The best golf nets for home practice

My picks

• Best overall: The Net Return Pro ($795). 8 × 7.5 ft, "handles 225 MPH ball speeds", with an S-frame ball return and a 3-year / 250,000-shot warranty. Side barriers are $249 extra.
• Best budget: Spornia SPG-7 (about $350). About 4.5 stars from 778 Amazon ratings when I checked, with two side barriers included.
• Best for small spaces: The Net Return Mini ($549). 5 × 3.5 ft floor, 6 ft tall.

Backyard and outdoor golf nets

Outdoors, the net has to survive sun and wind as well as golf balls. The Net Return says its Pro has a "strong frame" and "UV-treated netting" for "garage, spare room or backyard", and sells an Outdoor Cover ($159 for the Pro) so it can stay outside year-round. (Its current name is simply the Pro; you'll still see "Pro Series V2" on older listings.)

• GoSports Elite ($499.99–$599.99): a steel frame in 7' x 7', 8' x 8' or 10' x 7', with netting GoSports calls 3x stronger than its bestseller and setup in under 5 minutes.
• Spornia SPG-7 ($349.99 on Amazon): a 7' x 7' net with a sloped ball return. Practical Golf's review calls stakes "essential in windy conditions" and suggests taking it down before a severe storm.
• GoSports 10' x 7' Pro ($129.99): the cheapest full-swing net here, with an 8-ply net and a 90-second setup.
• SKLZ Quickster Chipping Net ($39.99): for short game only; three target holes and a 30-second setup.

None of the budget nets publish a ball-speed rating, so I'd keep driver swings for the Net Return or a net with a rating.

Safety

• Compare your driver ball speed with the net's rating: 225 mph for the Net Return Pro, 250 mph for Rain or Shine's SwingBay screen.
• Add side barriers. They catch shanks and toe shots, and they're extra on most Net Return models.
• Weigh the frame down; the Net Return Mini calls for sandbags on the back.
• The Net Return makes the point well: net height is not a guarantee of enough ceiling clearance. Check your swing with your longest club.