The Quick Verdict
Get the Spornia SPG-8 X-Large. At $499.99 list, you're paying $250 more than the SPG-5 Compact, but you're getting a net that's 8 ft on every side versus 5.5 ft — and for full-swing driver practice, that difference matters more than the price gap. The SPG-5 Compact earns its spot if you genuinely need something lighter to move around (16 lbs versus 35 lbs) or if the smaller 5 ft 6 in frame suits your space, but for a dedicated hitting bay the SPG-8 X-Large is the one to build around. Check price at Amazon →
What They Have in Common
Both are pop-up nets from Spornia with automatic ball return, a chipping basket, a Bulls-Eye target sheet, support poles, ground stakes, and a carry bag included in the box. Both are tagged for indoor and outdoor use. Neither has a published ball-speed rating, and both carry the same warranty language — 1-year limited on the frame, 60-day limited on the netting.
Where They Differ
Size
The SPG-8 X-Large is wider, taller, and deeper than the SPG-5 Compact. The SPG-5 Compact's frame is 5 ft 6 in × 5 ft 6 in × 5 ft 6 in. The SPG-8 X-Large's is 8 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft. That's a substantial jump on every axis. Spornia publishes no room requirement for either net, so neither page answers whether one fits your space — the frame footprint tells you what the net occupies, not what a full swing needs around it.
Weight and Portability
The SPG-5 Compact is the lighter net by 19 lbs — 16 lbs versus 35 lbs for the SPG-8 X-Large. If you're hauling a net out to the backyard and back in regularly, that gap is real. Worth noting: Spornia's own pages are inconsistent on weight for both nets. The SPG-5 Compact is listed as 16 lbs in one place and 15 lbs in another; the SPG-8 X-Large shows 35 lbs in one spot and 30 lbs in another. Take either figure as approximate.
Simulator Compatibility
The SPG-8 X-Large is tagged as simulator-ready and launch-monitor-friendly. Spornia sells a Simulator/Projection Target sized for it at $69.99 separately. That's not included in the $499.99 base price, but the option exists. The SPG-5 Compact's base includes a Bulls Eye Target Sheet, and Spornia doesn't list a projection target for it.
Price
The SPG-5 Compact lists at $249.99. The SPG-8 X-Large lists at $499.99 — a $250 gap at list. Side net extensions for the SPG-5 Compact are a separate purchase, and the projection target for the SPG-8 X-Large is a separate $69.99. Factor those in based on what you actually need.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Spornia SPG-8 X-Large if:
- You're building a permanent or semi-permanent hitting bay and want room to miss the center without the ball going elsewhere
- You want the option to run a simulator image — the projection target add-on makes that possible, and Spornia doesn't list one for the SPG-5
- You'll mostly leave the net set up and aren't moving it constantly; 35 lbs is manageable but not something you want to wrestle with every session
Buy the Spornia SPG-5 Compact if:
- You don't need the bigger frame — 5 ft 6 in on every side is enough for how you practice
- You need to move the net in and out regularly and 16 lbs versus 35 lbs is genuinely the difference between using it and leaving it in the garage
- The $250 price difference matters more than the size difference for your situation
The Bottom Line
Two and a half feet of frame on every side is the whole story here: a 5.5 ft net leaves a lot less margin on a pulled driver than an 8 ft one. The SPG-8 X-Large's 8 ft frame gives you more margin for error on a full swing, the option to add a projection target if you go that direction, and a ball-return system that works either way. You're paying $250 more at list for that. The SPG-5 Compact is a legitimate product for a more limited use case, but it isn't the default choice for a hitting bay.