Print

[felix]

I'm wondering whether I ought to seek some coaching before the season comes upon us. Much as I'm tempted to get another bat, I know I'd be deluded if I thought it would really improve my game, and I'd probably be better off spending the money on some self-improvement.  At 50 I know I'm in the twilight of my "career". However with reference to the thread about when you reach your peak, I'm not conscious that my eye has gone all that much - mind you I've only ever played at a modest level and not overburdened with talent. I've got a decent defensive technique and able to concentrate in an innings well however my perennial problem has been that I get bogged down, especially against slow bowling, I don't have the weight of shot or timing to pierce the field often enough, nor the ability to manoeuvre the ball into gaps. Which is usually the point I get over tense and give it away. Some of it is a mental thing, and some of it sheer lack of talent, but sure there's some technical issues too.
So this leads me to a few questions...
If you were in my shoes, would you think some coaching sessions would help give my last few years a boost?  Have any of you having played for along time at a similarly modest level, had experience of proper coaching having real results?
Finally, I've seen the coaches database here, but do any of you have any recommendations of good coaches in the S London / Surrey area who might help someone like me?
I look forward to your thoughts!

[Buzz]

hi Filex, what club do you play for? there are a number if Surrey based players on here.

the coaching would help no question.

no one is ever too old to learn and sometimes a little tinker can help give you confidence at the crease, which will lead to runs.

plus having a good coaching session is fun! I can recommend a few Surrey based coaches if you want.

[Seniorplayer]

When I first read this post I thought you were describing me
I also think that there could be a confidence issue because even with batting limited ability you can still contribute as batting is not always about scoring boundary's. I have a coaching Diploma but
I would 'nt advise spending money on coaching just yet instead work out what you can  do if possible  practice in the nets and build your batting around your limitations  work out what works for you and stick with it think about  your position in the batting order were are you best suited with a decent defence and the ability to leave the ball maybe open the batting see off the new ball pick up runs from defensive shots of the quicks at the start of the innings.
Also opening the batting by the time a slow bowler gets to turn his arm you will be seeing the ball and moving your feet and confident
With regard to shots you struggle play don't play them make the bowlers get you out.
The longer you stay at the crease the runs will come.

[felix]

hi Filex, what club do you play for? there are a number if Surrey based players on here.

the coaching would help no question.

no one is ever too old to learn and sometimes a little tinker can help give you confidence at the crease, which will lead to runs.

plus having a good coaching session is fun! I can recommend a few Surrey based coaches if you want.

I'll be looking for a new club next season - long story - but putting that to one side i was imagining a few one-on-one sessions so guess any club affiliation isn't that important.... I'd like to hear your recommendations!

[felix]

When I first read this post I thought you were describing me
I also think that there could be a confidence issue because even with batting limited ability you can still contribute as batting is not always about scoring boundary's. I have a coaching Diploma but
I would 'nt advise spending money on coaching just yet instead work out what you can  do if possible  practice in the nets and build your batting around your limitations  work out what works for you and stick with it think about  your position in the batting order were are you best suited with a decent defence and the ability to leave the ball maybe open the batting see off the new ball pick up runs from defensive shots of the quicks at the start of the innings.
Also opening the batting by the time a slow bowler gets to turn his arm you will be seeing the ball and moving your feet and confident
With regard to shots you struggle play don't play them make the bowlers get you out.
The longer you stay at the crease the runs will come.

What you say sounds great in theory however just practising what I know in the nets doesn't seem to help. I usually open but even if I'm lucky enough to get a decent start against the seamers i tend to get stuck as soon as the spinners or dibbly-dobblies come on, so the old adage "The longer you stay at the crease the runs will come" doesn't seem to apply to me.  And quite often sides open with spinners anyway, my worst nightmare.

[Seniorplayer]

What you say sounds great in theory however just practising what I know in the nets doesn't seem to help. I usually open but even if I'm lucky enough to get a decent start against the seamers i tend to get stuck as soon as the spinners or dibbly-dobblies come on, so the old adage "The longer you stay at the crease the runs will come" doesn't seem to apply to me.  And quite often sides open with spinners anyway, my worst nightmare.

With regard to getting stuck particualy against spinners  try and establish what  scoring shots you can play into areas where there are gaps.
Gain self belief and back yourself.

[felix]

With regard to getting stuck particualy against spinners  try and establish what  scoring shots you can play into areas where there are gaps.
Gain self belief and back yourself.

Wise words which i tell myself every week, unfortunately they don't often work  i simply don't have much self belief in that aspect of my game because I've never found a plan that consistently works. The problem seems to be in the execution, not the theory.

[Gurujames]

it sounds like you don't need coaching for your technique, more a mental coach (I'm not saying you are a nut job) just someone to tell you to not worry about getting out but encourage you to play shots. Remember sometimes you may get out, sometimes it will come off. Teammates support players who are trying to make something happen even if it doesn't go to plan. So, back yourself and if the first few shots come off you will gain in confidence and the bowler will seam (sic) to bowl worse and worse.

