You may think that golf nets are a thing of the past. A reminder of the COVID era, when courses were shut and us golfers were forced to create home set-ups to get our fix of the sport.
However, that's not the case and, with many golf courses closing during the winter period due to the weather, they are still handy to have, especially as the best golf nets can keep your swing fine-tuned for the spring.
I've had golf nets previously, and I was tasked with testing the Practice Net from TS Golf, a popular model on Amazon.
To begin with, you have three options when you purchase - Net only (£79.99), the Net bundle £119.99 and Net bundle with chipping net (£139.99) - I was given the latter, and I was pleased to see you get a fair amount for your money, including the golf net and chipping net, as well as a nice towel, a golf mat, golf balls, tees and a handy carry bag to store it all in.
So far, so good, but now comes the first negative, which is the set-up process. Constructed from nylon, polyester mesh with fiberglass rods, the rods themselves don't connect together overly well and separate quite easily when sliding into the various sections.
It does come with instructions, but they aren't the clearest, and because there's a lot of netting material, it can take a considerable amount of time to work out exactly where the fiberglass rods need to be inserted.
Eventually, the net was built and, overall, it looked sturdy. Measuring 10 x 7 x 6 feet, it is a nice size and can be used both inside and out (if you've got the space). What's more, because of its wide and deep construction, it is easy to hit any type of shot into it.
Being held down by pegs in the corners, TS Golf has also provided a back board that features three holes for chipping. This back board also provides an extra layer of protection when it comes to striking full shots. Although it is another added layer, it is quite loud when the ball makes impact, but I'm happy to report both the double and single layers held up well.
Speaking of performance, the net works well on irons shots, as the ball drops down and doesn't bounce back. Certainly, the nylon and backboard felt sturdy enough to hit fully committed shots, but I was a little hesitant with the driver and fairway woods.
Admittedly, I have a quick swing, so it might not be as much of an issue for those with slower swing speeds but, over time, I feel it might start to wear with the repeated, quick blows.
It's a decent performer, and what I like is that a smart and practical hitting mat is provided in the bundle. There are three sections on it, one of which is like a standard fairway consistency. There's also a rough section and a handy training section.
The training section works by showing you the club path and strike pattern when you hit the ball. When impact is made, the sequin surface flips to showcase how the club has interacted with the surface, leaving a trail that provides instant feedback, which is really useful to identify any problems with path or low point.
Overall, the TS Golf Practice Net does many things well, but a fiddly construction process lets it down somewhat. That said, once erected this is a non-issue if you plan to leave it in situ and it has proved to be a helpful companion in working on my game in the off season.
The three chipping holes really hone your focus and provide a scoring element that allows you to measure the success of your practice, while the three different hitting surfaces add a large amount of versatility to what's on offer here for a very appealing price.
