Video created by Wild Wolf Films. Bob Benner, a.k.a. The Old Man, shows how to build your own practice area for hitting golf balls in your backyard! If you have any questions on the materials or steps used, please leave a comment below!
I’m looking into doing this and I will tell you what u pointed me in the right direction I appreciate you and your time can’t wait to start thanks for the knowledge
would really love to know what net you used and how to fasten the the pipe.. I have some ideas on fasteners but not to sure on the net hahaha! awesome set up!
I went on line with Golfsmith, now Golf Galaxy, and ordered the cheapest one that would fit. Like I said, it was about $30. The first fasteners were strings, but zip ties work the best. The break after a few thousand shots and have to be replaced. I bought the black ones so they wouldn't show up and they have worked no problem as long as you change the broken ones. By the way, the more ties you use the better the hold up.
Thanks for the instruction. Where did you buy the net? How is it holding up with being outside all the time? I like the look of the metal piping but the occasional hook or slice from a beginning golfer could result in a very dangerous ricochet compared to a softer PVC pipe; then again, if the net is wide enough it shouldn't be a problem.
The net came from the website for Golfsmith, which is now Golf Galaxy. I paid about $30 for it and it has been up for over a year. The trick seems to be keeping it tightly hung with tie-wraps to prevent tearing. Now that I have a place to hit daily I am okey with having to replace the net every few years. As far as the pipe framing is concerned, I've only hit a pipe after a complete shank, and even then it just deflected off to the side without any real concern. You can always extend the width a few feet more, but you will have to find a net to fit. Maybe that's the answer: the golf suppliers don't really sell anything wider??
Nice video, thank you. I have found that trying to practice irons off mats (my favorite range installed mats - short nap and thick - but I don't feel like the natural divot after striking is allowed and therefore practice is impossible. Is the answer just to do what you did and do repairs as needed and allow divots to grow back, and so forth?
Yikes! That would be a lot of divots, especially if you practice as much as I do. You can hit down on a ball struck from a mat. As I've posted in my other videos, the ball is always struck with a descending blow (before the club reaches the bottom of its arc) and I've never had an issue with mats and the need for divots. A descending blow gives a nice cushioned feel it the ball is struck correctly from the mat. I think you should revisit the steepness of you swing coming down into the ball.
Great setup and explanation. Thanks for taking the time to walk us through it. I am confused about one thing, though. Did you say you've been hitting off that mat for years and it's wearing well? But then later you said you only just put in this setup a few weeks ago.
About five years for this one. I used it in another location before I built the present setup. I have to take it up every few weeks and hose it off because it gets dirty, but to date it really isn't showing much wear.
absolutely fantastic my friend,,i have 3 target greens in my back yard,nothing fancy,white painted hula hoops at 10,20,and 30 yards with a flag.i also bought a used hitting mat at my local chip n putt for 15 dollars.it saves me sooo much money its ridiculous. screw paying 9 dollars to hit 50 60 balls,,,
Hi old man - How far away is the mat from the net? Do you ever ever clear the net? Also do you have any room to move the mat back? Thanks. Thinking of building a similar setup.
About 12 feet, depending on where I position the ball. I hit balls over the net practicing lob shots all the time. Don't think I ever hit one over the net otherwise. Might have happened... I could move it back thirty yards, but to no good effect. I do hit balls from 20-30 away from the other side trying to hit the the center of the net and I hit shots off the grass closer in and I hit my driver off the grass same way, closer in. Thanks for the question.
dear Sir .. just came across ur fantastic video on ur "personal home made bckyard training facility" .. i'd die for one but i live in an apartment building here in Malaysia - nonetheless, happy to see the project, i feel i'm there somewhere close admiring ur build .. all the best Sir. p/s btw Sir, is the net "hikeable"? maybe for small kids to run under instead of running thru the net system??
Thank you for your very positive comments. I have always wanted to visit Malaysia and I have spent a great deal of time reading about the events of WWII jn Malaysia and countries to the South, specifically the cities of Singapore, Palumbang and Surabaya. I guess the net is hikeable. I can pull it up several feet and leave it that way for my grandchildren to pass under
Golf With The Old Man hi again Sir .. tQ for replying. i am very suprised that u know Malaysia .. i am very flattered. i guess u love a bit of History. unfortunately, there's nothing much left of the WW2 n almost nothing to see - as it is there was a short occupation by the Japanese - they actually only passed/occupied MALAYA(that time) to proceed to Singapore - jst a bit of history - Vietnam has more historical leftovers. Of golf, Indonesia(eg Surabaya, Jakarta..) n Thailand are better golf holiday destinations. ok Sir, nice chatting with u. take care n cheers. Of golf, Indonesia
I have a 15 yr old son that I'm trying to help. Any problems with the pipe? ...maybe I could add 2in insulation foam around it just in case he shanks one.
Insulation would certainly soften the response of a ball ricocheting off the pipe. I never really thought about it until last fall when I was giving a lesson and the student actually hit the pipe!
Yes, for sure. On the opposite side of the net I have an area of closely cut zoysia sod. I tee it up for the driver and hit fwy metals, hybrids and occasionally long irons.
The net is five years old, purchased from Golfsmith, before they went out of business and holding up remarkably well. Dont know what I'll use to replace it. Maybe buy something not custom made and trim it to fit?
paired with a nice turf green and you won't ever have to go to the range again. I could see this paying off quick if you go to the range often and get a big bucket of balls
Which was me. $30-50 a week. Now I hit thousands and go to the range to check my accuracy - if I am having direction problems. Otherwise simply playing confirms my suspicions.
I had to make a forced landing in Hyannis, NE many years ago, was there for several days before it cleared. The folks out there treated me well and I learned a lot about the cattle business. Nice people. I'm on the Missouri/Illinois border in Missouri.
Golf With The Old Man Nebraska is full of good hearted folks. I'm glad they treated you well. If anyone knows the cattle business, they probably live in Nebraska, that's for sure. Thanks for the video!
@@golfwiththeoldman1721 Ok, for us golfer/pilots here, what happened? Looks like you walked away from it. Good job. I flew into St. Louis downtown one time. Pretty fun approach up the Mississippi past the Arch. I'm pouring the pad for my mat tomorrow. I just got through setting the forms and backfilling. I was going to just put down packed dirt until I saw your video. You're right, there is settling and you start to get indentations. I've hit off of my mat outside a few times. Thanks for the video!
I bought the golf net from Golfsmith before they went out of business. It's about 5 years old at this time and still wearing well. I haven't been able to finding a replacement for the setup I'm building at the other end of my yard. I will probably have to buy a larger net and cut it to fit the 8 by 10 I have now and intend to create at the other end of the property Thank you for your interest
12 dollars american for a large bucket...you can hit dozens of buckets a day...talk about swing grooving...you will have game no matter what if you build this and use it continually...of all the gadgets nothing compares to your own driving range... Do not be afraid uneven ground people.....we can compensate for that too...for only a coyple extra dolllars....
@@golfwiththeoldman1721 still it is overkill. you didn't really need 4" but hey i see you like to do the job right so this set up is going to be trouble free for a very long time. probably will outlast you. :) you should invest in developing it further so you can practice all aspects of your game. get some different grasses in there (artificial of course) get some sand in there and practice all aspects of your game when your at home bored. you will be on the pro tour in no time! :)