Print

[Buzz]

I always thought the key for off-spin bowling is for the arm to be quite quick and for the ball to almost "pop" out with lots of revs to create drift and dip but to actaully be slower than the arm. 50 Mph is fine and not hard to achieve. Giving the ball a big rip is what you should be concentrating on in my view.

[WalkingWicket37]

I always thought the key for off-spin bowling is for the arm to be quite quick and for the ball to almost "pop" out with lots of revs to create drift and dip but to actaully be slower than the arm. 50 Mph is fine and not hard to achieve. Giving the ball a big rip is what you should be concentrating on in my view.

And you don't actually need to turn many, get one to go square early in the spell and the straight on ball causes havoc! Non turning off spin is lethal 

[mussaduq]

Thanks guys for the help. I am working on those exercises and  I hope my speed increases a bit !

[lethalshrapnel]

I always thought the key for off-spin bowling is for the arm to be quite quick and for the ball to almost "pop" out with lots of revs to create drift and dip but to actaully be slower than the arm. 50 Mph is fine and not hard to achieve. Giving the ball a big rip is what you should be concentrating on in my view.

Exactly.

What happens when you try and bowl faster, Mussaduq? Do you lose control? Unless your arms are the size of bat handles you really don't need to be working out to bowl 50 mph. Not that I'm telling you to stop. Working out will take your game to the next level in many different ways. But as far bowling spin is concerned its all about rhythm. When my rhythm is (No Swearing Please) I end up bowl up crappy full tosses and quick short darts that don't do a whole lot. But when I'm in good rhythm, I'm whipping my arm across my body and focussing solely on WORKING those fingers. Like Buzz said, the ball comes out a whole lot slower than my arm speed, it's got a great loop to it and rips off the pitch. Think of it as a symphony between your arm, wrist and fingers. The problem with quick arm speed is it vastly reduces the time frame within which your fingers need to impart the spin. The best advice I can give is to keep an old ball handy and keep spinning it up into the air a lot. Like, a whole lot. Your fingers need to get stronger, faster and more nimble. Finger strengthing and mobility work might help as well but I'm no expert on that.

I'm trying to improve my pivoting when I practice these days. Someone pointed to me that I barely pivot, almost as an afterthought.  But whenever I do pivot it royally (No Swearing Please) up my bowling.

[Jagminder]

You will bowl quicker as you get stronger. This normally comes with age (as a young kid of 14 I bowled proper loopy SLA stuff, now I'm 22 and a bit stronger I bowl a bit quicker as a result. for spinners, I'd suggest squats, chin ups, bench press, deadlifts, and then additionally anything that targets the shoulders. Don't try and force yourself to bowl quicker, as you will lose your shape/drift/dip/spin/etc...

Here must add - conditioning and strengthening of the shoulders rather than the shape and size of it - if the shoulder is too bulked up it will hinder the rotation of it - perfect example of "muscle tension and flexibility" balance.
Bet'n I do shoulders twice a week.

Jag.


 

[lethalshrapnel]

A great way to increase shoulder strength and mobility is to get a jumping rope. Has the added bonus of making your feet quicker too. Old school but works. Normal and backwards roatations. And one legged jumps to improve your leg strength.

[Tumo]

Here must add - conditioning and strengthening of the shoulders rather than the shape and size of it - if the shoulder is too bulked up it will hinder the rotation of it - perfect example of "muscle tension and flexibility" balance.
Bet'n I do shoulders twice a week.

Jag.

Yep agreed on that Jag, some of the people at the gym with massive lats/traps/delts would not get the rotation necessary to bowl. Working on shoulder rotations would help. Also I've seen Steffan Jones (the former Somerset pro and now cricket/sport fitness coach) getting his clients to bowl with heavier cricket balls, that sort of thing would help, as it would build up the strength whilst not losing freedom of rotation. Anything similar (mimicking the bowling action with something heavier) would work as well I reckon.

[lethalshrapnel]

Medicine balls?

[acko109]

as a new spin bowler id say its how you get through the crease with regards to pace... you can get a smooth action and still fire the ball out at a decent pace.. just make sure you get a good rotation

[mussaduq]

Exactly.
Yes, whenever I try to bowl fast I bowl wides or tend to bowl it very short.
does the skipping rope thing work to strengthen shoulders ? Does that help to bowl more quick ?
What happens when you try and bowl faster, Mussaduq? Do you lose control? Unless your arms are the size of bat handles you really don't need to be working out to bowl 50 mph. Not that I'm telling you to stop. Working out will take your game to the next level in many different ways. But as far bowling spin is concerned its all about rhythm. When my rhythm is (No Swearing Please) I end up bowl up crappy full tosses and quick short darts that don't do a whole lot. But when I'm in good rhythm, I'm whipping my arm across my body and focussing solely on WORKING those fingers. Like Buzz said, the ball comes out a whole lot slower than my arm speed, it's got a great loop to it and rips off the pitch. Think of it as a symphony between your arm, wrist and fingers. The problem with quick arm speed is it vastly reduces the time frame within which your fingers need to impart the spin. The best advice I can give is to keep an old ball handy and keep spinning it up into the air a lot. Like, a whole lot. Your fingers need to get stronger, faster and more nimble. Finger strengthing and mobility work might help as well but I'm no expert on that.

I'm trying to improve my pivoting when I practice these days. Someone pointed to me that I barely pivot, almost as an afterthought.  But whenever I do pivot it royally (No Swearing Please) up my bowling.