DIY Backyard Hitting Area Build / Netting Question

[parmo99]

So I've just finished a backyard remodel, and decided I needed to upgrade my outdoor hitting setup which was previously a mat sitting on sloped dirt, hitting into an off the shelf net. So, I have begun a new build and will post the progress and my thoughts, in case anyone has feedback or would find this helpful if they are considering as well. 

 

So, to start, I am pouring a 13x13 concrete slab, that will be level and large enough for a hitting station and hopefully a couple chairs to hang out. It's all framed up, drain rock compacted and should be poured in the next couple days.

 

 

Now here is what I am thinking for the net itself. About a foot in from each of the back corners, and the front right corner (just in case I want to hit the other direction if people are hanging out behind the net) I am sinking one of these chain link fence post sleeves (so 3 total) that will sit flush with the top of the concrete. So effectively, I will have a little hole (sleeve) at the corners that I can drop the post of the net in. 

 

 

My plan is to then get two chain link fence posts (the sleeves I got are 1 3/8" so these will be skinny posts, think the top rail of the chain link fence), which can slide easily in and out of the sleeves that were dropped into the concrete slab. I can cut the posts to custom height and drill holes along the way up, and buy raw netting (you can also order with vinyl edges and grommets) to zip tie to the posts. My big question here is what size net, relative to the size of the hitting area, to allow for enough slack in the net to catch the ball and not launch the ball back at you. If anybody has thoughts or recommendations on that I am all ears. Will obviously need some soft surface below to keep the ball from bouncing on the concrete, but that shouldn't be too difficult. The nice part about this setup would be that it can easily be taken out and rolled up when not in use, to keep the wife happy.

 

Next step would be to get the hitting mat area figured out. I've been using a cheaper mat that I got on amazon for the last couple years and to be honest it sucks. It's fine when you flush the ball but if you hit it just a little fat it hurts my wrists and hands like a MF. I definitely want to do it right this time, with something premium for the hitting surface itself. I am also exploring whether the entire concrete pad should be covered in "turf" even if only the hitting area is the premium turf. Any ideas would be welcome.

 

Anyways, those are my thoughts, would welcome yours. More progress reports to come.

 

 

[ezra76]

For a hitting mat I'm going to try one of the horse stall mats they sell at Tractor Supply and then put my smaller "grass" mat on top of it. The horse stall mat is 4x6 and 3/4" thick rubber and only costs $60. So should be able to stand on the mat with the smaller hitting mat on top of that. I'm looking at some bigger nets too. Saw some that 10x10 and have coverage side and top. I missed my net once and sent a ball across the road off the roof of a house a block away, oops. So not trying to have that happen again. My son and I are both going to be doing a lot of driver work over the winter on it.

 

Looks awesome so far man. 

[parmo99]

2 minutes ago, ezra76 said:

For a hitting mat I'm going to try one of the horse stall mats they sell at Tractor Supply and then put my smaller "grass" mat on top of it. The horse stall mat is 4x6 and 3/4" thick rubber and only costs $60. So should be able to stand on the mat with the smaller hitting mat on top of that. I'm looking at some bigger nets too. Saw some that 10x10 and have coverage side and top. I missed my net once and sent a ball across the road off the roof of a house a block away, oops. So not trying to have that happen again. My son and I are both going to be doing a lot of driver work over the winter on it.

 

Looks awesome so far man. 

Thanks, thats a god call. We have a Tractor Supply in town so I will go poke around down there and see what they have.

[Jamesheeney]

Hey bud

 

I am just starting the planning myself and I have a client who recommended these.  He did the back yard thing and used these brackets with 4 x 4 and then ran a wire that allowed the netting to slide like curtains so you can open and close them when you are playing. 

 

https://tojagrid.com/collections/kits/products/any-size-pergola-kit-for-4x4-wood-posts

[parmo99]

On 9/24/2022 at 1:06 PM, Jamesheeney said:

Hey bud

 

I am just starting the planning myself and I have a client who recommended these.  He did the back yard thing and used these brackets with 4 x 4 and then ran a wire that allowed the netting to slide like curtains so you can open and close them when you are playing. 

