How to Make a Golf Net in Your Garage

Building a golf net in your garage is one of the single best things you can do for your game. It turns wasted space into your personal practice facility, ready for a few swings whenever you have a spare 15 minutes. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from planning the space and gathering the right materials to the step-by-step process of building a safe and effective home practice bay.

Why a Garage Golf Setup is a Game-Changer

Having a net within a few feet of your car might feel a little strange at first, but the benefits are massive. The driving range is great, but it has its drawbacks: it costs money, it takes time to get there, and you can easily fall into the trap of just mindlessly hitting balls. A home setup transforms practice from an event into a habit.

Imagine this: you're watching golf on TV and an announcer mentions a point about keeping the left wrist flat. Instead of just filing that thought away, you can grab a club, walk into the garage, and work on that exact feeling for five minutes. That’s how real, lasting improvement happens - through focused, repetitive, and convenient practice. You get more reps in, you can work on very specific parts of your swing without feeling rushed, and you can do it year-round, regardless of the weather. It removes the excuses and puts you in control of your progress.

Step 1: Planning Your Garage Bay

Before you buy a single pipe or piece of netting, you need to understand your space. This planning phase is the most important part of the entire project because it dictates what kind of setup is possible and ensures you build something safe.

Measure Everything (Twice!)

Grab a tape measure and get an accurate reading of your garage’s dimensions. You need three key measurements:

• Height: Your garage ceiling is your primary limitation. You need enough height to swing a driver without hitting the ceiling or a garage door opener. Stand in your intended hitting spot, grab your driver, and take a few slow, careful practice swings. You should have at least a foot of clearance at the very top of your swing. A typical garage with a 10-foot ceiling is usually great, a 9-foot ceiling is often workable, but an 8-foot ceiling can be tight for taller players using a driver.
• Width: This determines how much protection you need for mishits. You’ll want your net to be as wide as possible to catch those inevitable shanks and an errant pull. Aim for a net that’s at least 10 feet wide if possible. This gives you a comfort zone so you're not tensed up thinking about every shot.
• Depth: You need enough space between you and the net for the ball to fly safely. A good rule of thumb is to stand about 10-12 feet away from the net. This gives the net time to absorb the impact fully and prevents the ball from ricocheting back at you. You also need space behind you for a full backswing, so make sure you’re not backed up against a wall or workbench.

Check Your Surroundings

Don't just think about the swing, think about the miss. What's to the left and right of your hitting area? Are there windows, water heaters, shelves filled with valuables, or a parked car? Your plan must account for protecting these areas. A shanked wedge shot flies off the club at nearly a 45-degree angle. Be honest about your miss and plan accordingly by moving things or adding side protection.

Step 2: Gathering Your Materials

With your measurements in hand, you can start sourcing materials. You can buy pre-made net kits, but a DIY version offers more customization for your specific space and can often be more budget-friendly.

The Main Components Checklist

• Golf Impact Netting: This is not the place to cut corners. Do not use a bedsheet, an old blanket, or a simple sports backstop net. You need high-grade, heavy-duty netting specifically designed to stop a golf ball traveling at over 100 mph. Look for "golf impact netting" or "archery netting." Dyneema or an equivalent heavy-duty synthetic fiber is an excellent choice. A 10' x 10' piece is a great starting point for most garage setups.
• Frame Materials: You have a few options for building the frame to hold your net.
  • PVC Pipe: Inexpensive, widely available, and easy to cut and assemble. This is a perfect choice for your first garage net. Use 1.5" or 2" diameter Schedule 40 PVC for good rigidity.
  • Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) Conduit: More rigid and durable than PVC, and still relatively affordable. You’ll use metal corner connectors designed for this type of conduit.
  • A Retractable System: For a cleaner look, you can buy retractable systems that mount to the ceiling, allowing you to roll the net up and out of the way when you're not using it.
• Padding and Backstop: The sound of a golf ball smacking a net can be surprisingly loud. Hanging a heavy blanket, a canvas painter’s tarp, or an old piece of carpet behind the main impact area will dampen the sound significantly. It also adds a second layer of safety and prolongs the life of your expensive net.
• Fasteners: You'll need a way to attach the net to your frame. Heavy-duty zip ties work well for a permanent installation. Bungee cords or small springs provide a bit of give, which can help absorb impact and reduce wear. Carabiner clips are also a great, secure option.
• Flooring (Optional but Recommended): Hitting off a hard concrete floor isn't great for your clubs or your joints. A simple square of artificial turf (a hitting mat) is essential. You can find these starting at around 3' x 4' or 4' x 5'.

