Author: Vic AustinGolf practice nets are one of those golf training aids that most people turn to when they want to improve their golf game. Just about every golf store or department store with a golf section our golf department will carry some kind of a golf net. Just about everyone has some small space around their house or neighborhood where they can set up a golf practice net and then take a number of golf swings to become a better ball striker. It is important to realize however that not all golf nets are equal. Some golf nets are very small and flimsy and some golf nets are large and sturdy Some are designed for chipping practice and some are designed to take a lot of full golf swings at full power.
A number of you have may have noticed a cage at your local golf course. some are quite large and obvious but others may be 10 or 12 feet wide and 8 or more feet high and deep and you simply drive golf balls into it off of an artificial mat. One of the things that people fail to do is to use this in the wintertime. Think about it. You may not be able to go out and play a round of golf or go to the golf range but you can more than likely go to your local golf course and used this cage. If you’re paying for a season’s membership at a local golf course you might as well get as much of your season out of that golf club! Keep in mind that some of the smaller golf nets that you see advertised as “easy to set up” are not easy to set up at all. A number of golf manufacturers use a series of hollow rods strung together by a bungee cord inside to create an outer frame to hold the golf net in a circle that you hit the ball into. These can be very difficult to set up at first until you get the hang of it. But you also have to be extremely careful when you take this type of golf net down because you can very easily snap the bungee cord inside if you pull too hard. And it is very difficult to string another bungee cord through those hollow rods to get your golf net working again. These smaller golf nets are best used for simple chipping practice but they do serve their purpose very well. A few hours of chipping in to one of these golf nets ts in your backyard can take a number of strokes off your golf game. And that’s what golf training aids are all about – improving your game.
The larger golf nets are great for full swings and getting full power in your practice shots. But make sure that the netting that you’re using can take a full golf shot. Some of the better golf net manufacturers provide double netting to make things safer for the neighbors, spectators and unsuspecting individuals and loved ones around you. Larger and better golf nets are actually golf cages that are much sturdier and safer for everyone involved. They will usually last longer as well. The frames are usually made of some type of plastic or steel rods and the nylon nets are much heavier and sturdier and can take a full golf shot without breaking. Obviously, these larger golf nets or cages would take more time to set up and take down so many people end up making them a permanent part of their backyard. If you do that make sure you get materials that are impervious to the weather as well. The longer it lasts and the more use you get out of it the better it will be for your budget.
If you do decide to buy a golf net then you would be smart to also buy an additional baffle net. These baffle nets usually come in 8′ x 8′ or 10 x 10 sizes and they can be hung inside your golf net using ties or bungee cords. This adds an extra layer of netting to catch the ball. This not only adds extra safety for spectators and structures around you but it will also make your golf net last much longer. The baffle net should develop a hole first and you can simply replace that at a much lower cost than the entire golf net itself.
Keep in mind that there is a golf net of some type for every budget. These types of golf training aids can go a long way to improving your golf game and making into a better golfer.