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[mad_abt_cricket]

Dear All,

This seems to be a pretty elementary topic but I am struggling to take high catches and desperately need some advice. I am decent in bowling and batting but when it comes to fielding specially high catching I am well below standard. I have small palms which are soft and after some catches, the area just below the fingers gets blue/ black and from then on it becomes incredibly difficult to take any catch.
For high catches because of this pain I am beginning to develop fear as it really hurts every time and my hands tends to go separate as the ball hits the palm, hence the ball slips through between the palms. I tried to view videos online but couldn't get much help. Some say that with more practice the hands will become used to the pain but I feel I am doing some thing wrong as the pain shouldn't occur in the first place.

Please help me with some advice / good training video.

Thank you.

[roco]

Sounds like your letting the ball hit your hands rather than catching the ball as it should not hurt there has to be a little give in your hands when you take a catch try medium to low catches first and build up your confidence and technique then gradually get higher

[mad_abt_cricket]

I read somewhere online, that using surgical spirit hardens the palms. Shall I use that in order to feel less pain while catching

[roco]

Never used it myself I think it's just better to improve your technique as will be better in the long run

[Buzz]

sounds like you also need to work on where in your hands you are taking the catch, if the ball is landing in and brusing the joints, the ball isn't going into your hands quite right. The ball should ideally be taken softly in the middle of the palm (small or large!).

If you have time practice throwing a golfball against a brick wall and trying to catch it right in the middle of your palms, then work on the higher catches.

Tough thing high catches, but it is all about confidence so once you get your technique right, you need to practice and practice...

[mad_abt_cricket]

Thanks !

Will try these tips

[keysersolze]

Mate you have incorect technique, goto your coach and ask him to show you where your going wrong. As a coach myself i teach people to keep their hands together eyes on the ball and bring there hands down with the ball while closing your hands around it. Then any pain from impact is nearly eradicated. Your coach will show you how to do this!!

[Watsontotty]

Can i ask how you actually take the catch, what i mean by that do you use the standard english way with the hands together or do you use the Aussie style reverse hands with your fingers pointing towards the sky. Id count myself as one of the very best catchers of a cricket ball and i now use the Aussie style on high catches and very rarely hurt my hands.

It sounds like your hands are rigid and perhaps the ball is slapping into your hands however its difficult to say without seeing you catch a cricket ball. Its all about confidence with high catches and then technique takes over and practice practice practice always helps with catching. Try gloves for training to protect your hands and perhaps you can then practice fully and go from there.

[Coach]

As a coach the first thing i would ask is are you getting too the ball early enough? Are you setting a solid base?
Then if you are getting into the right positions then how high are your hands? Try to get your hands high and in your own eyeline to reduce the amount that your head moves during the process of taking the catch?
There is a few things to think about first off

[Mortimer]

why not try practicing with a tennis ball? It can be as hard to catch a tennis ball as cricket ball, since the tennis ball  is bouncier.

[Talisman]

Try doing it with a helmet with a full face visor made from a sheet of steel, then let go of your fear and trust the force.....

[mad_abt_cricket]

Dear All,

Thank you for your suggestions. I am using the conventional English way of taking high catches, will try out the aussie way to see if I feel more comfortable. My problem starts when I take some catches and possibly due to wrong technique the  palm area below my fingers gets black and starts to hurt awfully.

[keysersolze]

Golden rule if possible like the guys have said get under the ball hands up cupped together and bring the ball down into the body!!! ketching a tennis ball might help but we always reccomend a cricket ball use a sot old to practise with and remember to bring your hands down  with the ball while closing your fingers around it, and it should minimise the pain Aussie style or english what ever works for you but work with your coach!!
 

[Apple]

Not sure this has been mentioned, make sure that you have the widest and biggest catching area you can, soft but not weak hands, when its hits ur hands give a little, and you will be fine