 

https://tojagrid.com/collections/kits/products/any-size-pergola-kit-for-4x4-wood-posts

Thanks for that. I think I am going to go with something a little lower profile that I can disassemble easily when we are using the yard for other stuff. I'm thinking just the net in the front should be enough as I have used a store bought front net for years now and havent blasted any around the sides. This one will also be about 11 feet wide, so should be plenty of coverage I hope..

[Jamesheeney]

6 hours ago, parmo99 said:

Thanks for that. I think I am going to go with something a little lower profile that I can disassemble easily when we are using the yard for other stuff. I'm thinking just the net in the front should be enough as I have used a store bought front net for years now and havent blasted any around the sides. This one will also be about 11 feet wide, so should be plenty of coverage I hope..

Fair. Check out this guy's vid on your concept. I would want nicer then he did look wise but the concept may help

[parmo99]

2 minutes ago, Jamesheeney said:

Fair. Check out this guy's vid on your concept. I would want nicer then he did look wise but the concept may help

I might be blind, but did you post the video link?

[Jamesheeney]

 Sorry

[JAM01]

https://shop.carlofet.com/extras/your-favorite-golf-simulator-accessories/fittings-to-design-your-own-golf-hitting-cage-structure
 

not sure if these are for outdoors, then by the pipe at the big box. You can tailor to your dimensions. 

[parmo99]

Both of the above use the "cage" style for the net. Am I crazy to just go with two posts and the net straight across in front instead of on the sides as well? For context, that video guys net looks like its about 7-8 feet across. Mine will be 11 so I feel like at that size its plenty wide to catch all balls (hopefully) other than the obvious S word??

Edited September 27, 2022 by parmo99

[Jamesheeney]

13 hours ago, parmo99 said:

Both of the above use the "cage" style for the net. Am I crazy to just go with two posts and the net straight across in front instead of on the sides as well? For context, that video guys net looks like its about 7-8 feet across. Mine will be 11 so I feel like at that size its plenty wide to catch all balls (hopefully) other than the obvious S word??

 

I think you are taking a heck of a risk without sides and a top.  If you hit the top of your driver that ball is going to go over the net and into another yard (at least in my neighbourhood). Wedges can be the same if you get underneath it with a 60. Remember, the moment you build it someone you know will want to use it (or try it drunk) and stuff will get broken. I honestly wouldnt risk it as we all mishit somedays. I hit a shot on the fairway two weeks ago and my foot slipped and i hit the ball with the toe and it went almost 90 degrees. 

[parmo99]

2 hours ago, Jamesheeney said:

 

I think you are taking a heck of a risk without sides and a top.  If you hit the top of your driver that ball is going to go over the net and into another yard (at least in my neighbourhood). Wedges can be the same if you get underneath it with a 60. Remember, the moment you build it someone you know will want to use it (or try it drunk) and stuff will get broken. I honestly wouldnt risk it as we all mishit somedays. I hit a shot on the fairway two weeks ago and my foot slipped and i hit the ball with the toe and it went almost 90 degrees. 

Very fair points, but I should have specified there is an open field behind my house with about 200 yards until the house up on the hill comes into play.. It would have to ricochet off something to hit a neighbors house on the sides too as the net is actually beyond where the houses end. I figure if I sky a drive it aint covering 200, at least they never do when I need it to carry 200 on the course 🙂

[parmo99]

[Jamesheeney]

5 hours ago, parmo99 said:

Very fair points, but I should have specified there is an open field behind my house with about 200 yards until the house up on the hill comes into play.. It would have to ricochet off something to hit a neighbors house on the sides too as the net is actually beyond where the houses end. I figure if I sky a drive it aint covering 200, at least they never do when I need it to carry 200 on the course 🙂

Fair and I don't have 200 yards. So as long as you are not worried about balls being lost and it would be very few, then you are good to go

[jimmy_heaters]

On 9/23/2022 at 11:54 AM, ezra76 said:

For a hitting mat I'm going to try one of the horse stall mats they sell at Tractor Supply and then put my smaller "grass" mat on top of it. The horse stall mat is 4x6 and 3/4" thick rubber and only costs $60. So should be able to stand on the mat with the smaller hitting mat on top of that. I'm looking at some bigger nets too. Saw some that 10x10 and have coverage side and top. I missed my net once and sent a ball across the road off the roof of a house a block away, oops. So not trying to have that happen again. My son and I are both going to be doing a lot of driver work over the winter on it.

