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[Gurujames]

I used to play the short ball well (my opinion at least) but over time I played the pull shot less and less. I found that as I got older my pick up got lower and lower and I was still using the same weight of bat I did 20 years ago. Therefore, I bought a 2.6lb bat and consciously had a higher pickup. It worked for me and now I pull like I was in my 20's (not the ladies unfortunately).

[brokenbat]

A few things that helped me:

1. Practicing the shot using underarm lobs (have someone crouch about half way down the pitch and lob up the ball at you - play around with exact position of thrower and speed of throws). Make sure that even when you're pulling, your head is in front of your backfoot (i.e. don't lean, or fall, back) - this will give you power, and minimize lobbing ball up in air.

2. Make sure you watch the ball all the way - even during practice

3. In the nets (and obviously in matches), WATCH THE BALL OUT OF THE BOWLER'S HAND, and keep your head still as long as possible. You will be amazed how this makes a huge difference. You will be able to pounce on balls because you'll pick up the length SOOO much earlier. This helped me the most. Even now, when I find myself defending a ball that should be pulled, it is because I get lazy watching the ball out of the bowler's hand.

4. Maybe a lighter bat...but try the first three first.

[GarrettJ]

Cheers for the feedback.

I think starting with the tennis balls and just learning to pick up the length early and also having the intent to move across early and go for it is the key, for me at least.

There is another thing I remember reading, possibly on this forum, where the top players can read the body of the bowling action and anticipate if if it is going to be a shortish ball and start to move across for it. Anyone know if this has any truth ?

Yes it is true

What i always find is that people relax when at the none strikers end ........... i do most of my investigative work there.

I look at the way they grip the ball on approach and see if i can predict slower balls, ones moving the other way and if they change their run up to bowl slower or faster.

when facing the bowler a short ball can sort of be predicted based on the leading arm and mainly the point of release.  A short ball is released a lot later in the action than a normal ball. Also someone coming wide of the crease may be trying to fire one into your ribs etc. Often it requires a little more effort and you can just see that extra effort in the action

also a lot of pros go back and across so are effectively waiting for the shorter ball and then merely leaning/transferring weight on the pitched up balls

these subtleties of batting once mastered make you have almost predictable powers that seem magical but are just knowing where and what to look for

[GarrettJ]

to practice

tennis ball
tennis racket
club nutter
tell him to kill you

soon get used to short bowling then

[Seniorplayer]

At 5ft 5  and opening the batting i know I am going to get the short stuff so I anticipate it every ball by watching the bowler and if he is bending is back I know what to expect and are ready first pick the line of the ball and get into position inside the line of the ball and then always roll wrists downwards on contact with the ball sometimes tend to get hit when the ball follows me but just forget it before the next ball also found that using a light bat helps with the shot.

[InternalTraining]

The problem with light bats is that they shots don't go very far. I tried a 2-7/2-8 bat and it was the worst batting experience of my life. The pulls and drives that go the rope were falling short between 30 yards and the boundary rope. Painful. Never used a light bat in a match since that horrible experience. I open. I am short and use a heavy bat (2-12/2-13) and am fine with my pull shot (my most productive shot).

The key to pull and hook is to get in position early and watch the ball. Your mindset should be: "I will kick his ass should he bowl a short ball". Never back down. I have opened against a lot of very aggressive bowlers who use short ball as an intimidation tactic. Always take it on. Even if you edge to the third-man, the bowler will think twice as he'd be leaking runs making his unhappy in the process.

In terms of gauging length, I am experimenting with an approach and I am interested in hearing the opinions of the forumites:

- Leg stump guard
- Trigger back-and-across
- This is where I am experimenting with a slightly different approach. I prepare for a full/yorker length delivery (instead of a short delivery) while standing on the balls of the feet with weight evenly distributed
- If ball is full/yorker/good length get on front foot - slight adjustment not a giant leap forward
- If ball is short, transfer weight to back foot and pull/hook.

[Gurujames]

The problem with light bats is that they shots don't go very far. I tried a 2-7/2-8 bat and it was the worst batting experience of my life. The pulls and drives that go the rope were falling short between 30 yards and the boundary rope. Painful. Never used a light bat in a match since that horrible experience. I open. I am short and use a heavy bat (2-12/2-13) and am fine with my pull shot (my most productive shot).

You do not need a heavy bat, particularly pulling, most of the pace comes from the ball and you just help it on. also, a well timed and placed drive will easily find the boundary with a light bat due to the bat speed you can achieve. a heavy bat may be needed if you either have a slow bat speed, an unresponsive bat or poor timing. at the end of the day everyone's different and we all like different things. 

