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[AndrewS]

Not played in a good number of years but have had a few net sessions lately. Following a pretty awful first session, I'm happier that I am picking up line/length, getting in line and feet are moving ok most of the time (even though my shot selection is really limited at the moment) but I've noticed that from around 70mph and up my timing on shots isn't there - I'm late on everything.

I've been wondering if it was my backlift causing it (as I lift at point of release and there are no visual cues from bowling machine) or if my net bat might be too heavy for me (2'12) but I'm wondering if I'm overthinking it.

Is it just a case of practice, practice, practice to get the muscles moving faster, anyone have any tips or is it a case of buy a new bat... 

[Northern monkey]

2.12,s a big old heavy bat! Even if it picks up well
That's a lot of dead weight to move around

Could you not borrow a coupla lighter bats to try?
My match bats around the 2.11 mark, but my winter net bat is 2.9 just because the balls are a little quicker onto the bat indoors

[trypewriter]

'(as I lift at point of release and there are no visual cues from bowling machine)'

That's my feeling too. I reckon it adds 5-10mph in respect of taking it off my reaction time. (it's as good an excuse as anything). The plus point is that if you tough it out you do get into the groove and can deal with it - even if you can't play many shots. And if the 'feeder' then knocks 5mph off the speed it's like having geoff boycott's granny bowling at you - even if it's still a decent pace.

One crumb of comfort I do use to nourish my fragile ego is that I watched Gower in his pomp against the Aussies at Trent bridge, and with the binoculars on him it was clear that for the first two or three overs he wasn't really seeing it and was late on everything.
He went on to get a ton...

[Akewstick]

I'm no expert but my coach has mentioned in response to this - make your backlift higher. And don't think of it as a "lift" just literally hold your bat still with the toe pointed up higher than your waist as you wait for the ball.

My problem was at higher speeds I instinctively held my bat lower to protect my wicket, which obviously has the opposite effect but I just did it subconsciously, if you don't think this is something you do then peperhaps don't listen to me, I'm just repeating what worked in my instance.   

[AndrewS]

My standard bat is bordering on 2'9/2'10 - the net bat was at the top end of 2'10 on arrival but it's quite toe heavy so balanced it slightly with an additional grip which pushed the weight to the 2'12 mark. I'll try with my standard bat next week as this is the weight I've always used - could be just that I'm older now and need a featherweight bat!

Will try out the backlift suggestion next week too, open to anything. Might be rose tinted glasses but I can't remember the 70mph mark being this fast! 

[Northern monkey]

3 ounce is quite a bit of dead weight

Easy enough to take a lighter bat in the nets and see how that goes

[AndrewS]

Is it wrong that I want the bat weight to be the cause? Means my technique isn't as broken as I feared and I could need a new bat 

[Buzz]

urm 70 mph on a bowling machine is pretty fast, especially on an indoor/sports hall floor.

give yourself a chance. nothing to do with the bat. relax and get used to playing again. don't look for a problem that isn't there.

[AndrewS]

Thanks - I do have a habit of overanalysing things. I think I will flip to my match bat next week though for a bit of a test, if nothing else it might offer me a placebo effect.

I do notice the bola balls come off the surface rapidly, really throws me out.

[Northern monkey]

A bola bowl at 70mph !!
Knock it down to 65 and hit the ball

Unless your playing on county wickets, facing young six foot five bowlers,,setting the bowling machine much above 65 is achieving nothing,,other than frustrating and causing you to doubt your eye and technique etc.

65 is plenty quick enough

[The Palmist]

I have had five sessions with a qualified coach so far and not even once did he crank the speed more than 65mph. The only 70mph deliveries I faced was when he asked a bowler to bowl a few at me. Usually it is set to 59 - 62 mph.

I was actually using a lighter bat in nets but realised that my timing was slightly better with a little bottom heavy bat. Not too fussed about how high you hold it as long as you can maintain the shape which is the key thing in my opinion.

And once you do a few net sessions your eyes will adjust to visual or audible [auto feeder] cues. What you can't judge is the length and all balls are delivered from the same height.

[AndrewS]

Interesting - I did start slower and worked up to around 63-65 then hit a wall at 70 (although I have to admit I didn't persevere as it was the end of the session). Not at new club nets until next year so really not sure what speed to expect so thought if I worked at around 70 I'd be in decent shape. Looks like I overegged it!

As I said in my first post, I was wondering if I was overthinking and it looks like the answer is yes 

[The Palmist]

Interesting - I did start slower and worked up to around 63-65 then hit a wall at 70 (although I have to admit I didn't persevere as it was the end of the session). Not at new club nets until next year so really not sure what speed to expect so thought if I worked at around 70 I'd be in decent shape. Looks like I overegged it!

As I said in my first post, I was wondering if I was overthinking and it looks like the answer is yes 

If anything i think your real test of timing will be when facing slower deliveries. I find it a lot easier to hit the quicker deliveries than slightly slower ones. Stick with the same bat as you would use in a match.

[ProCricketer1982]

As a heavy booa user, taking out the training side and technical stuff... You'll find the faster the bowler you face in real life the easier it'll be.. The slower medium plodders wil be your un-doing so my advice is to train on 55 as much as 70+. The quick stuff this year I scored well off, even the few minor counties guys weren't too quick.. However those old guys bowling accurate plod were the hardest. Very weird but true, it does show that pace isn't always the best against amateurs.


Just my 2p

[InternalTraining]

^ Truth.