ll be rewarded by not having to bend over to retrieve the ball from the collection bag. The rebounder half can be adjusted to several angles. Combined with multiple angles on the netted area itself, you can recreate just about any rebound angle you’re looking for. This is a good option if you’re raising the next Shohei Ohtani but don’t have the storage space for separate pitching and fielding trainers. Steel construction and a strong 30Ply all-weather net means this thing should last you a while. And as I’m writing this you can get it at a pretty good price, well under $100.

In summary + pros and cons:

• Good multifunction/budget option
• …so be wary of durability: 7/8” steel frame is not the thickest on the market
• Good pitching and fielding practice for boys and girls
• Easy to put together, according to reviewers

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Rukket Pitch Back Baseball/Softball Rebounder PRO

• Size: 6’ x 4’
• Use for: baseball and softball fielding drills, youth pitching practice

Rukket always makes good stuff. Here’s a tough one with an industrial strength frame and tough bungees. Bungees so tough they’re apparently really difficult to install. But once you’ve got it set up it’s ready to take a beating. Despite my early disclaimer, Rukket does bill this as a pitching trainer. I’d still recommend NOT holding out hope an older kid or adult could use this for pitching practice with a reasonable rebound for quick repetition. For fielding drills this net has three tiers like many other models, meaning you have to throw it to the right spot on the net to get a grounder/line drive/fly ball. You can adjust the tilt of the overall net as well, so you can find just the right set of rebound angles for whatever you’re working on. Rukket includes a few weighted balls to help you build your strength (6oz, 8oz, and 10oz – standard baseballs are between 5 and 5.25 oz).

In summary + pros and cons:

• This is the one you buy after the cheap ones fail you.
• Hard to put together. But once you do, it’s super sturdy.
• Comes with weighted baseballs.
• On the expensive side, but you’ll have peace of mind this will hold up for a long time.

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PowerNet German Marquez Baseball Softball Adjustable Rebounder

• Size: 67” x 51”
• Use for: baseball and softball fielding drills, lacrosse

Here’s a 2-tier rebounder which pivots right in the middle of the net, so you can create a more extreme downward rebound to create choppy grounders at closer range. You can practice those quick sidearm flips into a downward angle and simultaneously practice reacting to unpredictable hops. Step back, aim lower and take a few pop-up reps without having to adjust a thing. I like the additional width on this one. Most others are 4 feet or less. This one comes in at 4’3” wide. This one is also rated for lacrosse. Good if your kid is pulling double duty.

In summary + pros and cons:

• Wider than many other comparable models
• Also rated for lacrosse
• Easy setup
• No pretension you can use for pitching; price reflects it

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Victorem Lacrosse Rebounder

• Size: 73” x 43”
• Used for: lacrosse, baseball and softball fielding drills

This rebounder from Victorem is the heaviest duty on the list with 1.25” steel frame construction and 45ply netting. For good measure they even include an extra net. Doesn’t get much better in terms of durability/longevity. It’s a few more bucks than the others on this list but potentially well worth it. It’s got all of the same levels of adjustability and does include a target zone so you have a visual point of reference. At 73” high this is the tallest item listed. You’ve got even more room for vertical error. For what it’s worth, this is probably the slickest looking rebounder on the list. If that matters to you. Personally, I’m not a fan of some of the big bright orange and green rebounders out there. But you might disagree.

In summary + pros and cons:

• Super tough. Highly durable.
• Largest on the list in terms of height
• Higher price (but it’s worth it)
• Just buy one and stop worrying about cheap parts

Buy on Amazon