Many different sports, including hockey, golf and baseball, can use netting to perfect certain skills. Sports netting is sold in many different shapes and sizes depending on what it's used for. The weave of the netting itself is also made in different ways depending on the size of the object it needs to stop.
Hockey
Hockey players like to use the same-size nets for off-ice training they use in practice and games. Players can also purchase foam targets to put in the upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right part of the net. Put a large piece of wood behind the net in case you miss the target, and never shoot at a net with something behind it that you don't want damaged. Some stores sell extremely big nets designed for golf practice that also work for hockey, covering a large area you're unlikely to miss. Make sure the netting is nylon for hockey.
Golf
Golfers like to work on various shots and may not have time to go to a driving range. A net can be placed in your garage or backyard for practice at home. Square hung mesh and diamond hung mesh are common. Sportsnetting.com says square netting is more effective but diamond mesh is cheaper. Nylon is the most durable material for an indoor golf net and extremely difficult to break; it's recommended no matter what club you're using. If you think you might miss a rectangular net, golf netting can also be a cage-like apparatus where the ball is hit inside it and there is no possible way of missing the target.
Baseball
Baseball players use nets, typically on a small enclosed metal frame, for hitting practice. These are called batting cages and quite common at baseball fields in the United States, especially at the high school level and above. Batters often face pitches from a machine inside the cage, which will stop the ball no matter where it's hit. The cage typically has a metal frame with strong netting around it. Batting cages can cost well over $300, and a public batting cage might be a better consideration.
Considerations
If you're training with a golf net for hockey, the shot's force can cause the net to slide backward. Try placing a weighted object on both sides of the bottom of the frame to ensure it remains still. Do not use a net for golf that is not designed for it; if the weave is too large, the ball can go right through. Never stand behind a sports training net when another person is using it.
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