03/16/2026
Case Study in Golf Ball Damage to New Solar System
What could Robin do when her new solar system is being damaged by golf balls?
What could Robin do when her new solar system is being damaged by golf balls?
Overview
Robin purchased her new Florida retirement home, and installed a solar system on her home. She soon came to regret it. The solar salesman had assured her "golf balls won't break the solar panels", but he was wrong...very wrong! Three of her solar panels were broken in the first month. She needed to find a way protect solar panels from golf balls, fast!
How Did She Get Here
The process started when she decided to purchase a solar system. The solar salesmen dismissed the risk of golf balls breaking solar panels. "Solar panels even resist hail damage". This ultimately turns out to be meaningless. Robin actually asked if protection was needed, and was assured it was not needed. When the damage started, she discovered there was nothing in writing to protect the her when the inevitable damage occurred. When she realized this, she went from upset to determined; her solar panels would be replaced...for free! She started looking for a protective net herself.
The science clearly shows golf balls hit with a lot more energy than golf balls. The spinning golf balls can impact with 52 times more energy than a comparable hail stone.
There is no solar panel glass that will not be broken by a direct hit. The protection solution must prevent the impact.
Robin's complaints about broken panels fells on deaf ears initially. The salesman and the solar company management both denied claiming solar panels could withstand golf ball impacts. Finally, the solar installation company gave in, and agreed to replace solar panels once...they are one of the better companies! There are virtually no solar installers that will repeatedly replace solar panels when they keep getting broken.
If Robin's system was leased, it would have been worse. Leasing companies are generally a finance companies, lacking staff to even replace panels. In short, the homeowners are stuck, and must find a solution themselves, and pay to have the broken panels replaced at the same time.
A Simple Solution
Robin just used a simple Google search for "Protecting Solar Panels from Golf Balls" it quickly showed a solution; "SolarNets Can Protect Solar Panels From Golf Balls".
Why didn't her solar company offer install this protection from the beginning? She would willingly have paid for protection if it were offered during the sales process.
Even when Robin told her salesman about SolarNets he resisted, hiding behind the "Nets will reduce solar production excuse". Yes, nets will reduce solar production by varying amounts, depending on the equipment and installation configuration. The typical loss caused by solar nets is 10- 15%. Robin quickly negotiated to add two more panels. They would makeup the losses caused by SolarNets.
Her message to the solar company was emphatic. “I don’t care about a small production loss, my solar system is being destroyed by golf balls!
Before SolarNets
After Solar Nets
SolarNets were be installed by a local installer in the Florida area in one afternoon, immediately after the broken panels were replaced. Robin wanted to be sure no new damage occurred while she waited for the net installation.
Final conclusion was perfect
Since SolarNets were installed Robin's system seems to work as good as ever, and she no longer worries about "those drunk amateur golfers ". Now she can rest assured her solar investment will be safe for years to come.
Overview
Robin purchased her new Florida retirement home, and installed a solar system on her home. She soon came to regret it. The solar salesman had assured her "golf balls won't break the solar panels", but he was wrong...very wrong! Three of her solar panels were broken in the first month. She needed to find a way protect solar panels from golf balls, fast!
How Did She Get Here
The process started when she decided to purchase a solar system. The solar salesmen dismissed the risk of golf balls breaking solar panels. "Solar panels even resist hail damage". This ultimately turns out to be meaningless. Robin actually asked if protection was needed, and was assured it was not needed. When the damage started, she discovered there was nothing in writing to protect the her when the inevitable damage occurred. When she realized this, she went from upset to determined; her solar panels would be replaced...for free! She started looking for a protective net herself.
The science clearly shows golf balls hit with a lot more energy than golf balls. The spinning golf balls can impact with 52 times more energy than a comparable hail stone.
There is no solar panel glass that will not be broken by a direct hit. The protection solution must prevent the impact.
Robin's complaints about broken panels fells on deaf ears initially. The salesman and the solar company management both denied claiming solar panels could withstand golf ball impacts. Finally, the solar installation company gave in, and agreed to replace solar panels once...they are one of the better companies! There are virtually no solar installers that will repeatedly replace solar panels when they keep getting broken.
If Robin's system was leased, it would have been worse. Leasing companies are generally a finance companies, lacking staff to even replace panels. In short, the homeowners are stuck, and must find a solution themselves, and pay to have the broken panels replaced at the same time.
A Simple Solution
Robin just used a simple Google search for "Protecting Solar Panels from Golf Balls" it quickly showed a solution; "SolarNets Can Protect Solar Panels From Golf Balls".
Why didn't her solar company offer install this protection from the beginning? She would willingly have paid for protection if it were offered during the sales process.
Even when Robin told her salesman about SolarNets he resisted, hiding behind the "Nets will reduce solar production excuse". Yes, nets will reduce solar production by varying amounts, depending on the equipment and installation configuration. The typical loss caused by solar nets is 10- 15%. Robin quickly negotiated to add two more panels. They would makeup the losses caused by SolarNets.
Her message to the solar company was emphatic. “I don’t care about a small production loss, my solar system is being destroyed by golf balls!
Before SolarNets
After Solar Nets
SolarNets were be installed by a local installer in the Florida area in one afternoon, immediately after the broken panels were replaced. Robin wanted to be sure no new damage occurred while she waited for the net installation.
Final conclusion was perfect
Since SolarNets were installed Robin's system seems to work as good as ever, and she no longer worries about "those drunk amateur golfers ". Now she can rest assured her solar investment will be safe for years to come.
