Hitting into a Net

[Ernest Jones]

I just won a new hitting net on ebay. My question is, is there something other than the feeling of a well struck ball to look for when hitting into a net. I've never had one before, and always went by the feel, and flight of the ball, or am I over thinking this..?

In my experience, hitting into a net is great practice IF you record a lot of video and check your alignments as you go . Without that video check up there is definitely a risk of ingraining a bad swing. For me, and my particular issues, a DTL view to check my swing path is essential.

[billchao]

I just won a new hitting net on ebay. My question is, is there something other than the feeling of a well struck ball to look for when hitting into a net. I've never had one before, and always went by the feel, and flight of the ball, or am I over thinking this..?

I don't think you're over thinking it, more like seeing it from the wrong angle? A lot of net stuff I do is drills and you don't need to see the flight of the ball at all. Honestly, I'm not hitting it more than 60-70% effort, anyways, so seeing the ball doesn't help much. If you want to see contact, get some impact tape (I've read that foot spray works, too, but I've never tried it myself). Camera is a big help if you have one set up. I'll practice on my net and periodically hit the range to check on my ballflight.

[GangGreen]

Just adding my 2 cents to this older post based on my (very limited) experience. Had my first lesson this past weekend and after the lesson I was anxious to continue to practice the drills my instructor wanted me to work on so I went to the local driving range. Got there and found out they were out of balls (couldn't retrieve any off the range due to the snow) but they had recently set up mats and nets inside. Had never hit into a net before (I was in the "seems like a waste of time if I can't see where my ball goes" camp) but figured I was there already so why not give it a go. Turned out to be the best thing for me since it just seemed so much easier for me to focus on my swing and the technique these specific drills were intended to improve. The key (for me at least) was sticking to what my instructor wanted me to practice which was all about ingraining new and better swing fundamentals regardless of ball flight (at least at this point of my "re-training"). I happened to be watching the Golf Channel last night (and not just so I could see Holly) and I think it was Martin Hall who said something like "Exagerate, Exagerate, and then Integrate" when it came to incorporating new swing techniques. I think hitting into a net lets you exagerate those new motions best since you don't get caught up in where the shot is going. I certainly think you also need to see how that eventually translates into a full swing out on an open range so this year I'll be combining both "net" swings and "outdoor" swings into my practice routines, especially for those first few practices after each lesson.

[RFKFREAK]

Got the Rukket net for Christmas.  Got home yesterday and opened it then.

There's snow on the ground so haven't been able to use it.

Supposed to snow another 9 inches this week.

Unfortunately, it seems like fates against me since it's been super cold for the most part and it seems like it's snowing every week.

I can't practice with my net indoors and have only been able to use it a handful of times in the 8 weeks I've had it.

I'm about to enter one of the two busiest months of my work year so I'll have a very little time to use the mat and net.

[Smilesy]

Last winter (I'm in Australia, so from June to August) I did a fair bit of work hitting into a net. By the end of winter I was hitting the ball really well contact wise in the net, and was really excited to get out and play on the course. To my horror though I was hitting everything about 30m left of target with my irons. I hadn't made any huge changes to my swing it was mainly just that I was overly closing the club face at impact. It then took me 3 months of hard practise (3 x 1-2 hour range sessions off grass) to get back to where I had been before the net sessions. That said I am now in a better place than when I started last winter, but I has taken about 7 months to get there.

I will again be working on things hitting into my net, but at least once a week I will be going to range to make sure that I am still hitting the ball roughly where I'm aiming. That's the aim of the game in the end, it doesn't matter what your swing looks like, you need to be able to hit the ball at your target and that's something you can't get an idea of with a net.

[RFKFREAK]

Last winter (I'm in Australia, so from June to August) I did a fair bit of work hitting into a net. By the end of winter I was hitting the ball really well contact wise in the net, and was really excited to get out and play on the course. To my horror though I was hitting everything about 30m left of target with my irons. I hadn't made any huge changes to my swing it was mainly just that I was overly closing the club face at impact. It then took me 3 months of hard practise (3 x 1-2 hour range sessions off grass) to get back to where I had been before the net sessions. That said I am now in a better place than when I started last winter, but I has taken about 7 months to get there.

I will again be working on things hitting into my net, but at least once a week I will be going to range to make sure that I am still hitting the ball roughly where I'm aiming. That's the aim of the game in the end, it doesn't matter what your swing looks like, you need to be able to hit the ball at your target and that's something you can't get an idea of with a net.

At this point, I'm trying to develop a consistent swing.  So, for someone like me, it's ideal because I need repetition as I concentrate on the first key.  I think for someone more advanced, as your handicap would indicate, that's probably a good strategy.

