Without batting cages, baseball practice would likely take place in wind tunnels, where hitters would try to hit 90 mph fastballs backed by 200 mph winds. Put in some practice with today's Groupon: for $20, you get one hour of play at Rocky Mountain Batting Cages (a $40 value).

Rocky Mountain Batting Cages challenges softball and baseball lumber-luggers with six batting cages that use four semiautomatic fast- and slow-pitching machines. Once inside the cage with a free helmet and bat, batters set themselves in the new turf of the batter's box, simulating on-field experience with pre-at-bat rituals such as tightening gloves, loosening shoulders, or singing the refrain from "U Can't Touch This." For ace hurlers and infield clamberers, throwing tunnels and two pitching mounds make for a spot to hone in on an unhittable knuckleball. Rocky Mountain Batting Cages uses video analysis equipment and MotionPro! software to crunch cage-culled data and dispense digital feedback on swing technique and pitch fluidity.