a practice device for improving batting , pitching , and fielding skills . the device includes a backstop which can be adjusted at different angles to the vertical to return balls striking the backstop on the ground or in the air . with the device configured for batting practice , a ball is positioned at a selected height above and at a selected location across the span of a home plate by a suspension system which includes a cantilevered arm fixed to the backstop , a tether , and a motion damping arrangement which almost instantaneously brings the tethered ball to rest after the ball is struck and rebounds to its rest position . the components of the practice device can be and quickly folded or otherwise positioned against the backstop to provide a compact , easily stored package . the practice device can also be easily configured as a wheeled cart easily moved from one location to another along with ball bags and other equipment stowable on the cart .