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[uknsaunders]

Here's a net video of me trying to iron out some technical issues. Mainly my backlift and trying to get the bat coming down straight with balls around middle stump. Tried a few things and putting the bat between the legs in the stance seemed to help towards the end - possibly bringing my hands forward and shortening the backswing. Also some over balancing to the straighter balls but it would be interesting to hear what others think. First nets so plenty of bad habits to remove!

http://youtu.be/zAr8Y1teQNo

[jamesisapayne]

Looks good Nick, some lovely shots :-)

It may just be my eyes but your backlift appears to be fine when in your stance, (which looks well balanced and eyes level), but when it gets to the top of the backswing the bat almost points to gully = you'll be playing a lot of shots in to out. Do you snick off a lot/play and miss/play down the wrong line to balls on the stumps or outside off?

James

[Woodyspin]

As for balance playing those fine leg glances to the straighter ball, i find dragging my front foot back and almost playing with both feet together gives me that extra time to keep my head still. Saying this you do it a few times (to the less extreme of both feet together) but your balance looks good. Your technique also looks fairly good, i would try and concentrate more so on length and shot decision (front foot or back) as a few shots came of the top of the bat rather than the middle. I do appreciate that this is early nettong season so this would change. I am a stong beleiver in what works for you works so stick with it. If you had a major problem then it obviously would need correcting but you look very handy to me (coming from a bowler, who hates all decent batsman) what sort of level do you play?

(someone might have noticed more than what have, but 2 heads are better than 1 right?)

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[uknsaunders]

Looks good Nick, some lovely shots :-)

It may just be my eyes but your backlift appears to be fine when in your stance, (which looks well balanced and eyes level), but when it gets to the top of the backswing the bat almost points to gully = you'll be playing a lot of shots in to out. Do you snick off a lot/play and miss/play down the wrong line to balls on the stumps or outside off?

James

Not as often as you might think! It's more a wrist cock than a backswing but it does slide out towards gully and around as it comes down. Seems to come down straighter on off stump balls but a bit in to out on middle, or I go across it completely (like I did early on).

[uknsaunders]

As for balance playing those fine leg glances to the straighter ball, i find dragging my front foot back and almost playing with both feet together gives me that extra time to keep my head still. Saying this you do it a few times (to the less extreme of both feet together) but your balance looks good. Your technique also looks fairly good, i would try and concentrate more so on length and shot decision (front foot or back) as a few shots came of the top of the bat rather than the middle. I do appreciate that this is early nettong season so this would change. I am a stong beleiver in what works for you works so stick with it. If you had a major problem then it obviously would need correcting but you look very handy to me (coming from a bowler, who hates all decent batsman) what sort of level do you play?

(someone might have noticed more than what have, but 2 heads are better than 1 right?)

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Thanks for the input. I play decent village league standard. Use to play a slightly higher level for Marlow in the TVL but that was a long time ago.

[Woodyspin]

Form is temporary. Nick! The one you mossed early on like you said RE James' reply. That will be due to either squaring up and you bottom hand coming through more. Your right should will come forward where you need to keep the side on position and keep that front elvow high. I was told this whilst at lords once. Not nicked off since (touch wood)! The way i practiced this was to play about 30 balls on middle/middle and off with just my left hand, and playing straight. Then when i felt comfortable i just held my bottom hand on it for morale support

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[uknsaunders]

Form is temporary. Nick! The one you mossed early on like you said RE James' reply. That will be due to either squaring up and you bottom hand coming through more. Your right should will come forward where you need to keep the side on position and keep that front elvow high. I was told this whilst at lords once. Not nicked off since (touch wood)! The way i practiced this was to play about 30 balls on middle/middle and off with just my left hand, and playing straight. Then when i felt comfortable i just held my bottom hand on it for morale support

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Pretty much my focus pre-season will be playing straight through the line, so I won't have time for people firing it up my nose or down leg as normally happens at nets. I brought a paceman bowling machine for this reason and I'm hoping to make good use of it before we start our league season.

[Woodyspin]

Keep that front elbow high is always my aim, dont rush your self in your first 18 balls.

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[eukaryote76]

@uknsaunders just a few thoughts

Good on ya for putting up a video
I'm jealous you're in the nets already
There is a lot to like
What follows is food for right, not criticism and entirely subjective based on one type of bowling for 9 mins only, and one viewing only.

1. In the set up and the back swing your hands do seem to drift away from your body which would create that out-to-in-to-out downward swing; I would look to bowl 5th/ outside off-stump line. I reckon you love in swing and straighter balls, and less so away swing.

You do look stronger on the legs (especially as timing improved as the session went on); tho' there were good cover drives, almost square drives.

