Print

[shazz]

More importantly, it is very likley that you are dropping those tricky ones because at the last moment you are watching the bat. A great drill is to get someone to hold a cone and just basically hit the ball from an underarm feed. Another is to use a Katchet in the same way, you get some huge deflections, but is great for confidence!

Finally, be busy, the more involved you are the more confidence your team will get 

[Simmy]

i had some wymers but im using ayrtek this year...
but ive said it before and ill say it again it shouldnt matter what gloves u keep in it will be down to technique and how u cussion the ball.

like i have proven oven gloves are just as easy as keeping gloves,

if you are strugeling to cussion the ball and its poping back out practice with a tenis ball(and bare hands)

as a tenis ball is bouncy if u dont cussion ur hands enough they will pop out all the time.

you will get used to taking the ball alot more softly,

i have used padded and non padded iners etc and only thing i strugled with is the pain in my hand lol

[Kieron_BT]

Cheers for the advice everyone, very much appreciated! Please let me know if you think of anything else. Will get behind the stumps with the drills you have said!

[97notout]

I'm with Simmy on this one, though I'm no where near his standard. I returned to cricket after a gap of eight years and found that I was having problems with sore palms.
RichtheKeeper seems also to know his onions (or taking techniques) and put it down more to technique rather than gloves and inners.
Practice and give a little (as in try and let the ball enter the gloves and let the hands go slightly backwards) difficult to explain but watch Matthew Wade he watches the ball all the way and gives with the gloves.

I use Kooks Silver Classic OSM with padded chamios inners and can feel the ball.

Read Bob Taylors books 'Standing up Standing back' and 'wicket keeping' He gives some good advice

The main thing I do is tell my self every ball 'The edge is coming to me' But don't say it out loud as first slip thinks you've lost the plot. lol

Sorry about the long thread and welcome to the keepers union and the best position on the park 

[Bruce]

I turned to this for help!

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,,12607_7093423,00.html

[Kieron_BT]

Again thanks to all for the advice. keep it all coming!

[richthekeeper]

Ah 97notout you're too kind! I should point out that I'm full of theory and coaching points but its a lot harder to do in practice! My hands are okay but not as good as Simmy's

[Cumbrian Pete]

My advice for offside nicks standing up would be to get your head and hands in line, hands slightly off the ground showing a large catching area, relax as much as possible then move head and hands together into the line of the ball, rather than following the ball with just your hands...this has made a big difference to my keeping.  Also any drills with a batter in thrashing a plastic cone through the ballor something similar is great...keeps you watching the ball.  I don't think you need to deliberately give too much if your hands are relaxed, just a little...but it's personal preference at the end of the day.

[peplow]

Love mine! Thinking of getting another set before its too late!

[Simmy]

Ah 97notout you're too kind! I should point out that I'm full of theory and coaching points but its a lot harder to do in practice! My hands are okay but not as good as Simmy's

i am the opersit really i am a self thaught keeper not really had any theory given to me or any coaching...

only thing i ever remember doing keeper training wise is when i was 16 and started keeping for the first team. one of lads stood me infront of a brick wall and threw tenis balls at the wall so i had to catch them as they bounced off,

not sure if it helped but my reactions are pretty fast anyway as ive allways been a keeper since i was 11.

only now with things like at he katchit are we doing a bit more catching practice!

[richthekeeper]

watching that Matt Prior video it's amazing how flat his feet are on the ground. i've always been taught to be on the balls of my feet, but Prior's heels are on the ground it seems...

[Simmy]

no idea about feet etc lol

i just do what i do lol

[epbs]

To the lad who started this thread...

RELAX

[epbs]

For what it's worth - I wear a full padded chamois inner with a half chamois inner (with the fingers, thumbs and wristband cut off) over the top. Alternatively padded ones are very similar to this. I used to have trouble with taking the ball standing up (edged or clean) and for me it was due to trying to make the catching area as big as possible. As soon as you stretch your fingers out to widen the catching area, your palms and fingers tighten. Don't worry how big your catching area is, just relax your hands and trust your eyes. Tell yourself to relax, relax, relax, every time you take the ball. Don't jam your gloves on too tight either - a bit of looseness feels weird and wrong at first but if you keep your hands relaxed and a bit floppy you will take the ball better. And the more you practice, the better your inners/gloves will feel. Get someone to hit you catches at a reasonable height (from waist down to ankles) with a bat from 5 or 6 metres away for as long as possible every time you net. Wicketkeeping needs to be practised like any other skill - but most people don't bother much past the usual fielding drills after a net.

RELAX and PRACTICE. I hope that helps. And gloves/inners/pads... none of it matters. Just use whatever you feel comfortable with.

[Kieron_BT]

Cheers for taking the time to get back to me. Taking everything on board and can't wait for some nicer weather to get playing games and get more experience!