Quick answer
Buy a net when you shoot at home, because a floorball shot at full power will leave a garden, garage bay or courtyard faster than you can chase it. The Extreme Backstop Net 5x2,5 m (€129) is enough for one goal in a garage or small garden. The Extreme Safety Net 7,5x2,6 m (€139) covers about 19.5 m² and suits wider gardens, shared spaces and players who shoot from a bigger angle. Both have a lead line along the bottom and work indoors and outdoors.
Key takeaways
- A net behind the goal protects windows, cars and neighbours, and it saves you minutes of ball-chasing in every session.
- The Backstop Net is 5 x 2,5 m (12.5 m²) at €129. The Safety Net is 7,5 x 2,6 m (19.5 m²) at €139. For €10 you get 7 m² more coverage.
- Width matters more than height. Most missed shots go wide, not over, so choose the net that covers the angles you actually shoot from.
- Hang the net with a little slack and keep it a safe distance behind the goal, so balls drop instead of bouncing straight back at you.
- Indoors, a net protects walls and stored items. Outdoors, the lead line along the bottom helps to keep the net in place in wind.
- Pair the net with the goal and a shooting surface and you have a real shooting zone.
Why do you need a net at all?
A floorball is light, about 23 g, but it is hard plastic, and a good wrist shot or drag shot travels fast. The goal is only 160 x 115 cm. The rest of the world is "wide". I have coached hundreds of home sessions where the first 10 minutes were great and the last 10 were spent walking to the neighbour's hedge. A net does three jobs at once.
- Protection. Windows, car paint, garage doors and fences do not like fast plastic balls.
- Time. If every miss lands in a net, you can take 50 shots in the time it takes to collect 15 without one.
- Confidence. Players who worry about breaking something shoot softly. Players who know the net will catch it shoot properly.
Better Floorball is a Swedish brand, and the nets are designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. We sell directly, with no middlemen, which keeps the price of both nets under €140.
Backstop Net or Safety Net: which size fits?
The two nets are built the same way, with a sturdy lead line at the bottom to keep the net anchored. The difference is size, and size decides where the net can hang.
| Net | Size | Area | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme Backstop Net 5x2,5 m | 5 x 2,5 m | 12.5 m² | €129 | One goal in a garage bay, a narrow garden or a basement |
| Extreme Safety Net 7,5x2,6 m | 7,5 x 2,6 m | 19.5 m² | €139 | Wide garages, gardens, courtyards, two or more shooters |
As a rule of thumb, the goal is 160 cm wide. The 5 m net is about three goal-widths wide, and the 7,5 m net is about four and a half. Both are more than twice as tall as the goal (115 cm), so lofted shots and misses over the crossbar are covered as well.
Choose the Backstop Net if...
- you shoot from straight in front of the goal at a distance of 3–5 m;
- you have a fixed garage wall or fence to hang it on;
- you are one player, or a parent and a child taking turns.
Choose the Safety Net if...
- you also shoot from the sides, for example when practising a shot from the wing;
- the space behind the goal is a window, a car or a neighbour's patio;
- two or more players train at the same time;
- you want one net that also works in a shared courtyard or clubhouse yard.
If you are still deciding which goal to buy, read the floorball goal buying guide first, because the goal and net should be planned together.
How do you set up a net so it actually works?
Most players buy a good net and then hang it badly. Follow these steps in the order shown. The whole job takes about 30 minutes.
- Measure your space first (5 minutes). Mark the goal position with chalk or tape. Then measure from the goal to the back wall or fence. You need room for the shooting distance in front of the goal and for the net behind it.
- Pick the hanging points (5 minutes). Use secure fixings: hooks in a ceiling beam, a frame, a fence or a wall bracket. Check that each point can carry the weight of the net and a few hits. Cue: pull on the fixing with your whole body weight before you rely on it.
- Hang the net behind the goal, not touching it (10 minutes). A gap of about 1 m is a good starting point. Balls that hit the net then drop to the floor instead of springing back into the goal frame. Watch for: a net stretched drum-tight, which can send balls back toward you.
- Anchor the bottom (5 minutes). The lead line along the bottom is designed to keep the net in place even in wind. Lay it flat on the floor or ground, so balls cannot roll underneath.
- Test with 10 slow shots, then 10 hard shots (5 minutes). Look for gaps at the corners and at the sides. Adjust before the full session.
Coach Erik's tip: Think of the net as part of your shooting technique. When you know every miss is caught, you stop aiming "safe" and start aiming at the corners. Most players I coach shoot noticeably harder once they stop worrying about the neighbours.
Where can you use the nets?
