Best Golf Net Sandbags: The $20 Fix Your Net Needs

I learned the expensive way that your net will tip over without sandbags. Last spring I set up a $240 net in my backyard. The first session was great. The second session ended with the net on its side and the frame bent because a 15 mph gust caught it while I was inside getting a drink. The net maker’s warranty does not cover wind damage. Neither does your credit card.

The net industry sells you the net for $200-$700, then charges you $20-$45 for the bags it will not stand up without. It is the printer-and-ink business model applied to golf equipment.

I tested sandbags from every major net brand, plus universal anchors for concrete patios and screw-in stakes for grass. These are the ones that work.

1. GoSports Sandbags: Best Overall ($20)

The GoSports 4-pack sandbags are the cheapest brand-name option and the best universal fit. They use a simple saddlebag design. Each bag drapes over the net frame leg and zips shut. Fill with sand (not included), each bag holds 8-10 pounds. Four bags at 10 pounds each gives you 40 pounds of ballast.

The straps are long enough to fit almost any net frame. I have used these on GoSports nets, Spornia nets, and a cheap Amazon pop-up net. They fit all three.

What does not work. The stitching on the straps is the weak point. Two of my four bags developed small tears at the strap seam after six months of outdoor use. They still function. The tears have not spread. But if you leave your net outside 24/7 in sun and rain, expect to replace these every year or two. At $20, that is acceptable. At $45, it would not be.

Buy this if you want the best price-to-durability ratio and your net stays inside when not in use. Skip if your net lives outside permanently. The UV exposure will eat these faster than the heavy-duty options.

2. The Net Return Sandbags: Best Durability ($40)

The Net Return Sandbags 4-pack are built with 600-denier packcloth, the same material used for heavy-duty outdoor gear. Twin zippered saddlebags with a poly carry handle. Each bag holds about 15 pounds when filled, giving you 60 pounds total. That is 50% more weight than the GoSports bags.

These are expensive for sandbags. But The Net Return includes them with a 3-year warranty and their customer service replaces torn bags without questions. Multiple reviewers confirm this: bag rips, they send four new ones.

What does not work. The price. $40 for four empty fabric bags is hard to justify when GoSports sells functionally identical bags for $20. You are paying a $20 markup for the warranty and the 600D fabric. Also, these are not on Amazon. You buy direct from thenetreturn.com. GTD does not earn commission.

Buy this if you own a Net Return net (the bags are designed for that frame) or your net lives outdoors year-round. Skip if your net is a $100 pop-up from Amazon. Putting $40 sandbags on a $100 net misses the point.

3. Spornia Sandbags: Best for Spornia Nets ($45)

The Spornia Sandbags 4-pack are built from 600D Oxford fabric and hold up to 15 pounds each. They are specifically designed for the SPG net frame. The attachment points line up exactly with Spornia’s leg geometry.

These are the most expensive brand-name sandbags on the market at $45. The build quality is solid. The zippers are heavy-duty. But at nearly 2.5 times the price of the GoSports bags, you are paying for the Spornia logo and the exact frame fit.

What does not work. The value proposition is weak. If you own a Spornia net and want bags that fit perfectly, buy these. If you own any other net, the GoSports bags fit just as well for less than half the price. Also, one reviewer noted they received four bags but only needed one or two for indoor use. Spornia does not sell a 2-pack, so you pay for four whether you need them or not.

Buy this if you own a Spornia SPG-7 or SPG-8 and want the exact-fit option. Skip if you own any other brand of net. The GoSports bags work fine on Spornia frames anyway.

4. Universal Sandbags: The Concrete Patio Fix ($16-$25)

If your net sits on concrete or a patio, brand-name sandbags still work, but you have another option. Generic Amazon sandbags in the $16-$25 range use the same saddlebag design as the GoSports bags. Some hold up to 20 pounds each. The key difference: the fabric is thinner and the stitching is less consistent.

For a concrete setup where the bags sit still and never move, generic bags are perfectly fine. There is no friction wear on concrete the way there is on grass. Buy the 4-pack of heavy-duty sandbags with the best reviews on the day you are shopping. The brands rotate. The product does not change.

What does not work. Do not buy generic bags for grass or dirt setups. Dirt gets into the zippers. Grass stains the fabric. The thinner material wears through in months. For outdoor grass use, spend the extra $4 on GoSports.

5. Screw-In Ground Stakes: The Permanent Grass Fix ($15-$25)

If your net lives in the same spot on grass and never moves, skip sandbags entirely and use screw-in ground anchors. These are 12-16 inch steel corkscrews with a hook or eyelet on top. Twist them into the ground with a bar or drill, attach a ratchet strap to the net frame, and the net is not going anywhere.

A set of four heavy-duty ground anchors costs $15-$25. That is less than most sandbags, and they hold far better in wind because they are anchored to the earth, not weighted on top of it.

What does not work. These only work in soil. Concrete is out. Hard-packed clay is borderline. If you move your net frequently, unscrewing and re-screwing four anchors every session will make you hate practicing. Also, the anchors leave holes in your lawn. If you care about your grass, use sandbags.

What I Would Actually Buy

For a net on grass that moves around: GoSports sandbags ($20). Best value. Replace when the stitching goes.

For a net on concrete: Generic Amazon sandbags ($16-$25). The heavy-duty fabric on brand-name bags is wasted on a smooth patio.

For a net that never moves on grass: Screw-in ground anchors ($15-$25) plus one ratchet strap. The net becomes part of the earth.

For a Net Return net that lives outside: The Net Return sandbags ($40). The warranty makes the extra cost worth it if you are already in their ecosystem.

One thing I would not do: buy four Spornia sandbags for $45 when the GoSports bags fit the Spornia net anyway. Pay for the exact fit only if you are the kind of person who buys OEM wiper blades for your car instead of the $12 ones at AutoZone.

Where to Buy

• GoSports Net Sandbags (4-pack) $20 at Amazon.
• The Net Return Sandbags (4-pack) $40 at thenetreturn.com (sold direct, not on Amazon).
• Spornia Sandbags (4-pack) $45 at spornia.com (sold direct, not on Amazon).
• Universal Sports Net Sandbags $16-$25 at Amazon.
• Screw-In Ground Anchors $15-$25 at Amazon.

I bent a net frame because I thought sandbags were optional. They are not. Buy the $20 GoSports bags before your first outdoor session and fill them with $5 of play sand from Home Depot. Then the wind is not your problem anymore.