Inspecting a golf net: a before-every-session checklist

Use a repeatable inspection routine for netting, impact panels, frames and fixings, and stop when a part is uncertain.

By the Garden Golf Kit team

Inspection is part of setup, not an occasional maintenance job. A small change in the catching surface, frame or ground can change where a ball goes. Keep the maker's instructions beside the kit and follow its stated checks and replacement process.

Walk the ball path

1. Start at the hitting position and remove people, pets and loose objects.
2. Check the intended impact area for holes, thinning, pulled seams and incorrect panel position.
3. Trace the net to every edge and connection, including the lower gap where a ball could pass underneath.
4. Inspect poles, joints, padding, anchors and projecting feet.
5. Look behind and beyond the net: the fence or wall must not become the backup catcher.

Treat the impact panel and main net separately

Some cages use an additional impact panel inside the surrounding net. A sound outer net does not make a damaged impact panel acceptable, and a new panel does not repair a damaged frame. Identify each component by the maker's part name.

Stop instead of patching by guesswork

The FORB cage instructions tell users to check the cage and net for defects and not to use faulty parts. If a hole, loose joint or missing fixing is outside the maker's repair guidance, stop and request the correct replacement. Mesh size, fibre, edge finish and attachment method all matter; appearance alone cannot establish equivalence.

After a strike to the frame, an escaped ball or a shift in the structure, pause and inspect again. Record the date and part if equipment is used by several people so a known fault is not forgotten between sessions.