Bownet vs. PowerNet

Initially I had buyers remorse after receiving my PowerNet a couple years ago. The base tubing was clearly not as beefy as the Bownet and I anticipated it would break. I'm glad to say I've had no issues and ended up getting a hitting screen which I use for BP. The bag tore in less than a year, but other than that, I'd get another PowerNet.

I have used both the PowerNet and Bownet 7x7 nets over the past 3 years. The frame material on the Powernet is definitely thinner and smaller diameter than the Bownet. The width of the legs is also narrower, which makes it more susceptible to tipping over on windy days. About a year into use with my DD's 12U TB team, the welded joints in the PowerNet frame started to crack. Very soon after, it was trash. I saw the same things with one of the other coach's PowerNet. I haven't had the same issue with Bownet. The bag on both used to be terrible. The newer Bownet bags are much improved.

I haven't personally seen a Ruckket net, so I can't comment on their quality or durability.

Bob516 said:

[MENTION=14743]CoachJD[/MENTION] What age group were using your Rukket? I have twin 13 y/o who will want to use it. One wants to focus on batting, the other pitching and I think it would have to stand up to a lot of heavy duty use.

Click to expand...

Primarily high school. Used it for open gyms leading up to last HS season, then a summer season, then all through this past fall/winter for open gyms. We have a 13U rec team that would use it from time to time, too.

Addressing Eric's criticism of the PowerNet tipping over, the Rukket nets come with spikes (this is probably not the best word to describe them) to hold it down if it's especially windy. The spikes don't go into the hard infield dirt very easily, but they work well on grass. Never had a problem with them tipping in that case.

CoachJD said:

Primarily high school. Used it for open gyms leading up to last HS season, then a summer season, then all through this past fall/winter for open gyms. We have a 13U rec team that would use it from time to time, too.

Addressing Eric's criticism of the PowerNet tipping over, the Rukket nets come with spikes (this is probably not the best word to describe them) to hold it down if it's especially windy. The spikes don't go into the hard infield dirt very easily, but they work well on grass. Never had a problem with them tipping in that case.

Click to expand...

They all come with spikes. I haven't had much success is keeping the spikes very long, however. I'm not sure how they disappear, but they inevitably do.

CoachJD said:

Primarily high school. Used it for open gyms leading up to last HS season, then a summer season, then all through this past fall/winter for open gyms. We have a 13U rec team that would use it from time to time, too.

Addressing Eric's criticism of the PowerNet tipping over, the Rukket nets come with spikes (this is probably not the best word to describe them) to hold it down if it's especially windy. The spikes don't go into the hard infield dirt very easily, but they work well on grass. Never had a problem with them tipping in that case.

Click to expand...

Thanks, good to hear.

DD (15yo and considers herself a power hitter) got a Rukket 2 years ago and hits into it around 100 days a year and has not had a problem. The metal frame is definitely made out of lighter materials than the bownet. The price on Amazon at the time was half the bownet price. It has held up well. It goes in the garage in the winter and stays set up on the front porch from spring to fall. Initially I made my DD take it down each time but I found she would hit much more often it she was able to just leave it set up and bring it back and forth from the covered porch to the front yard. I figured the trade off was worth it. I would buy it again for personal use at the half price point. For team use I would go with the bownets.

We have the Rukket as well. 8u-10u going on year 2. The net is holding strong. The bag ripped out right away. I'm using black tape to hold the bag together. I still have the stakes that came with it.

Bought a skil on sale for $50 bucks, waste of $50 bucks.

Got a bownet on sale years ago and it is still going strong, bag net is in is trashed too but net is fine.

I can not compare the different products but bownet was a good purchase for us.

(Seemed like DD went threw 2 pairs of shoes a year for a while so we went cheap on those)

Since a handful of people have mentioned the bags ripping for various brands, does anybody know of durable bags that are big enough for the nets? Do any of the companies sell replacement bags (though if they're all kind of terrible, I'd rather not go that route)?

CoachJD said:

Since a handful of people have mentioned the bags ripping for various brands, does anybody know of durable bags that are big enough for the nets? Do any of the companies sell replacement bags (though if they're all kind of terrible, I'd rather not go that route)?

Click to expand...

The newer Bownet bags are much improved. You might be able to buy them separately from Bownet.