Topic: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker (Read 16031 times)

MrCricket321 · « **on:** April 02, 2015, 05:51:38 AM »

Just Wondering if we could use a tennis ball chucker for dogs instead of the sidearm thrower?

smilley792 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2015, 06:12:27 AM »

No

MrCricket321 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2015, 06:21:50 AM »

Why Not???

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:00:52 AM »

The ball doesn't fit
The plastic is too flexible
It just doesn't work...

smilley792 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:07:05 AM »

Let's imagine the dog thrower was never invented. Just the side arm.

A guy in China sees it and the price and thinks "wow I could make that alot cheaper, and all the tight gets will buy my knock off"

So he sets off to copy it, but does no research into it.
He's never seen a cricket ball.
He has no idea it has a seam
He has no idea it weighs 5.5oz.
He just has a tennis ball in his back garden and some cheap ass plastic.

Your on ebay and see this at 99 delivered! Boom. Buy it now buy it now.

It arrives. You excitable get a cricket ball and realise it doesn't fit. Due to the seam you have to force it in. But you do and it's in.
You attempt to use it.
Non go anywhere near the batsmen. And as your going you think sweet. Balls going in easier now. It's opening up.

6th ball you go to place the ball in. And realise there's no longer a head on your thrower. Its where the last ball went 100 metres past square leg.

Batsmen utters "you buy cheap you buy twice"

Rob580 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2015, 08:14:34 AM »

Also as a side note, the Sidearm Pro version is surprisingly difficult to use. You need to really go for it to get it out of the cup at any real speed, Beamers aplenty I found.
The Club version on the other hand (the yellow one) is really easy to use, i assume it's something to do with the flex in the arm?
And as it says on the tin really, the Club version is fine for most club levels.

KIPPERS · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2015, 08:28:55 AM »

Agree I got the Pro and its a real learning curve to get it right. Also don't leave it lying around as its lethal if people don't know how to use it 80 mph beamers I wont let the colts anywhere near the thing. Once you have it figured its brilliant the best tool possible for batting practice. Haven't tried the club version but my mate has one I'll give it a go and report back.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2015, 08:58:45 AM »

Quote from: KIPPERS on April 02, 2015, 08:28:55 AM

Agree I got the Pro and its a real learning curve to get it right. Also don't leave it lying around as its lethal if people don't know how to use it 80 mph beamers I wont let the colts anywhere near the thing. Once you have it figured its brilliant the best tool possible for batting practice. Haven't tried the club version but my mate has one I'll give it a go and report back.

Better than a bola??

smilley792 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:04:02 AM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on April 02, 2015, 08:58:45 AM

Better than a bola??

Both have there advantages.

But a side arm you follow the arm through, just like a bowler, And it's rarely same spot over again. So you can't camp on the foot it's set for.

Plus. If you don't have an indoor facility. A side arm is much easier to carry onto your practice pitch than getting a bola there is.

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:05:26 AM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on April 02, 2015, 08:58:45 AM

Better than a bola??

A Bola costs at least a couple of thousand pounds, needs special (expensive) balls, a battery or electricity, setting up and putting away after each use and without an auto feeder requires two people.
It's not got the bowlers arm coming over as a reference to watch the ball out the hand/trigger and is pinpoint accurate, so you can get into position to play a shot early.

A sidearm costs about �20, is easier to carry, can take any balls you already have (or that are cheaper than bola ones) and also needs two people.
You can follow it and trigger as if it were normal bowling, and there's the natural variation you'd get in a match, so it's a more realistic training session in my opinion than the machine.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so take your pick!

Rob580 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:08:09 AM »

I think it depends.

You really do need someone who know what they're doing on the end of it (the Sidearm that is) Otherwise its a total waste of time.

Sidearm is more realistic, relatable practice, but the Bola is excellent for engriaining the muscle memory for individual shots.

Bola for the Winter. Sidearm for the Summer.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:09:23 AM »

I'd suggest both have different main pros and cons. Doubt you can groove a shot with a side arm but as someone points out, it's cheap and you do get that bolwers arm follow through.

Bola can be mixed up, not just the same spot? People seem to forget that, of someone is camping on one foot, throw in a short ball or yorka on demand.. Deadly accurate and keeps you thinking

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:12:42 AM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on April 02, 2015, 09:09:23 AM

I'd suggest both have different main pros and cons. Doubt you can groove a shot with a side arm but as someone points out, it's cheap and you do get that bolwers arm follow through.

Bola can be mixed up, not just the same spot? People seem to forget that, of someone is camping on one foot, throw in a short ball or yorka on demand.. Deadly accurate and keeps you thinking

The tools at my club spend about half a bucket getting one to get down the other end that's not a wide! If they can suddenly start changing the line and length subtly enough to catch a batsman off guard at will (or even without a 15 minute delay) it's a miracle!

KIPPERS · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:24:43 AM »

agree with most of the above. Don't get on with bowling machines as there is no trigger and i have the reflexes of tree stump. With the machine I have to start with the bat up high like Goochie, which isn't how i bat in a match. The side arm is cheap instant and the guys I practice with are all club coaches that i have taught how to use it properly.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:34:56 AM »

Quote from: WalkingWicket37 on April 02, 2015, 09:12:42 AM

The tools at my club spend about half a bucket getting one to get down the other end that's not a wide! If they can suddenly start changing the line and length subtly enough to catch a batsman off guard at will (or even without a 15 minute delay) it's a miracle!

user error, its stupidly easy to mix it up. i do it all the time on mine and it works a treat. you can bat for hours facing random balls someone decides to bowl you. set you up easily, bore you with accurate bowling or tear you apart with yorka/bouncer sessions. its down to the skill of the operator

add to that changes of pace and the lack of trigger means you have to react far quicker.. meaning you pick up line and length quickly.. so then, when you have a bowler you find it easier and tend to be in position quicker.

I've found no bowler is capable of matching the bola for providing a real working over. if you can keep a skilled operator out on a bola then you should score thousands of runs. obviously if you just fire the same ball down then it's not as useful

Author Topic: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker (Read 16031 times)

MrCricket321

Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

smilley792

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

MrCricket321

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

WalkingWicket37

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

smilley792

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

Rob580

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

KIPPERS

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

ProCricketer1982

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

smilley792

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

WalkingWicket37

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

Rob580

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

ProCricketer1982

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

WalkingWicket37

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

KIPPERS

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker

ProCricketer1982

Re: Sidearm Pro Vs Tennis Ball Chucker