Most players turn up to an indoor net, pick up a bat, and spend the whole hour just slogging away at balls. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your time in the nets, but if you want to actually improve, you need a bit of a plan.
At HECC Cricket in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, our indoor net hire sessions give you access to a specialist cricket training facility all year round. The facility is open seven days a week, and you can book a lane on its own or add a bowling machine to your session.
Here are seven practical tips to help you get far more out of every net session you book.
1. Set a Goal Before You Arrive
Turning up without a focus means you will probably just repeat the same habits you already have. Before your session, decide what you want to work on. Keep it simple and specific.
Some examples:
- Practise playing the ball later to improve timing
- Work on your trigger movement before each delivery
- Focus on keeping your head still when playing drives
- Bowl six overs targeting off stump consistently
Writing your goal down in your phone before you leave the house takes about 30 seconds and can completely change the quality of your session.
2. Warm Up Properly
Indoor nets are smaller spaces, but that does not mean you should skip your warm-up. A short warm-up gets your muscles ready and reduces the risk of pulling something early in the session.
Spend five minutes outside or in the facility doing:
- Light jogging or skipping
- Arm circles and shoulder rolls
- Leg swings and hip rotations
- A few slow shadow batting movements
If you are bowling, build up gradually. Do not run in hard from ball one.
3. Use the Bowling Machine Properly
A bowling machine is one of the most useful tools available to cricketers of any age or ability. At HECC, you can add bowling machine hire to your lane booking for an extra charge. But many players do not use the machine well.
Here is how to get the most out of it:
| Common Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Setting it too fast from the start | Start at a comfortable pace, then build up |
| Hitting every ball as hard as possible | Practise different shots, not just big hits |
| Standing in the same position each time | Move your feet and practise different footwork |
| Not resetting between deliveries | Take a breath, reset your stance, focus again |
Give yourself a short routine between each ball. Take guard, watch the machine load the ball, pick your line early, and play your shot. This gives you much better match practice than just reacting randomly.
4. Break Your Session Into Blocks
An hour in the nets goes quickly. Rather than just batting or bowling for the whole time, split your session into shorter blocks with a clear purpose for each one.
A sample structure for a one-hour batting session might look like this:
- 0 to 5 minutes: Warm-up and shadow batting
- 5 to 20 minutes: Defensive work, playing straight, soft hands
- 20 to 40 minutes: Footwork and driving, focus on reaching the pitch of the ball
- 40 to 55 minutes: Attacking shots, pulled shots, cut shots
- 55 to 60 minutes: Cool down, notes, reflection
Structuring your session like this means you cover different areas rather than getting locked into one pattern for the full hour.
5. Work on Your Weaknesses, Not Just Your Strengths
It is very tempting to keep practising the shots you already play well. They feel good. You score runs with them. But a net session is the safest place to fail, so use the time to work on things that are not yet comfortable.
If you get out to short-pitched bowling regularly, ask for the machine to be set fuller and shorter and spend time on your pull and hook. If you tend to drag your bat across the line on fuller deliveries, concentrate on hitting straight.
The nets are where improvement happens. The match is where you use it.
6. Use Video to Review Your Technique
One of the quickest ways to improve is to watch yourself play. Set up your phone on a tripod or prop it against your kit bag at an angle that shows your full body. Film a few overs of your batting or bowling and watch it back at the end of your session.
You do not need to be an expert analyst to spot things worth working on. You might notice your head is dipping forward, your bat is coming down at an angle, or your bowling arm is dropping too early.
For a more detailed breakdown, HECC offers a professional video analysis service. The Director of Coaching can review your footage and provide either a written or verbal report with specific, personalised feedback. It is one of the most effective ways to speed up your development.
7. Consider Booking a Coached Session
Solo net hire is brilliant for putting in the hard work and the repetitions. But sometimes you need an expert eye to tell you what you are actually doing wrong, not just what you think you are doing wrong.
HECC offers one to one and small group cricket coaching for players of all ages and abilities. A coached session means every ball you face or deliver has a purpose. Your coach will spot technical issues quickly and give you instant feedback rather than leaving you to guess.
If you are serious about improving, a mix of solo net hire and regular coaching sessions is the best approach.
A Quick Note on Cricket Safety
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) publishes clear guidance on safe practice in cricket nets. If you are under 18, the ECB recommends wearing a helmet when batting against a hard ball. You can read the full ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Guidelines for more information on how the game approaches player safety and development at every level.
Ready to Book Your Net at HECC?
HECC Cricket is based at Tharbies Farm, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 0LL, right on the Hertfordshire and Essex border. The facility is open Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, Friday by appointment, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
You can book a lane online through the indoor net hire page, and add bowling machine hire at the time of booking if you want it.
Stop turning up and just having a hit. Come in with a plan, use the time well, and you will leave a better cricketer than when you arrived.