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[BucketHandsGreg]

When I get the chance to play a cover drive in a match i never seem to have the power to beat the fielders/the ball always seems to go straight at them. Advice needed.... 

[Richie]

Timing is key, also placement is vital.  Once you have "your eye in" try opening the face to try and guide it through a gap, instead of just hitting it at the same angle every ball.  To add more power, make sure you lean into the shot- taking your body weight through the ball and transferring it into the shot.

[AtBalfour]

Do you have this problem with most shots of specifically on the off side? If it is all of your shots, maybe raise backlift a little, meaning the bat will come down quicker on the ball. If not, as Richie said, putting all of your body weight onto the front foot and really lean into the shot will help. As for placement, opening the face is really key.

[BucketHandsGreg]

No its just with the off side basically. I can get quite a lot of power with my shots on the legside though. I did think about raising my backlift a little more and I will try this, cheers guys. 

[Richie]

No probs greg, come back and  tell us how you got on.

[Sully]

Make sure your front leg is slightly bent as this will help with balance and hence power.

[Coach]

if you are moving ie transfering you CoM into the contact you will get more power into your shots so timing is critical Practice practice practice!

[nickroe92]

Plenty of tennis ball 'grooving' work in the winter months hit as many balls as you can
and make sure you dont 'check' the drive let your hands flow through it, this will help with the power issue 

[Master Blaster]

Weight transfer is important.

Make sure your bat has a good follow through whilst driving, ending up ideally near your shoulder....
on the other hand if you want to punch it through covers it is all practise & timing.

I love punching the ball through the covers... it looks good and makes the bowler look like a 6 year old pie chucker!

[dekaz]

timing is EVERYTHING

[christianpurchase99]

i find that when u go into bat and u hit them straight at a fielder
DONT say u keep hitting the fielder to yourself
look around and instead of counting the fielders count the gaps
trust me it does work

[Aswani Cricket]

If you're always hitting the fielders, take time to memorise where the fielders are, as you're taking guard, between balls, between overs. You'll find subconsciously that you'll remember where they are, and you'll start naturally guiding the ball between them.

Power, of course is another thing and so is timing.

[Apple]

i no that this is a old thread but i think that having big footwork makes ur shots more powerful, if u get rite out there all ur weight is forward and it will go for runs mate,
christian is rite aswell, be positive not negitive, tell ur self hit the gap, not feilders, its the same with bowl, say to urself bowl full and straight, not , dont bowl wide

[mdl_1979]

I don't entirely agree with you Apple. Good footwork is important but it doesn't necessarily need to be 'big'. Look at Marcus Trescothick. More important is a good transfer of weight - if you're over the ball and well-balanced you'll find it much easier to drive comfortably through the off side. I would place timing and balance as much more important than 'big footwork'.

[Apple]

well then also look at every australian criketer