[InternalTraining]

^ This "bat speed" of a light bat is a myth when it comes to slow out fields. No matter how much bat speed you generate, high grass and damn ground just kills the ball's speed on the ground. On slow outfields, you want to cover a good amount by cover by having the ball travel in the air and when it lands, it should have enough force/momentum behind it to carry it to the boundary. Heavy bats are perfect for the job. Guys who get away with light bats on slow  outfields are built like Chris Gayle.

Also, pros can get away with light weight bats because they play on fast outfields that are built like billiards table. 

I can time a ball fine, unfortunately, that timed ball off a light ball won't go very far on a slow outfield.

[Seniorplayer]

The problem with light bats is that they shots don't go very far. I tried a 2-7/2-8 bat and it was the worst batting experience of my life. The pulls and drives that go the rope were falling short between 30 yards and the boundary rope. Painful. Never used a light bat in a match since that horrible experience. I open. I am short and use a heavy bat (2-12/2-13) and am fine with my pull shot (my most productive shot).

The key to pull and hook is to get in position early and watch the ball. Your mindset should be: "I will kick his ass should he bowl a short ball". Never back down. I have opened against a lot of very aggressive bowlers who use short ball as an intimidation tactic. Always take it on. Even if you edge to the third-man, the bowler will think twice as he'd be leaking runs making his unhappy in the process.

In terms of gauging length, I am experimenting with an approach and I am interested in hearing the opinions of the forumites:

- Leg stump guard
- Trigger back-and-across
- This is where I am experimenting with a slightly different approach. I prepare for a full/yorker length delivery (instead of a short delivery) while standing on the balls of the feet with weight evenly distributed
- If ball is full/yorker/good length get on front foot - slight adjustment not a giant leap forward
- If ball is short, transfer weight to back foot and pull/hook.

. Interesting what I find is that using a light bat with increased bat speed and improved timing more than makes up for lack of wood in the bat Also ive seen many batsman  get out mistiming   the hook shot due to there bat being to heavy.

[Buzz]

going to ignor the first bit about the bat speed/light bat stuff - you either have quick hands and are strong enough to use a bat or it is too heavy for you.

As for this...

In terms of gauging length, I am experimenting with an approach and I am interested in hearing the opinions of the forumites:

- Leg stump guard
- Trigger back-and-across
- This is where I am experimenting with a slightly different approach. I prepare for a full/yorker length delivery (instead of a short delivery) while standing on the balls of the feet with weight evenly distributed
- If ball is full/yorker/good length get on front foot - slight adjustment not a giant leap forward
- If ball is short, transfer weight to back foot and pull/hook.

Guard - you want your outside eye to be above the off stump so you know where it is.
Trigger - standing still (in my view is better for amateurs). Personally I think if you must trigger, a forward press would work better as it will allow you to move back more easily.
having said that it is your head that guides where your feet goes, get your head in line and moving forward for a fuller ball and back for a short ball.

it is a hugely common misconception that you move your feet first. This is not the case, you move your head first and that shapes how you play the shot.

If you are playing the hook, your head moves back and outside the line, your feet then move to keep you in balance and you play the shot.

well that method was good enough for Douglas Jardine, Marcus Trescothic and Kevin Pietersen to name by three.

[Seniorplayer]

going to ignor the first bit about the bat speed/light bat stuff - you either have quick hands and are strong enough to use a bat or it is too heavy for you.

As for this...
Guard - you want your outside eye to be above the off stump so you know where it is.
Trigger - standing still (in my view is better for amateurs). Personally I think if you must trigger, a forward press would work better as it will allow you to move back more easily.
having said that it is your head that guides where your feet goes, get your head in line and moving forward for a fuller ball and back for a short ball.

it is a hugely common misconception that you move your feet first. This is not the case, you move your head first and that shapes how you play the shot.

If you are playing the hook, your head moves back and outside the line, your feet then move to keep you in balance and you play the shot.

well that method was good enough for Douglas Jardine, Marcus Trescothic and Kevin Pietersen to name by three.

Always remember listening to Brian Lara after he broke world records stating that dropping 4 ounces off his bat weight enabled him to transform his game.

[uknsaunders]

Always remember listening to Brian Lara after he broke world records stating that dropping 4 ounces off his bat weight enabled him to transform his game.

Sense it's time for another topic 

I think what Buzz was trying to say was if a bats too heavy for you then it effects all your game not one specific area. If you have the right weight bat in the first place then it shouldn't matter.

[Buzz]

I think what Buzz was trying to say was if a bats too heavy for you then it effects all your game not one specific area. If you have the right weight bat in the first place then it shouldn't matter.

that one.

[InternalTraining]

Always remember listening to Brian Lara after he broke world records stating that dropping 4 ounces off his bat weight enabled him to transform his game.

Pros bat on faster outfields. Clubbies like myself don't have that luxury. Last away match I played, 1/3 of the ground had 5 inch high grass.