Quick answer
A backstop net works at every level: it sets up in minutes, moves anywhere, and catches your misses outdoors or in. A shooting tarp is the better daily training zone for a garage, basement or driveway: pucks lose all their momentum in the fabric and land right there - no ricochets - and it is an all-in-one setup: backstop, net and target zones in one piece. The honest downside of the tarp is the setup itself: mounting takes real work once, while a net just unfolds.
Key takeaways
- A tarp is safer: pucks die in the fabric instead of ricocheting off goal posts in directions nobody controls.
- It uses less space - flat against the wall, while a net needs its own footprint.
- All-in-one: backstop, net and targets in one piece - nothing else to buy to start shooting.
- Pucks collect themselves: they drop straight down at the wall instead of flying in all directions.
- The trade-off is setup: a net is ready in minutes, a tarp wants proper mounting once - then it stays put.
Watch the comparison
When a net is enough
A backstop net works at every level - outdoors, on the driveway, or wherever you want a setup you can move. The Extreme Backstop Net 16.4 × 8.2 ft covers a goal plus a generous miss zone, and the XL version covers a full garage end. The honest downside is not the net itself but the goal posts in front of it: a puck that clips a post ricochets at full speed in a direction nobody controls - the most dangerous miss there is. The net also needs its own floor space.
When the tarp is the better choice
A shooting tarp turns a garage, basement or driveway wall into a permanent training zone. The Extreme Shooting Tarp 7×10 fits a single-car garage wall; the 7×16 covers a double. It is the all-in-one option - backstop, net and target zones in one piece - and because pucks lose all their momentum in the fabric and drop straight down, cleanup means picking up one pile, not hunting ricochets behind the freezer. The printed zones are a nice extra rather than the main point - you can hang any targets on a tarp. The real upsides are safety and space. Honest downside: mounting takes more work than unfolding a net, and it stays where you put it.
Watch: the Extreme Shooting Tarp up close
Quick comparison
| Factor | Backstop net | Shooting tarp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Setup | Minutes, movable | One-time mounting job |
| Space needed | Own footprint in the room | Flat against the wall |
| Safety on wild misses | Post ricochets uncontrolled | Pucks die in the fabric |
| Puck collection | Pucks scatter | Drop straight down in one pile |
| Backstop + net + targets in one | No | Yes |
| Best for | Outdoor, occasional | Garage, basement, driveway - daily |
Either way, pair it with a roll-up shooting pad so your shots come off a smooth surface.
