Shopping For Back-up Netting For Your Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball or Soccer Facility? Here are 3 Tips To Help You Shop Better…

Baseball back-up netting at Back-up netting for your soccer, lacrosse, baseball, or softball facility can help protect buildings, cars, fans and passers-by. The protection offered by back-up netting makes it a worthwhile investment. Just how big an investment you ask?  Well, that depends, there are so many options.

Many variables affect what type of back-up netting system you should choose;  budget, climate,  how the net will be used,  who will be maintaining the netting system, to name a few.  To insure you’ll get back-up netting that will meet your needs and fit your budget do some homework before you start shopping.

1.) Determine what your needs are;

• Will you need just the nets or will you need a complete back-up netting system with something to anchor the netting such as posts?

• Will the nets stay up all the time?  if not how often will they need to be taken down?  Who will be taking them down, (trained maintenance staff or others?)

• Will the posts be permanent or will they need to be moved?  If they will need to be moved how often will they need to be moved and by whom?

• What will be the smallest object you are trying to stop? (This will help you determine what mesh size will work best for you.)

• How big an area do you want to protect with the netting?

2.)  Do some research and know some basic facts about back-up netting before you start getting prices.  We’ll get you started with our  recommendations for;

A. Height Of the Posts

• For soccer 20’ is the minimum, 25’ is better, 30’ will stop the majority of balls behind the goal

• For baseball and softball 30’ to 40’ is common for behind home plate

• For lacrosse 10′ is minimum, 15′ is better and 20′ is great

B.  Length Of the Net*

• Typically for soccer nets are installed behind the goals. 60’ wide is the minimum, 85’ is recommended and 132’ covers the width of the penalty box.

• Baseball and softball back-up netting is custom and is based on the needs of the facility.

• The width of lacrosse fields vary and so does the length of back-up nets.  The most common back-up nets for lacrosse are somewhere between 110′ – 170′.

*Keep in mind you will never stop all the balls in any sport. Obviously the bigger the net, the greater the chance of stopping more balls.

C. Size Of the Smallest Object You Want To Stop To Determine the Optimal Mesh Size

• Soccer, volleyball, football, basketball – 4” mesh

• Baseball or softball -1 ¾” or 1 7/8” mesh

• Lacrosse and hockey – 1 ½” or 1 3/16” mesh

• Golf – 7/8” mesh

3. Plan ahead so you can set a realistic budget.

In our experience most people underestimate the cost of a good back-up netting system.  Quality, durable back-up net systems aren’t cheap, but a well designed system will last for many years.  As with most big projects, it’s best to plan well in advance.

When planning for your system it will be best for your budget to opt for a stationary back-up netting system.  If your facility can utilize a stationary system the costs will be less than a sleeved or ground anchor system and considerably less than a portable system.  Portable systems are by far the most expensive.

To learn more Download our Back-up Net Buyers Guide >