Master Practice at Home Discussion - Nets and Mats

[nevets88]

Since most of us are sheltering in place, I'd figure I'd put in a placeholder here for anything related to setting up and using a net and mat. Reading through my social media feeds, everyone and their grandmother is waiting for these to be delivered.

I'm using a Rukket Haack net, if anyone has questions about it, I'd be happy to answer them. I'm sure others here can help out given their experiences with their own nets, whether Rukket, The Net Return, Galileo, or whatever brand, or DIY.

One piece of advice that @iacas already mentioned is to set your target line to be left of center, to account for shanks while still catching your pulls.

This post was a week ago.

 

[Killa]

I have really been thinking of setting something up. The problem is that all the hardware stores are closed so it’s gonna be hard to get a framework made. And also over here it’s hard to get these products. So I was thinking I’ll just hang a thick blanket or two. 

[Big_in_Belgium]

21 minutes ago, Killa said:

I have really been thinking of setting something up. The problem is that all the hardware stores are closed so it’s gonna be hard to get a framework made. And also over here it’s hard to get these products. So I was thinking I’ll just hang a thick blanket or two. 

Yeah, we're in the same situation at the moment. Hardware stores are closed and even in a normal world these products aren't so easy to get here. But I ordered a net from amazon.co.uk @Killa and it got delivered in 3 days (to Belgium). Maybe that could be an option for you?

[bwdial]

I built my practice set-up myself.  I had bought the net and mat almost ten years ago.  The net is 10 x 10' and the mat is 4 x 4'.  The mat is one of those that lets you "take a divot."  I used to hang the net under the back porch, but that was just too constricting.  Last summer, I built the frame out of 2" PVC pipe, and I attach the net with simple cable ties that I buy in bags of 1000 for a variety of purposes.  So far, the only problem I have faced has been a few cable ties breaking.  It will blow over if it gets too windy, so in retrospect, it probably would have been wise to weight the base with sand or concrete, but that could have caused the upper part of the frame to snap in high winds.

Edit: that was built with 2" PVC pipe.  You can probably tell that from the picture, but I just wanted to make sure that was clear.  As you can see, it flexes only a little bit. 

[Killa]

14 hours ago, Big_in_Belgium said:

Yeah, we're in the same situation at the moment. Hardware stores are closed and even in a normal world these products aren't so easy to get here. But I ordered a net from amazon.co.uk @Killa and it got delivered in 3 days (to Belgium). Maybe that could be an option for you?

Amazon has stopped shipping to us because of increased demand... I might be able to get it shipped to Austria to a friends work. 

[dennyjones]

35 minutes ago, Killa said:

Amazon has stopped shipping to us because of increased demand... I might be able to get it shipped to Austria to a friends work. 

There are reports here that Amazon is only shipping essentials.  I can't verify it though.

[woodzie264]

I made my own for cheap - strung up a net between two trees and pit a mat down that will slide with impact to reduce shock on impact

 

you can see it give and retract in the video

Edited April 14, 2020 by woodzie264

[NM Golf]

I got mine from Dick's Sporting Goods during one of their Flash Sales. Got the mat and the net for $70, free shipping. Ordered it on Sunday and was hitting balls on Wednesday afternoon. 

On 4/13/2020 at 5:54 PM, nevets88 said:

One piece of advice that @iacas already mentioned is to set your target line to be left of center, to account for shanks while still catching your pulls.

What's are shanks and pulls? 😜

[iacas]

1 hour ago, NM Golf said:

Weight in the heels much?

[NM Golf]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

Weight in the heels much?

Yeah, working on that since you pointed it out during the Covid-19 drills. 

[The Flush]

Here is my setup.  It was built about 8 years go as a baseball backstop when my son was little.  Now he and I both use it only for golf.  The wind has been blowing it around, so I might need to use a strap to anchor the top half to one of the trees to straighten it out.

[The Flush]

This looks a little better doesn't it?

[billchao]

51 minutes ago, The Flush said:

This looks a little better doesn't it?

You can clearly see the difference, but it's funny how even the lighting is better in the second picture. Reminds me of one of those before/after transformation pictures you see on ads all the time.

[bwdial]

15 hours ago, billchao said:

You can clearly see the difference, but it's funny how even the lighting is better in the second picture. Reminds me of one of those before/after transformation pictures you see on ads all the time.

 

[xrayvizhen]

On 4/16/2020 at 9:10 PM, NM Golf said:

I got mine from Dick's Sporting Goods during one of their Flash Sales. Got the mat and the net for $70, free shipping. Ordered it on Sunday and was hitting balls on Wednesday afternoon. 

What's are shanks and pulls? 😜

Does this one set up & down quickly/easily?

[NM Golf]

2 hours ago, xrayvizhen said:

Does this one set up & down quickly/easily?

No I leave it up and just put it in the garage each night. The legs fold in, but I wouldn't want to deal with the taking down the net part every night.

[Edsland]

I have the net from Dicks and ive got it down to about 31/2 minutes up and down. The more you do it the more tricks you find. 

[nevets88]

I followed @billchao's and @iacas's advice to setup target line towards left center of net. Was going through Instagram Stories and this guy set up target line right center of net and shanked it out of his yard.