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[tbarnfield99]

Best bit of advice is just to watch the ball. I know it sounds simple but it works. I watch it in the bowlers hand all the way through their run up and then follow it from the hand to my bat. Makes the game simple! Also just keep the ball on the ground, eliminates another way of getting out!

Now go and score a ton!

[cricketbadger]

ive tried 80 and even 90 or turning it down to 70 but im fine in the nets but not in the match.

I heard from someone that Ricky Ponting claimed you should never use a bowling machine above 65mph? am i correct? has he said this?

[Bruce]

I heard from someone that Ricky Ponting claimed you should never use a bowling machine above 65mph? am i correct? has he said this?

Possibly, But he has (had) the luxury of facing quicks in team net sessions.

[trypewriter]

I don't know much about bowling machines, and I'm also certain that my basic technique is nowhere as sound as yours. But how about setting the machine up not to fire at the stumps but down Boycott's corridor of uncertainty? Initially only play to leave the ball, but get your feet moving as if you are going to play it. It might give you the pace of deliveries and the time to watch the ball without the danger of being castled. When you feel confident of the pace, sighting etc. then bring the bat into play?

[M77]

Whilst its great to say you face the machine at 80 plus mph it doesn't do you many favours.

Yes, you can groove a shot and increase the pace to the point where it becomes muscle memory but the real hard work comes from facing slower deliveries. You need a good head behing the machine also that understands what needs to be worked on.

Waiting for the ball is the hard part as im sure you have a decent array of shots but if you want to use the bowling machine as a tool to improve rather than an excuse to hit a ball being fired onto a bat then start at 60mph and then drop it down to say 45mph and work on the same shots. Have patience and the cliched play every ball on its merits come to mind... but its true and you'll gain a lot more playing shots at lower speeds as im sure that not everyone in your league is clocking 70plus!

I'm not sure about the Ricky Ponting statement but i do know that some of the Surrey lads didn't put the machine above 75mph and would train on shots often a lot lower than that.

As for your form, take a little heart in the saying form is temporary class is permanent. A lot of batsmen this year have suffered yet i have noticed its the more patient often older players that have carried the innings for the rest of my team as an example. Give yourself a chance as most of the issues will be down to confidence and feeling you are out before you are even faced a ball.

Just approach your next net session like the start of an innings and train the way you would like to play.

If you have the bowling machine to hand, set off in 5 over bursts at say 55mph with gentle away swing. Just watch the ball, even repeat it out loud if it helps keep things simple. Dont try and take the cover off it as you are only 5 overs into your game just protect your wicket and if a bad delivery goes down with any width... wait for it to come into YOUR area and drive the ball along the ground.

Continue working in 5 overs bursts and replicate what you may face at a weekend, even if that means dropping some 35mph looping moon balls 30 overs in. But be patient, give yourself a chance and try to just build confidence by protecting those stumps behind you and playing the least risky shot... you cannot get caught hitting along the floor!

I'm sure you'd take a score of 40 odd with boring shots right now but it would give you the base to know that you are capable of old for you just need to give yourself the time and a chance to do it again.

Apologies for the waffle but i hope any of that may help.

See ball, hit ball...fly 

[GarrettJ]

Here's how i see it.

USe the bowling machine to practice specific shots only. You can not see the bowler runnign in, you can not see his front shoulder dip early (short ball) you can not see various other things apart froma black hole, hear a "clunk" and then a ball is catapulted at you. I beleive 75mph on a bowling machine is liek 80mph + because your reaction times are all to pot.

The best thing to do is practice certain shots on 65mph with perfect technique.

One big issue i find with club palyers is they love to keep their back leg square on for most shots. Open up your back foot, get your head to the pitch and play with a straight bat.

No extravagent cover drives or anyhting like that, practicve playing in the v, and then move onto the backfoot.

If you want to use the bowling machine at 85mph only do it for short bowling and get used to those tricky ones int othe arm pit and resisting the urge to hook everything. Practice getting in a good positiion so you can leave it or hit it with control.

After that get a sidearm and get someone to sling it at you.

then try to face some bowlers last up before you go home.

[Bulldog Cricket]

65mph is plenty fast enough for practice against the bowling machine.

Nick - you just need to relax mate. You are putting far to much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy it, relax, watch the ball and don't over complicate it. I'm sure runs are not far away.

[ProCricketer1982]

I've got my own machine and spend about 4 hours a week on it. I do do a few bags of balls at high speeds just purely to keep used to that sort of pace BUT... to be honest apart from that I tend to go no faster than 60-65mph. As someone said earlier because of the reaction time it's like facing a bowler about 7mph faster anyway so there is no point.

If you are struggling just set it on 55 and play some simple shots.. maybe full balls and just rock forward and block.. Progress to pushing it.. then driving etc etc. Get the feet going and watch the ball all the way from the machine to the bat. Sack off the fancy shots, sack off the big shots. Go back to basics and simple defend your wicket. Train all your shots on that speed and then when you are comfy up the speed by a few mphs till your back around 60-65.

Confidence fella, that is something the machine helps with (as well as technique). Just sack off the stupid speed bowling, it's completely pointless and purely a manhood measuring game people seem to play.

So.. follow this and you'll be confident in no time.

1) Set up the machine on 55mph and full on off stump. Sack off the swing for now.
2) set up on your normal stump and just just rock forward and defend each ball.
3) As you get comfy just progress to pushing it (in the V) and then start driving it (in the V). Nothing else, don't start trying to lamp it, don't start opening the bat.. just nice and easy.

[Bruce]

Can you get a video up Nick?

[Nickauger]

Of what mate? Me against the bowling machine? Since I threw my toys out the pram, I have gone seriously back to basics and am feeling really good at the moment. Mostly thanks to the guys on here, just getting into line better and playing the ball under my nose.

[Colesy]

It isn't always necessarily technique though, when people go through a bad patch the first they they go to is their technique when it could just be a lack of confidence. If you get out in one particular manner then possible technique is the issue, but just back yourself and things may turn around.

Just a thought

[Nickauger]

You're bang on Joe, confidence was 80% of it, I just think my technique wasn't up to getting me out of that slump! Now I've made a few changes to my technique, I think I'm in a better place technically and confidence is through the roof!

[Colesy]

Well for example a few times I got bowled off my pads last year so just played more through wide mid-on, if I got out cheap due to an unusual dismissal then fair enough, next game is the next game. You can get 100 then 0 as easily as 0 then 100.

[Howzat]

80mph off 19 yards?? So effectively 92mph... what were you hoping to achieve facing 92mph?

[Nickauger]

Now now Leo, be nice!