Rooftop Net Height Calculator
Size a practice net with confidence. Give the distance to the net and the steepest shot you want to contain, and get a conservative minimum height for safe rooftop and small-space practice.
Minimum net height
This uses a conservative straight-line launch: gravity means the ball is actually a little lower than this by the time it reaches the net, so a net built to this height leaves margin. It is a planning aid — never hit toward people, and extend the net well past the sides and top of your hitting area.
Sizing a net for a small, overlooked space
The closer you stand to a net, the taller it has to be, because a rising shot has less room to gain height before it arrives — a ball on a 35-degree line is already several feet up just a few paces out. That is the heart of rooftop and balcony practice, where space is tight and the consequences of a ball escaping are serious. Sizing the net for the steepest realistic mishit, not your clean strike, is what keeps practice safe.
The height this tool returns is deliberately cautious: it uses a straight launch line, which always sits at or above the real curved flight at that distance, and it adds your mat height plus a margin you control. Treat the result as the minimum, extend the netting past the sides and top of your hitting area, and anchor everything against wind before you swing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the calculator decide the net height?
It projects a straight line from the ball at your launch angle and works out how high that line sits by the time it reaches the net, then adds your tee or mat height and a safety margin. Because gravity curves the real shot below that straight line, the true ball height at the net is a little lower — so a net built to this figure has margin built in rather than a shortfall.
What launch angle should I plan for?
Plan for a mishit, not your best strike. A thinned or skulled shot can still climb steeply and fast, so a sensible worst case for irons and wedges is somewhere around 30 to 40 degrees. If you only ever chip or putt into the net you can use a lower angle, but when in doubt, size the net for the steeper shot.
Is a net alone enough to practise safely on a roof?
No — the net is one part of a safe setup. Never hit toward people, and extend netting well beyond the top and both sides of your hitting zone to catch shanks and skied shots. On a rooftop or balcony, secure the frame against wind, check that nothing can fall to the street below, and confirm you're allowed to practise there. This tool sizes the net; it does not replace good judgement.
Does wind change how tall the net should be?
It can. A following or gusting wind can lift a shot higher than a calm-air line, which is one reason the calculator includes a safety margin you can increase. In exposed rooftop conditions it's worth adding extra height and making sure the net is anchored so it can't billow and let a ball slip past.
Safety planning aid only. Always confirm you’re permitted to practise in your space, never hit toward people or a public area, and inspect and anchor your net before every session.