You've decided to invest in a shooting tarp for home hockey training, and now you're faced with an array of size options: compact 6x4 models, standard 8x6 configurations, and massive 10x8 professional setups. The price differences are substantial—larger tarps can cost two or three times as much as smaller alternatives. Naturally, you want to buy the right size the first time, but how do you know what "right" actually means for your space and training needs? Buying too small means missed shots hitting walls, garage doors, or windows you're trying to protect. Buying unnecessarily large items wastes money and creates storage challenges when you're not training.
Understanding what size hockey shooting tarp matches your actual requirements—rather than defaulting to the biggest option or cheapest alternative—helps you create an effective, safe training environment without overspending on excessive coverage you don't actually need or under-buying and discovering your setup leaves vulnerable areas exposed.
Entry-level shooting tarps typically measure 5x4 to 6x5 feet—roughly the size of a regulation hockey net with minimal surrounding coverage. These compact options work for very young players with limited shooting power, extremely constrained spaces where larger tarps won't fit, or supplementary practice focused purely on accuracy rather than power shooting.
The appeal is obvious: lower cost (often $80-$150) and easier storage when not in use. However, the small coverage area means any shot that misses the net by more than a few inches hits whatever's behind the tarp. For players above the age of 10-12 who can shoot with meaningful power, compact tarps provide insufficient protection for most training scenarios.
Standard-sized tarps measuring 7x6 to 8x6 feet represent the sweet spot for most residential training situations. They provide regulation net coverage plus 12-18 inches of border on each side—enough to catch most shots that miss the net without requiring excessive space or budget.
These mid-sized options (typically $150-$250) work well for youth players through adults shooting at moderate to high power in typical garage or driveway settings. The additional coverage beyond the net opening provides the safety margin needed for realistic practice without babying shots to ensure they stay within bounds.
Professional-grade large tarps measuring 9x7 feet or larger provide extensive coverage that catches virtually any shot aimed in the general direction of the net. These premium options ($250-$500+) suit advanced players shooting at high velocities, multiple players using the same setup, or situations where the tarp must protect particularly valuable or fragile property.
The extra coverage also enables more varied shooting positions. With a standard tarp, you must shoot from directly in front. Larger tarps allow shooting from angles without excessive worry about shots missing the edges.
Before considering tarp sizes, measure your actual available space. In garages, account for vehicle clearance, storage shelves, and opening doors. In driveways, consider property lines, neighboring houses, and parked cars. On patios or yards, note landscaping, windows, and structures that limit usable area.
Your available space establishes the absolute maximum tarp size feasible, regardless of what you might want ideally. Don't plan to buy a 10x8 tarp if you only have 8 feet of clearance.
Determine how much coverage beyond the net opening you need based on your shooting accuracy. Honest self-assessment matters here. If 20% of your shots miss the net by more than a foot, you need substantial border coverage. If you're highly accurate with 90%+ of shots on target, minimal extra coverage suffices.
For most players, plan for at least 12-18 inches of tarp coverage beyond the net's edges on all sides. This catches the majority of missed shots without requiring oversized tarps.
The distance from your shooting position to the tarp affects the size you need. Shooting from 10-15 feet away (typical home practice distance) requires less coverage than shooting from 25-30 feet. Greater distances mean slightly off-target shots diverge more from the centerline before reaching the tarp.
Similarly, if you plan to practice shooting from angles rather than straight-on, you need wider coverage to account for shots approaching the net from the side.
Young players with developing shooting power can typically use standard 7x6 or 8x6 tarps safely. Their shots, while increasingly powerful, rarely exceed what this coverage handles. The moderate cost also makes sense given that equipment needs will evolve as players grow and develop.
However, if you have multiple children at different ages sharing equipment, size for the oldest/most powerful shooter to ensure safety for all users.
Teenage players, particularly boys in later teen years, generate adult-level shot power requiring robust coverage. Standard tarps (8x6) work for most, but highly skilled competitive players might benefit from stepping up to 9x7 or larger to accommodate their power and the training volume that could occasionally result in wild shots.
Adult players should be assessed based on skill level and shooting power rather than age. Recreational players who shoot with moderate accuracy can use standard sizes. Competitive players or those with powerful shots should consider larger options that provide a greater error margin.
If several family members share equipment spanning different ages and skill levels, the size is for the most powerful shooter. Better to have excess coverage that provides safety for everyone than insufficient coverage that's dangerous for your strongest shooter.
Static shooting from a stationary puck is easier to control than shooting off passes or practicing one-timers. If your training includes these more dynamic, less precise shooting situations, upgrade to more extensive coverage that accounts for the reduced accuracy inherent in these drills.
Outdoor setups often benefit from larger tarps because there's typically more available space and less concern about storage. Indoor garage setups might be constrained to smaller options by space limitations. However, indoor use actually argues for more extensive coverage when feasible because the consequences of missed shots (hitting garage doors, cars, or storage) are typically more serious than outdoor misses, hitting grass or bushes.
Buying a tarp that's too small seems like a budget-conscious decision until you break a garage window, dent a car, or damage property that costs hundreds or thousands to repair. The $100 saved by buying a 6x5 instead of an 8x6 looks foolish when you're paying a $300 insurance deductible for property damage.
Undersized tarps also create psychological constraints. You hesitate to shoot with full power, limiting training effectiveness. The fear of causing damage prevents the intense, realistic practice that actually develops skills.
Conversely, buying unnecessarily large tarps wastes money that could fund other training equipment and creates storage challenges when not in use. A 10x8 professional tarp costs $500+ and requires significant storage space—money and space that might be better allocated elsewhere if an 8x6 would serve your needs adequately.
For most residential hockey training situations, the answer is clear: standard 8x6 tarps provide optimal balance of coverage, cost, and practicality. They protect against the vast majority of missed shots while remaining affordable and manageable. Working with established suppliers like Give-N-Go Hockey ensures you're getting accurate sizing information and can receive guidance on matching tarp size to your specific space constraints, shooting power, and training objectives.
The right size shooting tarp isn't the biggest or cheapest—it's the one that provides adequate protection for your shooting power and accuracy level while fitting your available space and budget constraints.
