The Quick Verdict
Get The Net Return Pro Series V2. It's wider, taller, and rated for 225 mph ball speed — and if you're swinging a driver indoors, that combination matters. The Spornia SPG-5 Compact is worth considering if you need something that packs into a bag and travels with you, or if you're working in a tighter space where a permanent bay doesn't make sense. But for a dedicated practice setup, The Net Return is the stronger choice at list. Check price at The Indoor Golf Shop →
What They Have in Common
Both nets include a ball-return system, so you're not walking to the net after every swing. Neither one includes side barriers out of the box — both brands sell extensions separately. And both are marketed as usable indoors or outdoors, which at least gives you options depending on where you're working.
Where They Differ
Size and the Room You'll Need
The Net Return Pro Series V2 measures 8 ft wide by 7 ft 6 in tall by 3 ft 6 in deep. The Net Return publishes its room requirements: 10 ft of width, an 8 ft 6 in ceiling, and 14 ft of depth. That's a real number you can take a tape measure to before you buy.
The Spornia SPG-5 Compact's frame is 5 ft 6 in on every side — width, height, depth. Spornia doesn't publish a room requirement for it, so there's no equivalent number to compare. The frame dimensions tell you how much space the net itself occupies; they don't tell you how much room a swing needs around it. If you're trying to figure out whether the SPG-5 Compact fits your space, Spornia doesn't answer that question.
Speed Rating and Warranty
The Net Return rates the Pro Series V2 for 225 mph ball speed. That's the netting's published limit. Spornia doesn't publish a ball-speed rating for the SPG-5 Compact — or for any of their nets, as far as their product pages say. That's not necessarily disqualifying, but it is a gap in the information.
On warranty, The Net Return gives three years or 250,000 shots, whichever comes first. Spornia splits its cover: one year on the frame, 60 days on the netting. On a hitting net the netting is the part the ball hits, so 60 days is the term to plan around.
Weight and Portability
The SPG-5 Compact weighs 16 lbs — though its own product page lists 15 lbs in one place and 16 lbs in another, so take either number with some salt. Either way, it comes with a carry bag and folds down. The Net Return Pro Series V2 comes in at 28 lbs. It does not include a carry bag, and it's not designed for portability the way the SPG-5 is.
That 12 lb difference (at minimum) is the whole story on mobility. The SPG-5 Compact is the one you bring to a backyard, a range, or a friend's garage. The Pro Series V2 is the one that stays put.
Price
At list, The Net Return Pro Series V2 is $795. The Spornia SPG-5 Compact lists at $249.99. That's a $545.01 gap. The base price for the Pro Series V2 covers the net and the frame; side barriers are extra. The SPG-5 Compact's base includes the net, a Bulls Eye target sheet, a chipping basket, support poles and ground stakes, and the carry bag.
Who Should Buy Which
Get The Net Return Pro Series V2 if:
- You have a dedicated bay and you've confirmed the space: 10 ft wide, 8 ft 6 in ceiling, 14 ft deep
- You want a published ball-speed rating and a warranty that runs three years on the netting rather than 60 days
- You want the bigger frame: 8 ft by 7 ft 6 in against the SPG-5 Compact's 5 ft 6 in
Get the Spornia SPG-5 Compact if:
- You need something that travels — it packs into a carry bag and sets up wherever you are
- You're not building a permanent bay and portability matters more than a fixed, larger setup
- The $545.01 list-price difference is a meaningful factor and you don't need the extra width and height
The Bottom Line
These two nets are solving different problems. The SPG-5 Compact is a portable net that folds into a bag and gives you somewhere to hit when you can't build a bay. The Net Return Pro Series V2 is a bay net: bigger, heavier, with published specs and a clear room requirement you can plan around. If you're setting up a space to practice seriously indoors, the published room requirement is actually one of the most useful things The Net Return gives you — it tells you exactly what you need to measure. The SPG-5 Compact doesn't give you that.