[Ernest Jones]

At this point, I'm trying to develop a consistent swing.  So, for someone like me, it's ideal because I need repetition as I concentrate on the first key.  I think for someone more advanced, as your handicap would indicate, that's probably a good strategy.

Camera, Camera, Camera, Camera!!!! Nets are awesome for working on mechanics becuase you can easily focus on one particular piece and not get distracted by how your are hitting the ball on that particular day.

[Smilesy]

Camera, Camera, Camera, Camera!!!! Nets are awesome for working on mechanics becuase you can easily focus on one particular piece and not get distracted by how your are hitting the ball on that particular day.

Yeah, I always use my phone's camera when working on my swing. It will do 240fps which really helps. I'm trying to now work out if I can somehow come up with a way to automatically replay each swing after I hit, it really breaks my rhythm when I have to stop and check the video after each one.

[RFKFREAK]

[QUOTE name="RFKFREAK" url="/t/53895/hitting-into-a-net/234#post_961652"]   At this point, I'm trying to develop a consistent swing.  So, for someone like me, it's ideal because I need repetition as I concentrate on the first key.  I think for someone more advanced, as your handicap would indicate, that's probably a good strategy.  [/QUOTE] Camera, Camera, Camera, Camera!!!! Nets are awesome for working on mechanics becuase you can easily focus on one particular piece and not get distracted by how your are hitting the ball on that particular day.

Oh, I have an Evolvr account so I use my camera. That said, unfortunately, the weather has been so bad this winter I haven't been able to use it much.

[MarshallRaynor]

I did a search for something along these lines, but I couldn't find a very recent thread, so I thought I'd ask again.

From where I am in my game, I think I could benefit a lot from picking up a driving/catch net. I can't afford to go to the course or the range three times a week and I need to work on making consistent contact with the ball, and I think a net would be a great way to do that. What are your thoughts on these? Are they good for anything besides making sure I don't take out my neighbor's windows with a stray shot? What are the pros and cons of hitting into a catch net? Is one better than another?

I'd love to hear what you think.

[mdl]

[MarshallRaynor]

Must've mis-typed my search. Thanks.

[gregsandiego]

After reading much of this thread I think I want a net. However I'm thinking of an actual "cage" not just a net. Go on eBay and see they have 10 x 10 x 10 cages. I'm worried that a simple net won't stop the occasional bad shot from going in the neighbor's yard. Anyone else using a cage?

[14ledo81]

After reading much of this thread I think I want a net. However I'm thinking of an actual "cage" not just a net. Go on eBay and see they have 10 x 10 x 10 cages. I'm worried that a simple net won't stop the occasional bad shot from going in the neighbor's yard.

Anyone else using a cage?

I do not have a cage, but I can see where it would be nice if you had close neighbors.  You could always hit foam balls into the net.  That way if one got away it would not cause any damage.  Real balls are much nicer though.  I get feedback through feel that I would not get with foam balls.

[Jeremie Boop]

The one local pro here hates when people practice into a net. Not because hitting into a net is necessarily a bad thing, but if they have nothing/no one that is checking to make sure they are actually making good swings then they are just training bad habits. I noticed that's been mentioned previously in this post too. I plan on getting a net to use, and 2 cameras so I can set them up FO and DTL to make sure I'm doing things correctly. Last thing I want to happen is what happened this year and lose all the things I've learned.

[CarlSpackler]

The one local pro here hates when people practice into a net. Not because hitting into a net is necessarily a bad thing, but if they have nothing/no one that is checking to make sure they are actually making good swings then they are just training bad habits. I noticed that's been mentioned previously in this post too. I plan on getting a net to use, and 2 cameras so I can set them up FO and DTL to make sure I'm doing things correctly. Last thing I want to happen is what happened this year and lose all the things I've learned.

I hope to move south some day to solve that problem.

Nets and mats are a necessary evil for us northerners in the winter. I'm thinking of setting one up in the man cave this winter. It's use it or lose it.

[14ledo81]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

The one local pro here hates when people practice into a net. Not because hitting into a net is necessarily a bad thing, but if they have nothing/no one that is checking to make sure they are actually making good swings then they are just training bad habits. I noticed that's been mentioned previously in this post too. I plan on getting a net to use, and 2 cameras so I can set them up FO and DTL to make sure I'm doing things correctly. Last thing I want to happen is what happened this year and lose all the things I've learned.

I hope to move south some day to solve that problem.

Nets and mats are a necessary evil for us northerners in the winter. I'm thinking of setting one up in the man cave this winter. It's use it or lose it.

Maybe you won't hibernate and stay away from TST as well????

Honestly, for me, TST helps me get through the winter.

[CarlSpackler]

Maybe you won't hibernate and stay away from TST as well????

Honestly, for me, TST helps me get through the winter.

Quite possibly. ;-)