How to set up a golf net in your backyard - the ultimate guide

Want a golf net in your backyard?

"I know my handicap can get lower, I just need to practice more."

"Between work and family commitments, It's tough to get to the range during the week."

If you've played this wonderful game of golf for any period of time, these excuses will no doubt sound very familiar to you, and chances are that you have been guilty of making these excuses.

But it doesn't really have to be this way.

Just have a look at your backyard now......with a little bit of imagination, you can turn it into your very own home driving range.

Even if you just have the odd 30min here and there, you will be able to groove a repeatable golf swing or work on that 300 yard drive...did someone mention single digit handicap?

In this article, we will go through a step by step guide on how to set up a golf net in your backyard.

Are you ready for unlimited range balls AND not having to ever pay for them? 

Location, location, location

The first decision or consideration when it comes to getting a golf net in your backyard is where you are going to place it. Here are some things to think about when it comes to picking the right space for your golf set up.

Make sure you've got the room

The first thing in determining where you are going to set things up is to ensure that it meets some general space requirements. 

As a general rule of thumb, ideally you will need an area that is 3m wide and 5m long, especially if you are looking to use a radar based launch monitor. 

If 5m is too long and if you are not going to use a radar based launch monitor then you can shorten the area required - you will just need enough depth to freely swing a golf club without catching the net on your follow-through. You can always go for a camera based launch monitor that you can put next to the ball if space is limited.

The best way to test out if you have enough space in the area that you've got in mind is to just take out your driver (or even an alignment stick) and have a few slow air swings and make sure you are nowhere near hitting something. 

How flat is the ground?

Another important factor to consider when setting up a golf net is whether the ground is flat. 

Of course not everyone has the luxury of having a perfectly flat and level backyard, but if you can station your hitting area on a relatively level and flat surface that would really help with the set up.

Is it sheltered? 

If there's an option of setting up your home driving range in a sheltered or shaded area, that would definitely be recommended. 

It will make your space a lot more comfortable and enjoyable, especially if you are looking to spend a fair bit of time practicing and playing. 

Which way are you hitting?

As the famous saying goes - golf is a game of misses. 

Considering the orientation of your golf net can potentially save you from a shattered window or an angry neighbour. 

The typical 'misses' in a golf net set up are skied shots, thin worm burners or the dreaded shank. 

So if it's possible to set your net up in a way where you can keep things relatively safe on the rare occasion that the net fails to catch the ball, that would be ideal. This is especially important if you are looking to start out with a more entry level golf net that doesn't offer as much protection as a larger, higher-end net. 

Pick the right products

So now you have picked the ideal space for your golf net set up. Let's go through an equally important decision - which golf net should you get?

In general, there are 2 ways you can go here - DIY or purchase a ready-made product.

There's a wide range of ready-made products which will suit different spaces, budgets etc. Check out our comprehensive golf net buying guide here to help you decide which net is right for you - Best Golf Nets for All Budgets in Australia - A Golf Net Buying Guide

However if you have an existing structure in your backyard to hang a golf net or a baffle, the DIY option may not be a bad idea and could save you some money in the process. If you are looking to go down this route, definitely check out our article on  this topic here - How to Build a Golf Net - Best Designs for DIY Golf Nets.

Let's practice safe golfing

We can's stress enough about keeping your home driving range as safe as possible. Not only do you (really!) not want a golf ball to fly into something that is not a golf net, having the niggling thought that the ball could potentially miss the net could actually sabotage your golf swing - yes 'indoor swing syndrome (ISS)' is real.

And with a few safety oriented accessories, you can significantly improve the safety of your set up. 

Here's a list of products/items we highly recommend:

• Pool noodles/insulation foam - if the frame of your golf net has exposed metal poles, we highly recommend wrapping them up with pool noodles or insulation foam. This is dollar-for-dollar, the best addition to your golf net.

• Target sheet - not only does a target sheet give you something to aim at when hitting into a golf net, it will also also take the most of the impact from the ball. This will extend the life of you golf net and reduce the chance of golf balls going through the net.
• Side protection nets (a.k.a Shank Nets) - if you are using a narrower golf net where there's a possibility a dreaded hosel rocket missing the net, we highly recommend adding in some additional protection in the form of a shank net. It doesn't even have to be a purpose-built side protection net, hang some additional netting on the 'shank' side might even do the job and make your set up much safer.
• A good golf mat - one of the things that you might find yourself doing once you have a net set up in your backyard is that you will be hitting A LOT of balls. A high quality mat is essential in ensuring that you don't pick up any muscle or joint injuries. Take it from me, golfer's elbow is not fun at all.

At Kaizen Golf, we offer target sheets as well as side protection nets under our Accessories page, we also have a large range of high quality golf mats, please feel free to check them out.

Wrapping up & further reading

So that was our step-by-step guide in how you can set up a golf net in your backyard so you can finally get some much wanted golf practice done from the comfort and convenience of your own home. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this article and I hope you find this article helpful. If you want to get deeper into the rabbit hole, please feel free to check out some of our other articles on this topic:

• Top 5 Advantages of using Golf Practice Nets
• How to get the most out of practicing golf at home
• Answered - how high do I need my Golf Net to be?
• How do I extend the life of my golf net?