A Facility Manager’s Guide to Netting Materials: Dyneema vs. Polyester vs. Nylon
A failing net is more than a maintenance headache; it’s a critical liability. But when you start researching a netting replacement, you’re faced with a wall of technical jargon: “high-tenacity,” “twine diameter,” “UV-treated.” It’s difficult to tell what’s a sales pitch and what actually matters for your facility’s long-term safety.
This guide cuts through the noise. As netting installation experts who have engineered and installed every type of system for decades, we’re providing our direct, in-field comparison. We will translate those complex specs into the practical, long-term outcomes you care about: safety, longevity, and total cost of ownership.
Key Takeaways
- Nylon is a Liability: Avoid it for outdoor sports netting. It absorbs water and degrades quickly in sunlight, creating a false sense of security and clear liability risks.
- Polyester is the “Workhorse”: A high-quality, UV-resistant netting is a reliable and cost-effective choice for many standard applications.
- Dyneema® is the “Specialist”: It’s the strongest, lightest, and longest-lasting material available. It has a higher upfront cost but delivers a lower total cost of ownership for high-impact or high-end facilities.
- Your Installer Matters Most: The best material in the world will fail if installed by an inexperienced crew. Craftsmanship is not optional.
The 3 Netting Contenders: A Quick Comparison
When you start researching a golf range netting replacement or new system, the technical specs can be overwhelming. You’ll see terms like “high-tenacity” alongside three main material names: Polyester, Nylon, and Dyneema®.
But the spec sheets often miss the most important part: what do these choices actually mean for your facility’s safety, budget, and long-term operations?
Let’s simplify the terminology. As installation experts familiar with all three options, here is a practical comparison based on real-world experience.
When comparing the three main netting materials, Polyester is known as “The Industry Workhorse,” offering a cost-effective solution for all-purpose systems, though its heavier weight does add to wind-load. Nylon, now considered “The (Outdated) Standard,” is only suitable for indoor-only use, such as batting cages, because it has poor UV resistance and absorbs water. Finally, Dyneema® is “The High-Performance Specialist,” providing maximum strength and long-term value, though it does require a higher upfront material investment.
Polyester (The Industry Workhorse)
Polyester is a reliable and durable material that has become the modern standard for most quality netting systems. Think of it as the heavy-duty fleet truck of the netting world: it’s not the flashiest, but it’s built to do the job reliably, day in and day out.
Unlike nylon, polyester is naturally resistant to UV degradation and absorbs very little water, meaning it won’t sag after a rainstorm. For many multi-sport facilities or driving ranges, a high-grade, UV-treated polyester net is a solid, dependable choice.
Its main drawback is its weight. Because it’s a heavier, thicker fiber, the netting itself adds significant load to the poles, which must be engineered to handle the extra weight and wind resistance.
Nylon (The Old Standard)
Don’t be misled by a high “netting breaking strength” on a nylon spec sheet; that number is purely theoretical and ignores the real-world factors of UV and water exposure that will make that strength irrelevant.
From our two decades of in-field experience, we’ll be direct: nylon is a poor choice for any modern, outdoor netting installation.
Its “strength” is misleading because it disappears quickly.
- It Absorbs Water. Nylon is “hydrophilic,” meaning it acts like a sponge. We’ve seen nylon nets gain significant weight in the rain, causing massive sag and putting a sudden, heavy load on the support structure.
- It Fails in Sunlight. Its biggest flaw is a severe weakness to UV radiation.
A nylon net can lose up to 20% of its original breaking strength after just one year of exposure to direct sunlight. This “silent failure” means a net that looks fine can be dangerously brittle, creating a huge liability you can’t see until it’s too late.
Key Takeaway: A ‘strong’ nylon net is a false economy. Its strength is temporary and creates a hidden but significant liability for any outdoor facility.
Dyneema® (The High-Performance Specialist)
Dyneema® (also known as Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, or UHMwPE) is in a class of its own. It is the lightest and strongest fiber of its kind in the world—in fact, it is 15 times stronger than steel by weight.
However, the raw material is only half the story. Leveraging this incredible strength, we developed our own proprietary netting design over 10 years ago. This specialized design allows for an impossibly thin and light twine that delivers game-changing advantages for a facility manager.
- Massively Reduced Wind-Load: Our specific design exhibits ~45–50% less wind drag than any other net on the market. This significantly reduces the structural load on your poles and entire system, especially during severe weather.
- Superior Aesthetics & Smarter Installation: This dramatic reduction in wind-load allows support poles to be spaced ~50% farther apart. The result is a much cleaner, more open-looking range with fewer visual obstructions.
- Unmatched Durability & Warranty: The material is completely immune to UV degradation and water absorption. Because of its proven, long-lasting performance, our netting carries a 15-year warranty, significantly exceeding the 10–12 year industry standard.
- “Near-Invisible” Player View: The ultra-thin twine is “near-invisible” from a short distance, giving players the best possible view of the range and their ball flight.
We believe in integrity, so we’ll be upfront: the primary consideration is its higher initial material cost. This is a premium investment for facilities that prioritize the lowest long-term cost of ownership and the highest level of safety, performance, and aesthetics. The question for a facility manager is, what is the 20-year cost of a net failing versus the one-time cost of investing in one that won’t?
Proof in Practice: The City of Burnaby
The first driving range to install Dyneema #6 was Riverway GC for the City of Burnaby, with a 100-foot-high structure erected in 2012. City golf course manager Peter Sorokovsky was the first customer to choose Dyneema #6 for his driving range.
Today, the City of Burnaby uses Dyneema #6 on both of their ranges (Riverway GC and Burnaby Mountain GC). This partnership also highlights our integrated approach: both ranges use the Netex LED Sport Light, and Riverway GC recently replaced all lighting on their two-level driving range structure using our Netex T-deck lights and hall lighting.
Conclusion: The Right System Starts with the Right Partner
The “best” netting isn’t just a material; it’s a complete system that is engineered for your specific facility.
A high-grade, UV-treated Polyester is a durable and reliable workhorse for many applications. A premium Dyneema® system is a 20-year investment in maximum safety and long-term value.
Ultimately, the materials are only as good as the team that engineers and installs them. The most critical factor in your project’s success is choosing an accountable partner who understands that details matter and who will stand behind their work for years to come.
Your Next Step
Before you get a quote, get an expert assessment. Contact the Netex team for a no-obligation consultation. We’ll help you analyze your specific site needs, understand the trade-offs, and build a plan for a safe, reliable system that performs and lasts.
About the Author: Mark Wilson is the founder of Netex Netting (Netex Canada Netting Inc.), a global leader in golf and baseball netting systems. With 47+ years of net-building expertise, he pioneered low-drag Dyneema® golf nets and designed integrated pole, lighting, and turf solutions. Netex delivers precision installations worldwide and stands behind them with industry-leading warranties.