50 Words or Less
Durable, versatile, easy to use. One of the best in its area of the market.
Introduction
Alas, the practice net on a budget search continues. We were approached by sport net experts, Rukket, about doing a review for their offering in the market, the Rukk Net. I thought this was a good opportunity to really see if there was a decent, affordable net out there that is easy to setup, tear down, and hold up over time.
Ease of Use/Setup
This is always a tricky evaluation, but an important one nonetheless. Matt and I zipped open the carrying case, pulled the net out and got it setup in about 30 seconds flat. Before us stood a 6 foot tall net ready to have golf balls ripped into it. Seemed easy enough.
After snapping a few photos and hitting some balls off of a mat in the snow, it was time to tear the net down and pack it away, AKA: the fun part. What then ensued was about an hour of comedy for my neighbors had they looked out their windows to watch Matt and me try to fold this net up back into its perfect circle that would fit nicely into its carrying case. After about an hour of different techniques, watching Youtube videos, reading instructions, and swearing, I put the mangled training aid in my garage where it barely resembled a collapsed practice net.
Later that night, I watched the official Rukket video with my dad and it looks like folding this thing up should be a breeze. I’d like to think that Rukket was lying to me and using some sort of camera magic, but I realistically understood that it was most likely an extreme case of user error.
I returned to the garage with my dad and our first order of business was getting the flexible steel frame back into its proper shape. Once that was done, we put the net down flat on the floor and watched the video one more time. My dad stepped on the net, followed the video’s instructions and had the net folded up in thirty seconds. So embarrassing. I unfolded the net and did the same myself after seeing my dad do it so effortlessly. Again, so embarrassing.
Long story short, the Rukk Net is a bit tricky at first, but once you know the tricks and get the feel, it’s a breeze to tear down.
Effectiveness
The Rukk Net golf net is definitely effective. I was able to hit every club in the bag without any problems and the ball return functionality worked just fine. The included Chip It! attachment was a nice addition because it provided targets to hit at rather than hitting aimlessly into an empty net.
Longevity
I have only had the Rukk Net a short time in a Chicago winter, but it has held up great so far. Admittedly, my use has been limited, but the materials are all in great condition and are clearly heavy duty so they should be able to take a beating. The frame itself is made from a durable spring steel frame rather than some other soft metal or fiber glass. Even the provided carrying case is a durable canvas with thick, heavy straps.
Per the Rukket website:
The RukkNet now comes with a 4 ply knot-less ball returning net. No more mesh like cheaper golf nets. Knot-less netting allows the power from each impact to disperse efficiently and will not wear out or get holes. An added benefit of the heavier inside netting is the ball is returned with more force.
Value
At $199, the value on the Rukk Net is good. $200 is a hefty price tag, but this area of the market is going to run you about $150-$250. If you look at a lot of competitors of the Rukk Net, the cheaper nets are cheaper for a reason (they’re not as good on almost every level) and the similarly priced and more expensive nets don’t compare.
For $200, I am able to get a net that I can setup and take down quickly, store easily, hit my full bag, and still get some practice in when I can’t make it to the range. If you have the space and the ceiling height in your house, this would also be great for indoor use. That works for me!
Another added value is that the Rukk Net can be a multi-purpose sports net. Rukket advertises the Rukk Net as a good aid for baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, and football as well. I should have shot some hockey pucks into it…shoot…
Final Thoughts
I think the Rukk Net is the leader in its class. It’s easy to use, durable, and a great tool for when you just want to sneak into the backyard and hit a few balls to work on that new revolutionary hip rotation you’ve been trying to get used to. I’ll remain open to test other nets, but I think the Rukk Net is definitely going to be hard to beat.
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Bill Bush
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This is going on my birthday list, thanks for the review!
I think that’s a good addition to your list. I’m really happy with it and looking forward to some nice weather to really put it to some extensive use.
Just double checking…… You can hit FULL shots into this thing, just worried about the velocity into the net hitting driver and metal woods.
Absolutely. When there’s less ice and snow, I plan on setting this up at the end of my driveway and running my car into it. I am confident it will stop it. (That’s a joke, please don’t try this.)
But seriously, absolutely. I hit every club into this net just fine and it held up like a champion. It is definitely made to withstand every club in the bag.
So how has this net held up almost a year later? I am considering getting this net but am curious to how it holds up over time. Especially considering the price tag.
Honestly, I haven’t used it as rigorously as I had hoped due to various things in life getting in the way, but with the use I’ve put on the net, it’s held up well. The frame is still sturdy and functions as it should while the net is still in one piece.
Hope that answers your question!
Really love this net! Thanks for sharing!