Outdoor Hitting cage ball distance from cage

Is the 8 foot distance from Ball to net the front or back of the cage?  Meaning will the R10 pick up the ball through the net? I have a 10’x10’x10’ ft cage so if it is back of the net I can hit from just inside and would most likely hit from a couple feet outside. If it is the front of the cage I need another 16+ feet from the cage…. Any insight would help.