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[jimster]

I need help when ducking the short ball, i have good reactions and a quick reaction time but i can never seem to duck a short ball, i either stand and get hit or try and get over the ball and sometimes hit it up for an easy catch to short leg or something, any help or training i could do to get used to ducking ?

[Vitas Cricket]

Don't duck most of them, weave either side and let it go past.

A session on the bowling machine (possibly without a bat) will be a big help.

[LDifa]

If you are quick and have a good eye, there isn't any need to duck, I find that it is difficult to control where the bat goes (I.e. periscope). Dodging is my way of avoidance and at the last moment, once I am sure I am not going to try and hit it, during the indoor nets one of the quicks clipped the edge of the mat and I watched it fly past my grill ! It was a bit like the matrix, because I never stopped looking at the ball I knew where it was.

There have been previous posts on this, get someone to throw down fast tennis balls at you but do it in full kit.


Maybe a need of another post, but how many people are prepared to watch the ball hit their grill and try and ride it like a boxer would a punch?
The reason I ask is if you naturally lift your head up to dodge, you open up your jaw to the rising ball, if you rotate your head, yes it will hurt but it is more of a glancing impact and on the grill not your face?

[Manormanic]

NEVER duck. 

Seriously.  To duck you have to take your entire body past the path of the ball.

Much better to move your upper body one way or another at the last moment, having kept your eyes on it.

[tim2000s]

The other reason not to duck is that you have I take your eyes off the ball. If you dodge you see it all the way. How many people have you seen hit by a short one because it hasn't got up as high as anticipated?

[potzy248]

Never duck is a big call.
Plenty of international players duck.
What ever suits the player.

I use tennis balls. A team mate kneels about 5 meters away and under arms balls straight at my head/near my upper body at a descent pace. Works pretty well.

[Blazer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW9MT0a5K0A .Top tips from one of the better players of the hook shot .Choosing the right ball to pull / hook is the most important thing. I would think of taking it on as the first option and ducking as a last minute decision which makes you watch the ball closer. Trust your instinct and you will be surprised at how fast your body can move.

[GarrettJ]

Get someone to blast tennis balls at you using a tennis racquet, ideally a tennis player with a handy serve.

I'm sure if you went to your local tennis club kitted out in your full gear a be ask if anyone wanted to try to hit you in the head there would be a long line of takers!

For reactions get someone to underarm the ball at your face and you sway your head away.

The key to short balls into the throat is to always look at the ball and trust your reactions to get you out of the way.

[fasteddie]

I don't subscribe to the 'never duck' theory.

I'm no purist but I've always ducked and only got hit this past winter nets session.
It's down to necessity as I've got the flexibility of a scaffold pole.

You can duck and keep looking forward, that way yo know where the ball is. That's what I do.

Still, it's down to preference.

[Buzz]

Get someone to blast tennis balls at you using a tennis racquet, ideally a tennis player with a handy serve.

I'm sure if you went to your local tennis club kitted out in your full gear a be ask if anyone wanted to try to hit you in the head there would be a long line of takers!

For reactions get someone to underarm the ball at your face and you sway your head away.

The key to short balls into the throat is to always look at the ball and trust your reactions to get you out of the way.

Never duck is a big call.
Plenty of international players duck.
What ever suits the player.

I use tennis balls. A team mate kneels about 5 meters away and under arms balls straight at my head/near my upper body at a descent pace. Works pretty well.

this is what I would suggest
followed up with a bowling machine session

[morgzy10]

why dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge?
Youve got a piece of willow in your hands! use that.  dont practise moving out the way, shows fear to the bowler
instead practise your hook shots!

[Chad]

I saw this in a video once, where someone was kneeling a few steps in front of the batsman in a net with tennis balls, and would feed them at the batsman's head. The batsman would then alternate between ducking and weaving out of the way, while keeping his eye on the ball. Perhaps you could try this.

why dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge?
Youve got a piece of willow in your hands! use that.  dont practise moving out the way, shows fear to the bowler
instead practise your hook shots!

This is true to some extent, but it's all dependent on the situation. It's much better to have the option of leaving the ball rather than trying to hit everything!

[joeylough]

why dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge?
Youve got a piece of willow in your hands! use that.  dont practise moving out the way, shows fear to the bowler
instead practise your hook shots!

Get a bag of wrenches, if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball

[morgzy10]

thats a new plan! throw wrenches at people that cant play a short ball!!

[jimster]

Thanks for the advice guys, and sorry thats what i really meant, just kind of leaning out of the path of the ball