Tools Needed

• Tape Measure
• Marker
• Pipe Cutter or Hacksaw (if using PVC or EMT)
• Drill (if securing the frame to walls/ceiling)
• Ladder

Step 3: The Build Guide (A Simple PVC Frame)

Let's walk through building a freestanding 10' x 10' x 5' frame. This gives you a wide, tall target with enough depth for safety. You can adjust these dimensions to fit your space.

Pipe Needed (1.5" or 2" Schedule 40 PVC):

• Four 10-foot pieces (for the main square)
• Four 5-foot pieces (for the depth supports)

Fittings Needed:

• Four 3-Way Corner Fittings
• Four 2-Way "T" Fittings (or just get eight 3-Way corners for simplicity)

1. Lay Out the Base

On the floor, connect two of the 5-foot pipes to a 10-foot pipe using two of the 3-Way corner fittings. This creates the back of the base. Then, take your other two 5-foot pipes and two "T" fittings and connect them to the other ends of the 10-foot pipe, creating the forward side runners. Lay your final 10-foot pipe between the "T" fittings to complete a 10’ wide by 5’ deep rectangle on the floor.

2. Build the Uprights

Take your two 10-foot vertical pipes and insert them into the back 3-Way corners. Then take your other two 10-foot vertical pipes and insert them in the front "T" fittings. You will now have four vertical posts.

3. Complete the Top Frame

Using your ladder, place the remaining two 3-Way corner fittings on top of the two back vertical pipes. And two "T" an two remaining 3-way fittings on the two front vertical pipes. Now, connect the front and back posts on each side using your two last 5-foot pipes. Finally, connect the front and back top pipes together using a 10' pipe to create the top part of the cube.

4. Attach Your Netting

Start at one top corner and attach the grommet or edge of your netting to the frame using a zip tie or carabiner. Work your way across the top, spacing your fasteners about every 12 inches. Do the same down each side. Do not pull the net completely taut. You want some "give" in it to catch the ball's energy. At the bottom, it's a good idea to let the net bunch up slightly onto the floor. This "belly" at the bottom will lifelessly stop any low, line-drive shots.

5. Hang Your Dampener

Behind the primary hitting area of your net, hang your heavy blanket or tarp. Just drape it over the top pipe of the frame and let it hang loosely between the net and the back wall of your garage.

Step 4: Safety Checks and Best Practices

Your practice station is built, but you're not done yet. Safety is a continuous process, not just a one-time build step.

• Start with Soft Chips: Don't start by ripping your driver. Hit some simple pitch and chip shots first. Watch how the ball reacts, where it lands, and listen for any unexpected ricochets. Slowly work your way up through the bag.
• Shank-Proof Your Zone: If your swing tends to produce the occasional 'hosel rocket,' consider adding side netting panels or moving your station so that a solid wall is in the line of fire. You can hang extra netting or durable tarps from the ceiling to create side 'wings' for added protection.
• Inspect Your Net Regularly: Make it a habit to check your netting for any signs of fraying or a potential hole, especially in the central impact area. A small hole can become a big one very quickly.
• Secure the Frame: If your frame feels wobbly, weigh it down with sandbags on the base pipes or use brackets to secure it to the garage wall or ceiling joists. A stable frame is a safe frame.

Final Thoughts

Completing this project gives you more than just a place to hit golf balls, it’s an investment in your game and a clear commitment to getting better. By planning carefully and using the right materials, you can create a safe, durable, and highly effective practice station right in your own garage.

Now that your personal practice bay is set up, the next question becomes "What should I practice?" Those random, unstructured hitting sessions can often do more harm than good, reinforcing bad habits. This is a situation where I’ve found that Caddie AI can make your garage time profoundly effective. Instead of a guessing what to work on, you can get tour-level drills and personalized feedback on your swing mechanics instantly. You could even take a quick video of your swing in the net, analyze it, and get immediate, actionable advice, turning ayour garage into a true state-of-the-art training center.