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[Spanky]

To many people it just looks like rubbing the ball on your groin but do you guys have any advice or tips on how to shine the ball and give it the best chance to swing (other than underhand tactics)?

[Red Ink Cricket]

mints or sweets in the pocket. bit of sugar in the saliva helps. not underhand lol.

also keep the mositure off the ball from sweaty palms etc. i cant remember who but im sure a pro somewhere mentioned he only tried to grip it via the seam so not to mess the shiney or rough side up. maybe collingwood?

[Pitbull]

I was told by a coach from Leicestershire to shine closer to the seam of the ball as its more important. Rub the part you want to shine with your thumb until its hot then shine it on your trousers, best way to do it I find.

[tushar sehgal]

Don't apply sweat or spit to the ball when shining...great Mr. Wasim Akram stated that it helps better swing the ball for longer..

[uknsaunders]

get the rough side as rough as possible. Throwing in on the bounce, bowling cross seamers helps. The rougher the ball becomes the more air flow it will disturb. Little point shining a ball when the rough side is equally smooth.

[FvanN]

I agree with everything that has been said.

One thing that I do hate is a spinner who roughs the ball up knowing that you have to come back to finish the innings off. Right pain in the butt

[Spanky]

So how are you guys trying to shine the ball? Spit and rub? Or just rubbing?

[Pitbull]

I just rub to cause the friction and heat up the part you want to shine, try not to let sweat get on it. Seems to work for me anyway an I suggest telling no one else to shine the ball while you're bowling, someone generally does something wrong

[Bulldog Cricket]

I have always used and been told to use saliva and sweat on one side to shine a ball. I thought that keeping the ball dry was for reverse swing when the ball gets old ?

[tushar sehgal]

I just rub to cause the friction and heat up the part you want to shine, try not to let sweat get on it. Seems to work for me anyway an I suggest telling no one else to shine the ball while you're bowling, someone generally does something wrong

Agreed, we usually have 1 designated shiner in our team, he is only one who is allowed shining the ball other than bowlers...

[tushar sehgal]

I have always used and been told to use saliva and sweat on one side to shine a ball. I thought that keeping the ball dry was for reverse swing when the ball gets old ?

I find sweat/saliva is good when the ball is brand new and has some dirt etc on it but as the lacquer/shine start to wear off the little then absolutely no moisture as it starts soaking into the leather and seam,,, dry ball will stay harder longer and will swing more,,,then will reverse as well..

[Bulldog Cricket]

I guess the quality of the ball makes quite a difference as well.

[Talisman]

England use Cook as his hands don't sweat. The idea for them is to shine one side from the start, this will help the ball swing with conventional methods, then the other side is allowed to rough up as the ball ages, this roughness gives the reverse swing. As for swinging use sweat, the acid in it breaks down the tallow in the leather and firms up the surface allowing it to shine and stay smoother.

[tushar sehgal]

I guess the quality of the ball makes quite a difference as well.

absolutely...i find balls with wider seam like kooka will swing a lot more indoors (Nets) where are once with tighter seam like SG or asians swing more outdoors...

2 piece will swing more than 4 piece

[Bulldog Cricket]

Yep found that some balls swung straight from new others took a whole to get going. Even ball from the same batch can be different. Lots of factors involved but most importantly the bowlers wrist position and action. I could only ever bowl in swing with a chest on action. Cant swing the ball away. If you can do both you are in business.