 

Looks awesome so far man. 

That horse stall mat is exactly what I've been looking for. Home Depot has artificial grass for $1.82 /sq. ft., but it needs something underneath it. 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMaster-Putting-Green-6-ft-Wide-x-Cut-to-Length-Artificial-Grass-Carpet-TMSPUTT06CTL/313236789

[ezra76]

20 hours ago, jimmy_heaters said:

That horse stall mat is exactly what I've been looking for. Home Depot has artificial grass for $1.82 /sq. ft., but it needs something underneath it. 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMaster-Putting-Green-6-ft-Wide-x-Cut-to-Length-Artificial-Grass-Carpet-TMSPUTT06CTL/313236789

I got it a few weeks ago. Works great. $55. 

 

 

[parmo99]

Ok, bringing this back up with some progress.. it was a wet winter in Cali so I stalled until the sun started shining more regularly.. 

 

So I went to the hardware store and picked up three chainlink fence top rails and cut them to about 10 feet each. As a reminder, I sunk those top rail fitting sleeves (couple bucks each) at each corner of the concrete pad. The posts fit perfectly as planned and it provides more than enough structural support for the net unit. 

 

 

Next I used a 90 degree connection, which they sell for a couple bucks as well to connect the top rail to the two side posts and reinforced it with a couple screws.

 

 

Next, I slapped a coat of black spray paint on it to make the whole thing less visible as a feature in my yard..

 

 

And now the frame is ready to roll.. 

 

 

SO the final dimensions of the frame are about 9.5 feet tall and just shy of 12 feet wide. Last week I ordered a "custom" net from Just For Nets (they make custom size golf nets). I went with 2 feet of extra netting on the width, and a little over 2x extra on the height so I can drape it over the top and have two layers of protection so I don't bust through it. It should be enough slack on the width to "catch" the shots, and enough to bunch up at the bottom as well. Net should be delivered next week or two so will update when I have it in hand. Between now and then I will also be picking up some of the black rubber horse stall mats from Tractor Supply to cover most of the concrete pad. Don't want any balls bouncing around on the concrete. More to come soon, but getting close.

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by parmo99

[parmo99]

Ok, so I finished her up. As mentioned, I went down to Tractor Supply (looks like you could go to any hardware store) and picked up 2 thin rubber mats just to keep balls from bouncing off the concrete - they work just as I had hoped. 

 

For the construction of the net - I drilled holes every 18 inches on the metal frame, draped the net over the top (one layer on front and one behind, so two layers of net), and zip tied it through each of the holes. The amount of slack in the net worked out perfectly - it "catches" the ball and they basically drop straight down onto the rubber mat. Thrilled with the way it all worked out.. see below for a few more pics. Let me know if anyone has any questions.

 

 

Edited June 15, 2023 by parmo99

[Frankensteins Monster]

On 9/24/2022 at 4:06 PM, Jamesheeney said:

Hey bud

 

I am just starting the planning myself and I have a client who recommended these.  He did the back yard thing and used these brackets with 4 x 4 and then ran a wire that allowed the netting to slide like curtains so you can open and close them when you are playing. 

 

https://tojagrid.com/collections/kits/products/any-size-pergola-kit-for-4x4-wood-posts

 

I know this is old, but $500+ for woods brackets???!!!!?!??!?!?!

[Frankensteins Monster]

4 hours ago, parmo99 said:

Ok, so I finished her up. As mentioned, I went down to Tractor Supply (looks like you could go to any hardware store) and picked up 2 thin rubber mats just to keep balls from bouncing off the concrete - they work just as I had hoped. 

 

For the construction of the net - I drilled holes every 18 inches on the metal frame, draped the net over the top (one layer on front and one behind, so two layers of net), and zip tied it through each of the holes. The amount of slack in the net worked out perfectly - it "catches" the ball and they basically drop straight down onto the rubber mat. Thrilled with the way it all worked out.. see below for a few more pics. Let me know if anyone has any questions.

 

 

Cool setup and great swing, but you're standing on the wrong side of the ball!

[parmo99]

13 minutes ago, Frankensteins Monster said:

Cool setup and great swing, but you're standing on the wrong side of the ball!

Haha, yeah net wont fix that issue.. thanks!