From Backyard Dreams to Pro-Level Training: The Journey of SpeedyPetey’s Better QB Training Net
When SpeedyPetey started throwing the football at the age of 8, inspired by Coach Nick, he quickly realized the need for a proper training setup. Without tire swings in the backyard, we turned to Amazon and bought a net with three pockets for him to aim at. If you search for “QB Training Net” on Google you’ll find a range of cheap nets priced between $29 and $120. These nets are essentially tent poles connected to a flimsy net and a steel base that rusts if left outside. We would eventually need a better QB training net for sure.
But initially, those nets worked fine while SpeedyPetey was still learning to throw. However, as he progressed and started throwing harder, the cheap nets couldn’t keep up. The bases rusted, the fiberglass poles deteriorated in the sunlight, and the polyethylene netting tore apart. By the time he was 10, we were on our third or fourth net. Although each net only cost around $50, SpeedyPetey’s increasing strength meant the nets were getting knocked over or torn up, and catching the ball repeatedly was becoming painful on my hands.
SpeedyPetey Outgrows the Starter Nets and needs a Better QB Training Net
All those lessons with Coach Brady and Jay Fiedler were paying off, but SpeedyPetey needed a more advanced training setup. A single stationary net didn’t help with his progressions or skill development, like altering the trajectory of his throws. So, I started looking for the next level of net, only to find that high-school or pro-level equipment ranged from $250 to over $1,000 per net. These nets were heavy, bulky, and not always high-quality, still with rust-prone steel bases. There was very little in between the cheap $25 nets and the expensive $1,000 ones. Try this search on Google for “Pro QB Training Net” and see how expensive some of these things can be!
Dumb Decision? “Why Can’t We Build One Ourselves?”
As a mechanical engineer (undergrad at Clarkson and masters at MIT), I decided to build a lightweight, affordable, quality net. After three prototypes and more than a year of testing, we finally have a field-tested design that SpeedyPetey says “is fire.” Here are some of the iterations we went through before finalizing our prototype:
Golf Chipping Nets: Cheap, lightweight, and portable, but flimsy and “way too low” to the ground.
Hula-Hoops and Tent Poles: Larger and more robust, but still too flimsy and “not big enough.”
Custom Super-Sized Hula-Hoops: Strong, durable, weather-proof, and large, but “still too low to the ground.”
Finding a way to make custom adjustable 1″ aluminum posts was a game-changer. I salvaged some of the hula-hoops and used Velcro-brand straps for easy setup and breakdown. The elegant tripod design looked cool, but it still wasn’t perfect. After doing some old-school Statics equations to rebalance the loading, we finally came up with the design that we’re getting ready to list for sale on our website. Selling this QB Training Net was the driving force behind starting the site in the first place.
Check Out These Videos of Our Prototype Journey
Those vids above show the early iterations of this idea and some epic fails along the way. The vids below show the latest prototype success that is the basis of the product we will be launching soon!
In some of the videos, you might also see a light at the front of the net. That’s our next product, a complete light trainer system. Our setup consists of three target nets with remote-controlled lights that I control while SpeedyPetey goes through his progressions. When he sees the light flash, he knows that route is open and reacts. Add in the famous QB-Tee with a timer/buzzer from our friends at Game Breaker, and we’ve got a real game simulation. SpeedyPetey has 3-5 seconds to find an open route before scrambling. If the buzzer goes off, he’s been sacked. This setup is helping him make quick looks and reactions, preparing him for real game situations.
Stay Tuned for More New Stuff
If you’re interested, please Register as a member of our page to stay in touch and be the first to order one (or three) of these great nets and the complete light trainer system when it’s ready.