Both nets are made for indoor and outdoor use. Here is how I match space to setup.
| Space | Recommended net | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Single garage bay | Backstop Net (€129) | Hang from the ceiling beam or wall; keep the car out of the line of fire |
| Double garage or workshop | Safety Net (€139) | Use the extra width to protect shelves and doors at the sides |
| Garden, one shooter | Backstop Net (€129) | Place with the net toward the fence, not toward the house |
| Garden or courtyard, several players | Safety Net (€139) | Agree on a shooting line so nobody walks behind the net |
| Basement or hall | Backstop Net (€129) | Check the ceiling height before hanging |
The shooting floor matters as well. A smooth surface lets you shoot wrist shots and drag shots without the ball hopping, and the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) covers 0.9 m² (each tile is 33 x 33 cm). The tiles are Made in Europe and can be used indoors or outdoors all year. Add the Extreme Floorball Goal (€149), which is full official size at 160 x 115 cm and foldable, and you have the three pieces of a shooting zone. If you prefer a ready package, the Shooting Kit (€199) contains the goal and a 120 x 60 cm shooting pad. You can compare the kits in which floorball shooting kit is right for you.
See the full range in our goal and backstop collection. For layout ideas, read how to build a floorball training zone in your garage and home floorball training setup: budget to pro.
A 15-minute shooting session to test your new net
Use this session the first time you shoot with the net in place. You need 20 or more balls, a goal and a stick. Place yourself 4 m from the goal.
- Warm up (3 minutes). 20 stickhandling touches side to side, then 10 slow wrist shots to loosen up the wrists.
- Corner round (5 minutes). Shoot 5 shots to each of the four corners, 20 in total. Say the corner out loud before every shot. Cue: eyes on the target, then on the ball, then back on the target.
- Power round (4 minutes). 10 hard drag shots and 10 hard wrist shots. Check how the net takes the impact and whether balls come back toward you.
- Movement round (3 minutes). Take a ball, step to the side, and shoot. Do 10 reps on each side. This is a good test of the net's side coverage.
Count your hits in each corner on a piece of paper. More ideas are in floorball shooting drills at home.
Common mistakes
- Hanging the net right against the goal. Balls bounce off the frame and back to you. Fix: leave a gap of about 1 m and hang the net with a little slack.
- Buying the net last. Players buy the goal, shoot once and lose three balls. Fix: buy the net together with the goal, or start from a kit and add the net the same week.
- Using the smaller net for a wide space. If you shoot from different angles, balls escape at the sides. Fix: choose the 7,5 m Safety Net.
- Ignoring wind outdoors. A net that flaps loses its shape. Fix: use the lead line on the ground and fix the top edge at several points, not just two.
- Standing behind the net to collect balls during shots. Fix: agree on a rule that nobody walks behind the net while someone is shooting.
- Leaving the net out in all weather for months. Fix: take it down for storage when you will not use it for a long time, and read caring for your floorball gear.
FAQ
What size net do I need for a floorball goal?
For one goal in a garage or small garden, the Extreme Backstop Net 5x2,5 m (€129) is enough. If you shoot from the sides, share the space or have fragile things nearby, the Extreme Safety Net 7,5x2,6 m (€139) gives you 19.5 m² of coverage instead of 12.5 m².
Can I use these nets indoors?
Yes. Both the Backstop Net and the Safety Net can be used indoors and outdoors. In a garage or basement they protect walls, windows and stored items. Check the ceiling height and hanging points before you buy.
How far behind the goal should the net hang?
A gap of about 1 m is a good start. It lets balls drop to the floor instead of bouncing straight back off the goal frame. Adjust after a few test shots, and leave the net a little loose rather than stretched tight.
Will the net stay in place in wind?
Both nets have a sturdy lead line along the bottom that anchors the net, even in windy conditions. Lay it flat on the ground and fix the top edge at several points for the best result.
Do I need a net if I shoot into a goal on tiles?
Yes, in most home spaces. The tiles give you a smooth surface for shooting, but they do not stop the ball. A net behind the goal protects property and saves time collecting balls, so your session stays productive.
Is the Safety Net worth the extra €10?
For most gardens and shared spaces, yes. The Safety Net (€139) covers 19.5 m² against 12.5 m² for the Backstop Net (€129). That is more than half again as much area for €10, and it matters when you shoot from different angles.
Summary
A net is the cheapest insurance in your shooting zone. Choose the Backstop Net (€129) for one goal in a compact space and the Safety Net (€139) for wider spaces and several shooters. Hang it behind the goal with a gap and a little slack, anchor the bottom, and test it with slow and hard shots before you start training. More buying guides are in the Equipment Guides hub, and you can follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
