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[Cover_Drive]

For balance/getting feet to pitch of the ball, I do this.

Stand in your batting stance as if you are waiting for a bowler to bowl. Get someone else to drop the ball while standing next to you (at a distance) and wait for the ball to bounce once, then drive. This will help you as you will get your foot to the pitch of the ball, which will mean you are not reaching and will help your balance.

Got it! When I'm alone at home what I do is tuck the ball under my chin and move my head forward drop the ball and after a bounce play the stroke off front foot, hope that made some sense :S

[Cover_Drive]

Hi Cover Drive.
I agree with most of what has been said but i think there might be an easier solution to some of the issues.
1.You are trying to hit balls that are wide of off stump through c0ver/extra cover instead of square of the wicket. if you hit these wider balls squarer you will be forced to wait longer and play the ball later solving your problem of playing inside out. Trying to watch where the ball bounces and pointing this out really makes playing late much easier.
2.It seems as if you are falling over to the off side before the ball has been delivered and therefore your back leg is struggling to stay still when driving. i would agree with Buzz that you need to be still at delivery but it seems as if you do have a bit of a forward press and i would then rather suggest that you do this a lot earlier before delivery in order to be in a more balanced state when playing the ball.
You have good hands and wrists and therefore use them!   I hope this helps, there is no reason to change your technique or do things that are uncomfortable for you. at the end of the day you have to feel natural and relaxed at the crease and identify your scoring areas off certain deliveries.

Hi Cys1,

Hope you're well mate!

1. Sounds very good advice indeed. Thanks for this I will work on that as well.

2. With real bowler my shuffle is that the bowler is about ot deliever the ball and his arm is high in the air I move my back leg across to middle stump and then when the ball itches I try to get my front foot in pitch of the ball and then play from there. Is that okay or I should cut the shuffle all together ?

Thanks a lot mate! I appreciate it!

[Canners]

trigger movements are to get you into a good position

i wouldnt recommend them myself, they got me into alot of trouble last season

[Cys1]

I'm well thanks mate!
that's still a bit too late mate. you need to be done with your shuffle/trigger before the bowler reaches his delivery stride. this will allow your head to be still and prevent you from falling over to the off side during the release of the delivery. triggers are meant to allign yourself better with the delivery. it therefore means that doing it earlier will give you that result but without causing other problems. once the trigger is done you can then shift your weight onto the front foot facing straight down the wicket, this will allow you to lead with the head rather than the hands. getting onto the back foot won't be an issue because you can push off the front foot to get back a lot quicker than simply trying to move your back leg. try it, you'll feel it!!

[Cover_Drive]

Cheers mate, I have nets tomorrow and I will implement whatever is said above.

I will shuffle before the bowler gets in his delivery stride

Thanks!

[alexrickyponting]

Surely your "shuffle" is a trigger movement no? If this is causing you balance problems then a trigger will too.
As Canners said (words originally from Buzz I believe ) a trigger is to get you in position to play a shot so there doesn't appear to be a need for one here.

[Canners]

Buzz may have mentioned it before

[alexrickyponting]

It crops up a fair bit in Buzz's Batting Bible, very jealous of your one-to-one sessions I am aha

[Cys1]

Surely your "shuffle" is a trigger movement no? If this is causing you balance problems then a trigger will too.
As Canners said (words originally from Buzz I believe ) a trigger is to get you in position to play a shot so there doesn't appear to be a need for one here.

You guys are both correct! Most of the time a trigger is not needed.
one crucial part of coaching however is to first work with what exists and perhaps tweek this a bit before changing an existing set up which could prove a lot more disruptive, especially just before or during a season. think about this from a players point of view and i'm sure you'll appreciate how difficult it is to embrace something completely new compared to something you are familiar with.
I am by no means saying that the trigger is the best way but it might be an easier and more comfortable first attempt at a solution to Cover Drive's predicament.

[Kulli]

A new bat would probably make the difference.

[rp27]

i'm now even more baffled as to why you spend so much on bats

[alexrickyponting]

But surely a trigger isn't changing anything at all it's just giving the "shuffle" a different name!
I understand it from CD's perspective, there's a video of me in the youtube thread with an open stance and a trigger where i basically take a step down the pitch.
I then closed off my stance a bit and have nearly got rid of the trigger and for the first net it felt really weird not doing the trigger but only for one net then it was pretty much normal

[Burdy]

Try to get the person feeding the machine to keep the ball in a constant spot. You still need to move your feet and watch the ball.
That is one of the better bowling machine net i have seen in a while though. Didn't have a wally feeding the balls and changing every delivery.

Always love the old school shouts of ''Shabash!!''

[jonpinson]

That is one of the better bowling machine net i have seen in a while though. Didn't have a wally feeding the balls and changing every delivery.

What, like the wallys who bowl variations at you in matches?

Predictable balls in the nets are fine for ironing out an aspect of a particular shot, but if all you ever face is off stump half volleys, you may as well not bother. If there is no variation, how on earth can you prepare for a match?

CD, in the nicest possible way; less money on bats, more money on coaching.

[kookaburraking]

i'm now even more baffled as to why you spend so much on bats

im with you on this mate