One of the most valuable golf practice tools is the practice net. Having an excellent golf game cannot be achieved simply by playing full rounds regularly, although this does of course help. But putting in extra practice time can greatly benefit your form as well as your accuracy and precision.

When you practice, using a net to do so allows you to practice your swing and contact and full force, but saves you the trouble of tracking down or losing balls. This is particularly beneficial when you practice at home in your yard or a neighborhood green space that simply does not have the length for full drives.

There are many types of golf practice net on the market today, and the net (or nets) you select will depend largely on what you are looking to accomplish. Nets come in many styles, but the first major difference is the type of shot for which a net is designed. This is determined by the size, shape, and angle of the net. Large nets help you practice your drives, while smaller chipping nets allow you to give your wedge a work out as you practice chipping. Yet other nets are designed to be quite versatile and receive balls from every club in your bag.

First consider a driving practice net. This net generally has a larger diameter because it is designed to catch balls intended to travel high and far. The mouth of the net may be round, square, or a some specially designed shape, depending on the design pursued by the manufacturer, as well as your personal preference. Driving nets are generally composed of a stronger netting that can withstand the sheer force of a ball hit so hard. Because of their large size, these nets tend to be compactable. That is, they expand to a large size quickly and with little assembly for practice, but are easily folded or otherwise minimized for easy transportation and storage.

The chipping net (or chipping pocket) is the other prominent form of practice net available for purchase in today's golf equipment market. The chipping net is a smaller net that is designed to catch balls at a different angle and velocity than those hit into a driving net. Chipping nets are generally smaller and less expensive than their larger counter parts. They allow you to practice your short game with a variety of wedges without having to go to the course to do so.

Finally, you can also get a practice net that is designed to help you with all types of shots. This way you can practice with every club from wedge to driver with a single net, yet it is still easy to set up and pack away. The net needs to be large enough to catch all your drives, yet comes with an easy to hang chipping net, so you can practice chip shots while using the larger net as a backup.

Each of these choices is an important part of practicing your golf game when you are not out playing the course. Whether you choose a driving net, a chipping net, or a combination option, a practice net can really help you improve your game.