Wood is usually only useable to a height of about 60-70 feet above ground. If we include the buried base, the wood pole required for a 70ft height would be around 100ft long. In many areas of the country it is difficult to find the proper class of wood pole in this size and it may be just as expensive as metal. Metal has a longer life expectancy and is the clear winner above 75 feet. It can also be extended to greater height if required. This is not practical with wood poles. Metal poles can usually be set at a greater spacing than wood poles, hence requiring fewer poles. When nets are in freezing climates, water can freeze solid in the openings causing the nets to act like sails on a boat. When this occurs it can mean the nets and the poles are coming down in the wind.
To avoid this problem there are two major solutions. One system is based on cable winches attached to the bottom of the poles. A control panel uses wind sensor data to decide if the wind is too strong (and cold) and lowers the nets automatically to avoid damage. It is very expensive and not 100% fool proof. The second system accomplishes the same safety factor for less money by sacrificing your nets. The net/pole system is designed with tear-away clips to hold the nets to the steel cables. If the loading calculations are properly done than the nets will tear away from the pole without causing any damage (except to the nets and tear away hooks). Several of the pole providers can perform these design calculations.