Bases Loaded, Houston

With more than 10,000 square feet of training space and 6,000 items available in its pro shop, Bases Loaded supplies baseball and softball enthusiasts with all the practice and gear they need for success on the diamond. Players 6 to adult can hone their swats within air-conditioned batting cages fortified with pitching machines by ATEC, Beta, and Iron Mike, each a high-grade mechanical hurler that never misses a throw or sets a bad example by chewing motor oil. Elsewhere in the facility, 2,000 square feet of free weights and conditioning equipment help athletes optimize their bodies’ performance, and a snack bar replenishes burnt calories. Surrounded by flat-screen televisions, a sitting area offers a place to rest.

The retail shop at Bases Loaded stocks a huge inventory of gear by top-name brands. Full sets of catcher's gear come with free pairs of knee protectors, and adult bats by Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, DeMarini and Easton help batters better point out airplanes flying over the outfield wall.