Print

Bat raised, feet comfortably apart

33 (63.5%)

Bat raised, feet wide apart

1 (1.9%)

Bat behind feet, feet comfortably apart

10 (19.2%)

Bat behind feet, feet wide apart

0 (0%)

Bat between feet, comfortably apart

7 (13.5%)

Bat between feet, feet wide apart

1 (1.9%)

Other

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 52

[uknsaunders]

I have been trying to get out of some bad habits with my batting and read with interest Ed Cowan's article on changing back to his original stance. It did get me thinking about the benefits and drawbacks of different stances. He's a poll to see what people do and discuss why it works!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/816003.html

[jamferg]

I have been trying to get out of some bad habits with my batting and read with interest Ed Cowan's article on changing back to his original stance. It did get me thinking about the benefits and drawbacks of different stances. He's a poll to see what people do and discuss why it works!

I read the same article and have decided to revert to bat on the floor behind my feet as I used to bat when younger. Looking back at all my big scores they were all made batting like this. 50 yrs old .. who says you can't teach an old dog some old tricks 

[ppccopener]

two weeks of nets i'm now going back first and across a bit just like I did about 15 years ago and it's working perfectly.
It's amazing how the mind gets confused with technique
it only took 2 week for it to come back naturally. I read the article and that's what prompted winding the clock back.

[horseman]

Being left handed I find its all about my front shoulder. If I close off to much I miss out on balls on leg or something closer to middle. I try to open up and make sure I stay as side on as possible, hitting through mid on and straight.

[Buzz]

one person's comfortably is not the same as another - you may want to have the feet  position as shoulder width, together and wider than shoulderwidth apart as your suggestion

personally I have a relaxed stance, feet shoulder width apart with a few taps then bat raised. As natural as possible. I like not to think about it.

[AdClem]

I read the same article and have decided to revert to bat on the floor behind my feet as I used to bat when younger. Looking back at all my big scores they were all made batting like this. 50 yrs old .. who says you can't teach an old dog some old tricks 

I'm also getting on a bit, and remember what an 'orthodox style' used to mean.  Side on, bat down, feet closer together.  Think Boycott and Bradman; OK, I'm not that old.

I read the article too, and watched this compilation of Mark Waugh [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuwKVnLDfPk ] for inspiration.  I thought I'd give it a go, but this is what I discovered.  My more open stance allows me to face forwards more comfortably, with less strain on my neck.  Also, I now grip low with my bottom hand (ooh matron) so that tapping the ground requires me to bend my knees so much that I feel I'm crouching.  I understand how the tapping can aid rhythm and timing (you can see it in the Waugh video) so I'm trying for a mid-air tap; if you see what I mean.

But as Buzz suggests, there is a danger of thinking about it too much.

[SOULMAN1012]

I have struggled for the last year or so with this. I got so worked up in 2013 season when I has a lot of LBW I changed everything. Gone back to middle stump guard and wide stance with bat I between and most importantly no trigger movement as this was causing me to lose balance and call over when playing a shot

[Stuey]

I've experimented over the years, but always found having my feet a comfortable gap apart (not too wide) and bat subconsciously tapping on the ground behind my foot, allows me to concentrate on the ball, I naturally raise my bat in expectation of the ball arriving and time the ball much better. For me, consciously raising the bat waiting for the ball or trigger movements mess with my timing.

[uknsaunders]

I've experimented over the years, but always found having my feet a comfortable gap apart (not too wide) and bat subconsciously tapping on the ground behind my foot, allows me to concentrate on the ball, I naturally raise my bat in expectation of the ball arriving and time the ball much better. For me, consciously raising the bat waiting for the ball or trigger movements mess with my timing.

It's one of the things I am thinking about. I've noticed from my nets videos that my backlift changes significantly. Sometimes I have a double lift, other times it's down and through. At the Vitas Cricket Event I was coming across the line of the ball as a consequence. When my I made an effort to play straighter I felt my backlift lower and I seemed to time the ball better.

[jamferg]

I also found that I was not bending from the hips but crouching with a stooped back so my eyes weren't level. This is what Im going to work on in the nets

[Maverick79]

I've done a lot of work over the past season on my stance and body position in particular. I used to have quite an open stance but the end result was that the arc of my bat would be away from the body and the swing path would be out to in. This meant I was coming across the ball or dragging the ball from outside off to the leg side.

My stance now is much more side on, still slightly open but not as much as it used to be. The biggest change is keeping my hands in towards my waist and having my body and hands position much 'tighter' at delivery. I also changed my backlift so that the face of my bat was much more open - pointing more to point which also led to a much straighter bat path

[Stuey]

I also found that I was not bending from the hips but crouching with a stooped back so my eyes weren't level. This is what Im going to work on in the nets

Almost sit in to your stance. Feel balanced on your feet in your stance (not on your heels), then hinge at your hips, eyes level looking over your front shoulder.  To get an idea if you are hinging at your hips, stand upright and and chop your  hands into your hip flexors (front of hips), your hips will hinge, your backside will go back and your back should arch to some degree (inwards) not bend, head remaining looking ahead. This is what you are looking for, with head looking over your shoulder in your stance, you should feel balanced.

[GarrettJ]

imagine you are showing your bum hole to the square leg umpire

[Stuey]

imagine you are showing your bum hole to the square leg umpire

just spat out my tea

[brokenbat]

one person's comfortably is not the same as another - you may want to have the feet  position as shoulder width, together and wider than shoulderwidth apart as your suggestion

personally I have a relaxed stance, feet shoulder width apart with a few taps then bat raised. As natural as possible. I like not to think about it.

the problem i face with a bat tap...my head bobs around each time the bat taps the ground and then comes back up. the rhythm is nice, but i struggle to keep my eyes level when tapping the bat. is there a way to eliminate the head moving around, while still reaping the benefits of increased rhythm and timing? standing upright makes it too stiff (haha..very funny..get your mind out of the gutter!)