[Lumsden]

Maybe it's not all you but down to the sides you have been playing in? If everyone else is failing with the bat then you feel under more pressure. I only had 2 decent innings in the summer which was when I batted at No.7, both times I was going in with the score around 80 and not something like 25 for 5 wickets (which was about standard for my team most weeks regardless of where I featured in the batting line-up). Mind you the laughable thing about the latter of those 2 innings was that I was "guesting" for another club that Saturday and they considered 80-5 as a disaster where as I looked at it as something of a triumph to be in a team that had scored 80 with 5 wickets still standing.

[felix]

Maybe it's not all you but down to the sides you have been playing in? If everyone else is failing with the bat then you feel under more pressure. I only had 2 decent innings in the summer which was when I batted at No.7, both times I was going in with the score around 80 and not something like 25 for 5 wickets (which was about standard for my team most weeks regardless of where I featured in the batting line-up). Mind you the laughable thing about the latter of those 2 innings was that I was "guesting" for another club that Saturday and they considered 80-5 as a disaster where as I looked at it as something of a triumph to be in a team that had scored 80 with 5 wickets still standing.

Intersting comment but I do think it's all me. In fact for me if anything it's the opposite. If the batting collapses around me I actually relax a little more because I know I've just got to play to my strengths and not worry so much if I'm not hitting it off the square, then I'm in my element. The trouble is when in a more usual scenario I know we have to accelerate after the 1st 20 overs with wickets in hand and the bowling fairly friendly/defensive. Most decent batsmen can do that, but I'm hopeless at it.  The upshot of this is that last season i was hardly ever out in single figures, but made lots of slow (steady if you're being charitable) 20s and 30s, and never passed 50.

[Buzz]

sounds like you need a new bat !!!

failing that learning to work the ball and get off strike could be the first place to start then working on a shot which will get you a boundary, probably a pull.

[trypewriter]

Intersting comment but I do think it's all me. In fact for me if anything it's the opposite. If the batting collapses around me I actually relax a little more because I know I've just got to play to my strengths and not worry so much if I'm not hitting it off the square, then I'm in my element. The trouble is when in a more usual scenario I know we have to accelerate after the 1st 20 overs with wickets in hand and the bowling fairly friendly/defensive. Most decent batsmen can do that, but I'm hopeless at it.  The upshot of this is that last season i was hardly ever out in single figures, but made lots of slow (steady if you're being charitable) 20s and 30s, and never passed 50.

To be honest most teams would like a guy like yourself to provide some stability - what you don't want are wickets tumbling at both ends. Maybe give it a couple of overs to make sure your other batsman is well set mid innings then try to accelerate. Yes some attacking shots will get you out, but they will also get you runs, and believe me, you WILL get a game where you get the bit of luck that you need and you WILL post a score - I've seen it happen.

[felix]

sounds like you need a new bat !!!

LOL I got a new Aldred last season cos I thought my old GN was dead, then I lent it to a teammate in the nets who sincerely complimented me on what a nice bat it was, suggests there was something wrong with the user all along!

[felix]

To be honest most teams would like a guy like yourself to provide some stability - what you don't want are wickets tumbling at both ends. Maybe give it a couple of overs to make sure your other batsman is well set mid innings then try to accelerate. Yes some attacking shots will get you out, but they will also get you runs, and believe me, you WILL get a game where you get the bit of luck that you need and you WILL post a score - I've seen it happen.

Wish you were right but I've tried it far too often, for years, to kid myself that II'm just unlucky. A nice microcosm of the problem was in a T20 game last season - nightmare format for me but it still illustrates the point. We were only  chasing about 130 on an absolute belter.  We were on course for the 1st 10 because my partner was smashing it around so it didn't matter I was using up a few dots. But he got out and the responsibility naturally fell on me to take the lead.  My attempts to accelerate against an assortment of pie chuckers were totally embarrassing, as we started to fall behind the rate, so much that I ended wanting to get out but failed to do so. I ended up using up most of the overs for a boundaryless 30-odd which, despite some polite comments from some of my teammates, i knew lost us the game.

[Seniorplayer]

Felix reading the posts on here there's already some good points Guru James its a mental thing Buzzes suggestion and Typewriters providing stability to your team.
However with you having the ability to score 20s and 30s with the right mindset there is no reason why you cannot push on as you have already done the hard work so for me as a Sports psychology  coach the  problem is a mental thing.
As for the T20match and pie chuckers  just forget it as it is easy to fail when you put yourself under pressure.
Also you could  as your innings progresses pick your bat up higher and increase your bat speed and if possible take the pressure off yourself by  batting with a stroke maker and don't forget batting  is about partnerships.
Good luck.