2. Timing improves but there is a hint of foot planting. (I couldn't hear any sound on this clip but I'm guessing it was a bowling machine given the bola balls and the fairly consistent length). If you watch it you can see yourself the consequences of planting (loss of power and direction, etc). This could just be because of netting with a bowling machine.

3. Is it the camera angle or do you have an open stance? I think this helps your leg side shots, but that in conjunction with drifting hands and foot planting leaves you reaching for the off drives. That said there are a couple of really cracking looking drives through covers.

4. You mention over balancing, and a few times you are squared up after driving balls pitched on middle , middle-and-off, and on the off side; and a few times those same pitched balls end up going to the leg side too, even when playing a cover drive. Again I think this is a consequence those things already mentioned above, but also playing sometimes in front of a braced left knee and strong bottom hand coming through which tucks your elbow in at or just before impact.

Your best shots are those where you are waiting longer, when you are decisively forward or back and when your leading shoulder points in the direction you're intending on hitting.

I hope this is of interest.

[uknsaunders]

@uknsaunders just a few thoughts

Good on ya for putting up a video
I'm jealous you're in the nets already
There is a lot to like
What follows is food for right, not criticism and entirely subjective based on one type of bowling for 9 mins only, and one viewing only.

1. In the set up and the back swing your hands do seem to drift away from your body which would create that out-to-in-to-out downward swing; I would look to bowl 5th/ outside off-stump line. I reckon you love in swing and straighter balls, and less so away swing.

You do look stronger on the legs (especially as timing improved as the session went on); tho' there were good cover drives, almost square drives.

2. Timing improves but there is a hint of foot planting. (I couldn't hear any sound on this clip but I'm guessing it was a bowling machine given the bola balls and the fairly consistent length). If you watch it you can see yourself the consequences of planting (loss of power and direction, etc). This could just be because of netting with a bowling machine.

3. Is it the camera angle or do you have an open stance? I think this helps your leg side shots, but that in conjunction with drifting hands and foot planting leaves you reaching for the off drives. That said there are a couple of really cracking looking drives through covers.

4. You mention over balancing, and a few times you are squared up after driving balls pitched on middle , middle-and-off, and on the off side; and a few times those same pitched balls end up going to the leg side too, even when playing a cover drive. Again I think this is a consequence those things already mentioned above, but also playing sometimes in front of a braced left knee and strong bottom hand coming through which tucks your elbow in at or just before impact.

Your best shots are those where you are waiting longer, when you are decisively forward or back and when your leading shoulder points in the direction you're intending on hitting.

I hope this is of interest.

Thanks for the input. My hands drifting away from the body I was aware of last season and slowly getting them more tucked in during the backlift to avoid the bat drifting towards gully.  Im not as open as i use to be and i do plant my front foot but its not as bad as it use to be and I'm slowly minimising it. In general I'm trying to do as you say, get a good base and lead with that high elbow/leading shoulder. Just takes a bit of time to remove some bad habits built up over the years.

It was a bola but I took the sound off as it consists entirely of a conversation between adi (procricketer) and my mate huss on contract work lol



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[CrickFreak]

I think the perception that bat not coming down straight is because of slightly open stance. I bat with open stance and when i stand staright, the bat comes from top of off stump. So i guess not too much to worry there.
One think you can look at is your bottom hand grip. The bat turns inside when trying to play in the V. If you could alter that, the bat will flow much straighter through the shot. But if its working for you then why change. Lot of pros grip the bat that way, most prominent was Graeme Smith.

[FattusCattus]

1) Stop over-thinking it and get on with it!

2) Stand up taller in your stance - Oh! You are.............

[uknsaunders]

1) Stop over-thinking it and get on with it!

2) Stand up taller in your stance - Oh! You are.............

lol - there is an element why not just stand there and hit the thing, I did a bit of that at the end of the next session I had. The point is to do the hard yards now on the technique so I can avoid thinking about it in a game situation.

As for the vertical discrimination comment - shut up baldy 

[uknsaunders]

One think you can look at is your bottom hand grip. The bat turns inside when trying to play in the V. If you could alter that, the bat will flow much straighter through the shot. But if its working for you then why change. Lot of pros grip the bat that way, most prominent was Graeme Smith.

It's a curious one. I hold the bat very lightly with the bottom hand in the stance but it does seem to be getting shoved in more and more as I get older. Part of the work I'm doing on using my left elbow more ought to fix it. I suspect at present my top hand is getting "choked" part way through the shot and the right hand is carrying out the follow through. Something I need to work on!

[uknsaunders]

Just in case anybody thinks I like to pat down straight half volleys, I did do 4 separate sessions focussing on slightly different areas. I only managed to get video of this bit and to be honest it's the area I need to work on the most from a technical perspective.