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[jjelricksmith]

Afternoon all,

Does anyone have any tips for playing the ball later? Ive been out 4 times now from incutters cutting me through the gate when my bat is way too far infront of my pad almost driving when i really have no intention of it. My teammates keep saying why were you driving that good length when really i was just looking to keep it out. I think its due to training and batting against some quicker bowlers earlier in the season around 75mph and now facing more like 65 mph as some of the real quicks from our division have left and its meaning im getting stuck pushing at the ball too much. I also had this issue caught and bowled off a spinner earlier in the year.

Any tips appreciated thank you!

[galactic soap]

Hi Mate,

I notice this thread didn't have a response. I stumbled on this video via a YouTube recommend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deGKL_sOwUY

The coach makes an excellent point about staying still, in the "neutral position" (in the crease) until the ball is released. He goes onto demonstrate it by feigning a throw, amidst a sequence of throw downs. In the first instance the lad moves forward before the ball is released. In the second instance he stays in his crease as he's waiting for the point of release.

Perhaps if you're playing the ball too early you're trigger movement is occurring before the ball is being released due to your familiarity with a quicker pace?

I'm certainly no coach - but thought I'd share.

Cheers,
GS

[Wickets-then-runs]

The above sounds like great advice! I ahd a similar problem and staying still until you have picked up the trajectory of the ball has really helped me.

[Ajdal]

When I switched to a lighter bat, I noticed that I was playing the ball closer to the body and it also opened up a wider array of shots.

[SLA]

Afternoon all,

Does anyone have any tips for playing the ball later? Ive been out 4 times now from incutters cutting me through the gate when my bat is way too far infront of my pad almost driving when i really have no intention of it. My teammates keep saying why were you driving that good length when really i was just looking to keep it out. I think its due to training and batting against some quicker bowlers earlier in the season around 75mph and now facing more like 65 mph as some of the real quicks from our division have left and its meaning im getting stuck pushing at the ball too much. I also had this issue caught and bowled off a spinner earlier in the year.

Any tips appreciated thank you!

This kind of problem is common, and typically its not about relative position of bat and front pad, its about reducing bat speed.

If you bring the bat down with too much bat speed, its harder to make last minute adjustments to cover movement off the pitch. Hence its inadvisable to hit through the line against length balls on anything but the flattest pitches. Obviously with half volleys, there is less risk of this happening, so bat speed can be safely increased and you can punch the ball for four.

So really this is just about reducing your bat speed when you spot a length ball. You can still get into a good position early, your head over the contact point, and get your wrists down, but keep them cocked, then play the ball from there, being sure to look out for last minute movement off the pitch. You should find it easier to adjust with a slow moving bat than with either a fast moving bat, or a stationary bat (Keaton Jennings' problem).

[InternalTraining]

Afternoon all,

Does anyone have any tips for playing the ball later? Ive been out 4 times now from incutters cutting me through the gate when my bat is way too far infront of my pad almost driving when i really have no intention of it. My teammates keep saying why were you driving that good length when really i was just looking to keep it out. I think its due to training and batting against some quicker bowlers earlier in the season around 75mph and now facing more like 65 mph as some of the real quicks from our division have left and its meaning im getting stuck pushing at the ball too much. I also had this issue caught and bowled off a spinner earlier in the year.

Any tips appreciated thank you!

1. If you cock the bat up (like Johnny Bairstow), hold it lower like Aussie players. It did wonders for my timing.
2. It seems like you are pre-meditating for the ball speed. Use a bowling machine and have a buddy randomly change speeds to let you track ball with your eyes.

[Buzz]

The above sounds like great advice! I ahd a similar problem and staying still until you have picked up the trajectory of the ball has really helped me.

This is the problem of throw downs vs bowling.
The more you play the more you an pick up the probable length almost before the ball is bowled.

As for playing the ball later, practice throw downs with bouncy tennis balls, trying to get the ball to bounce after you have hit it as early as possible.

Playing the ball later isn't just for defensive shots though so practice some attacking shots like this too.

[edge]

Two things that have helped me:
1. When practising, particularly against bowling machines, force yourself to have a pause after the ball's been released. You see it leave the hand/machine, then make yourself pause for a moment, then move. Does wonders for picking the ball up and of course playing it that bit later.

2. Similar to what Buzz says above, do some practice where you aim to hit the ball into the floor. For me the problem was playing too early when attacking so I'd focus on hitting it hard into the floor, but a side benefit was my defence tightened up nicely too.

[jjelricksmith]

thanks guys!

[mo_town]

Isnt this also dependent on how good or bad your natural reflexes are? The advice to pause for a brief moment is good if you have the reflexes to react in time and play the ball. You can also end up being too late on the ball and getting bowled, edging the ball. I feel the individual should first access how late can he respond to a delivery and tune himself accordingly.

[SD]

Hi Mate,

I notice this thread didn't have a response. I stumbled on this video via a YouTube recommend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deGKL_sOwUY

The coach makes an excellent point about staying still, in the "neutral position" (in the crease) until the ball is released. He goes onto demonstrate it by feigning a throw, amidst a sequence of throw downs. In the first instance the lad moves forward before the ball is released. In the second instance he stays in his crease as he's waiting for the point of release.

Perhaps if you're playing the ball too early you're trigger movement is occurring before the ball is being released due to your familiarity with a quicker pace?

I'm certainly no coach - but thought I'd share.

Cheers,
GS

A few years ago I had this issue with moving before the moment of release with the consequence that I was through the shot to early.  I corrected it by setting a bowling machine to bowl at middle stump I.e. much straighter than i would face from a bowler.  With the variation in the machine and off the pitch, the volume of balls being played to leg made me delay my movement later to be able to get in a position to play on either side of the wicket.  After work on a machine it became more natural against bowlers.

The other adjustment I made in games was to have the confidence to go through with a shot if I did play it too early and give myself the chance to clear the field rather than check the shot and chip up a simple chance in the ring