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General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Calzehbhoy on July 07, 2016, 10:43:32 AM

Title: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Calzehbhoy on July 07, 2016, 10:43:32 AM
I've been struggling in recent weeks to pick up the ball early and find that it leaves me late on shots. While it could just be a general concentration issue it's really annoying that I can't move as early as i'd like.

Does anybody have any tips for picking the ball up earlier?
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on July 07, 2016, 10:52:26 AM
Universal tip is to watch the ball closely leaving the hand.
Point of release gives a bit of an idea about the length ( if released early, it is going to be a full length ball...).
Also at the point of release it gives a fair idea about the line of the ball unless the bowl is swinging.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: OllieWalker39 on July 07, 2016, 11:52:57 AM
Agreeing with the watch it from the hand and arm comments. Can give a lot of clues as to what ball is coming. Within reason of course - some bowlers have a knack of being able to bowl a bumper off a good length!

You'll also find that it all comes hand in hand - form comes along and the ball is huge! It can be that you think you're not watching the ball, when in reality, you're playing a shot a bit early before you're a set, and getting out! Maybe worth hanging about a few more overs then going for your shots!
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Buzz on July 07, 2016, 06:59:40 PM
From the hand isn't early enough. You should look for the seam in the bowlers hand from just before the delivery stride.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Jlscarroll17 on July 07, 2016, 07:34:29 PM
I often just before a match get throw downs for 5/10 mins just to get use to watching the ball and then by the time it comes to batting in a match I'm use to the ball leaving the hand and I've done this for season now and it always helps me
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Biggie Smalls on July 08, 2016, 12:44:59 AM
When this happens to me i try watch the seam - is it straight,  wobbling , end over end , cross seam, rotating left to right or vise versa etc . Just an easy exercise to see if im doing all the things mentioned in the previous replies .
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: sanredrose on July 08, 2016, 04:39:45 AM
Just balance your focus and concentration. I have made big mistakes trying to watch the ball out of the bowlers hand and getting myself completely out of shape for the shot. Try to avoid that ... Get a friend to do some throw downs for you with sidearm. You can clearly watch the seam out of that thing ...
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: potzy248 on July 08, 2016, 05:10:49 AM
Try this, it works for me. Against really fast bowlers I almost charge walk (Move towards the bowler) before he releases the ball (I start quite deep in my crease so i'm not walking miles down the wicket). I find that it helps me a lot and my reflexes are better. I'm assuming its something to do with breaking the inertia and getting the body moving early.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Jlscarroll17 on July 08, 2016, 05:40:53 AM
You can often over analyse yourself and it's normally becomes more of a problem, just try some of our advice and see what works because everyone is different
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Dario74 on July 08, 2016, 07:00:03 AM
Try this, it works for me. Against really fast bowlers I almost charge walk (Move towards the bowler) before he releases the ball (I start quite deep in my crease so i'm not walking miles down the wicket). I find that it helps me a lot and my reflexes are better. I'm assuming its something to do with breaking the inertia and getting the body moving early.

This is a good point as for me there is a connection between trigger/foot movement and how well I watch the ball. I've reverted to 'back and across' movement which seems to help me get in line and read the ball.... I think for me it's about getting 'primed' so that I can just concentrate on the call. I started the season standing completely still but for me it left me too much to do and I was chasing the ball.......... but that may be age!
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Northern monkey on July 08, 2016, 08:42:58 AM
Watching the seam in the bowlers hand!!
Crikey I'm lucky if I can see the ball in the hand, cheers guys, feeling really old now

Joking aside, you've Gotta watch the ball from release, the number of times I've been out there batting thinking, I didn't even look for the ball until it was under my nose!
I find if I force myself to look at the bowlers hand holding the ball, it relaxes me more, and I do have more time to play shots,pick length etc
It's not rocket, but surprising how the little things can be forgotten in the heat of a game
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: TangoWhiskey on July 08, 2016, 08:50:38 AM
I just watch the bowl in the bowlers hand and follow it through his gather all the way to release. The smoother the action the easier it is but I find that's the best way to get myself doing it.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Calzehbhoy on July 08, 2016, 09:24:45 AM
Cheers for the suggestions guys.

I thought I was watching it out the hand but must be struggling to see as feel rushed all the time. Will try watching earlier in the nets and see how I get on :)
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: ppccopener on July 08, 2016, 09:42:19 AM
most of us clubbies don't really watch the ball properly. It's only when you really make an effort to watch the red thing like a hawk you notice the difference.

It's such a basic part of the game but we all need to really practice it

I can't see the seam in the bowlers hand either(we got Spiderman on the forum?) but I look at the bowlers hand on release and try to see it onto the bat.

 :)
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: alexhilly1492 on July 08, 2016, 09:48:13 AM
I'm having the opposite issue at the moment managing to see it in delivery stride and on release I find staring at the sight screen and then when the bowler is 5 paces out watch the ball from there onto the blade however I'm losing it half way down and then trusting I've read it correctly! Been hit a few times on the thigh because of this and been bowled a few times for the same reason!
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: meats on July 08, 2016, 06:00:30 PM
Try this, it works for me. Against really fast bowlers I almost charge walk (Move towards the bowler) before he releases the ball (I start quite deep in my crease so i'm not walking miles down the wicket). I find that it helps me a lot and my reflexes are better. I'm assuming its something to do with breaking the inertia and getting the body moving early.

This. When I felt hideously out of nick but somehow scratched around to survive 10 overs I started walking forwards and it made a huge difference as I rediscovered a trigger movement which I wasn't doing previously that innings. I changed to back and across once I remembered the trigger. I generally find I play quicks a lot better when walking towards them and I am more than happy pulling and hooking on the front foot.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Buzz on July 08, 2016, 06:08:36 PM
This only works if your head is very still prior to the point of release. Also you need to know exactly where you finish or you become a prime lbw candidate.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: InternalTraining on July 08, 2016, 06:12:52 PM
Try this, it works for me. Against really fast bowlers I almost charge walk (Move towards the bowler) before he releases the ball (I start quite deep in my crease so i'm not walking miles down the wicket). I find that it helps me a lot and my reflexes are better. I'm assuming its something to do with breaking the inertia and getting the body moving early.

I do that to counter the swing at the start of the inning. it: a.) minimizes the swing; b.) alters the bowlers length . The down side is that you have to watch for a short ball. A good bowler will try to cramp your arms with a quick, short delivery on the off stump. I have gotten out twice this season trying to pull with cramped arms.
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: mrazvi on July 08, 2016, 07:05:42 PM
Just play with the instincts that you have developed over the years of hitting the ball in your backyard, nets, games, dreams etc..
Don't over analyze...see ball hit ball!!

For the not so experienced ones, watch the ball and follow the advice given by many of the experts on this forum  :)
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: Woodyspin on July 08, 2016, 07:16:08 PM
Just play with the instincts that you have developed over the years of hitting the ball in your backyard, nets, games, dreams etc..
Don't over analyze...see ball hit ball!!

For the not so experienced ones, watch the ball and follow the advice given by many of the experts on this forum  :)

(No Swearing Please)! that's where i've being going wrong! I've been doing both!
Title: Re: Picking up the ball earlier
Post by: brokenbat on July 08, 2016, 07:35:01 PM
Try making sure your head is ahead of (or as far close to as possible) your front shoulder..almost as if you're in your stance but leaning towards the ball (but DON'T fall over to the off side!) before its released.

And as people have already said, head still, and watch the ball out of the hand.