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[Contrails]

G'day everyone,

I am trying to get back into cricket, especially batting.  I have had a 8 year long break.  I have had a couple of net sessions with some mates.  Started to improve slowly, but I have noticed I am a little hesitant to get on the front foot during defence, especially against pace.  This is club standards btw haha.  My bat weighs 2.12 with two grips and GN face cover and I have been told my timing is good but my footwork is lacking. 

If you could please help me with some tips or links to improving footwork? Also, I am guessing once I improve my footwork, my balance will improve and I will find the middle of the bat more often?

Regards

[langer17]

While footwork is important, lately I've been hearing head movement is more the key. Where your head goes, your feet will go.

Also watching Lynn and KP bat in BBL, they didn't really have massive amounts of footwork but their head was always over the ball and more importantly, it was still at the moment of contact.

[cesare_in]

Just before you are going to bat in the nets, all padded up.. do skipping to a count of at least 200 all padded up. This helps me immensely as my feet start moving automatically

[Over Gully]

While footwork is important, lately I've been hearing head movement is more the key. Where your head goes, your feet will go.

Also watching Lynn and KP bat in BBL, they didn't really have massive amounts of footwork but their head was always over the ball and more importantly, it was still at the moment of contact.

Whilst that is true, the reason they take smaller strides is because they don't have time to facing the speed of bowling they do. Us weekenders, unless you're playing a high standard of cricket where you come across some rapid bowling, don't have so much of an issue. Definitely head position is crucial and getting your weight over the front knee when driving. A lot of the Test players barely move deep into the crease anymore when playing off the back foot, especially when playing the pull and hook. They have a forward press, then if they see the ball short it's just a weight transfer to the back foot rather than getting right back and across as you were taught as a kid. I still think if you have the time and are not facing especially express pace, good decisive footwork is important...

[Buzz]

because of the weight of your head, if you move your head towards the ball, your foot will move into position.
that is the theory.

and it isn't new.

It is how batting it supposed to be - Douglas Jardine talked about it in his book published in the 1940's, for example. It is just that "foot to the pitch of the ball" was welded into peoples mind by hundreds of rubbish coaches over the generations.

Do some shadow batting, you want to feel a "topple" a your head goes in line of the imaginary ball and your foot moves into position.

If your foot goes first you end up batting like Alex Hales is at the moment.

To improve your head and foot movement, ensure your posture at the crease is good, not stooped, bending from the hips and not the shoulders and the weight is on the balls of your feet not your heals.
then imagine moving towards a ball, repeatedly across different lines.
it takes some time.

as for the nets, you haven't played for a long time, it will take some time for you to get your confidence against the faster bowling.

keep working at it.

Also if you can, get someone to film you batting so you can coach yourself, rather than listening to 100 other coaches.

[Contrails]

Cheers for the replies lads. Haha, I am just a weekend warrior. But I do like to play proper shots in textbook manner.  There are times when I play shots without any effort or thinking too much about it.  But there are times I just stand there as if my feet are glued to the pitch and I just swing the bat.  Especially when trying to play late cut shots.

The other issue is defensive shots.  I need to come forward more and then if required transfer weight to the back foot if I go back.  Or I am just doing the whole thing wrong. But some videos and tips are always helpful.

[brokenbat]

Cheers for the replies lads. Haha, I am just a weekend warrior. But I do like to play proper shots in textbook manner.  There are times when I play shots without any effort or thinking too much about it.  But there are times I just stand there as if my feet are glued to the pitch and I just swing the bat.  Especially when trying to play late cut shots.

The other issue is defensive shots.  I need to come forward more and then if required transfer weight to the back foot if I go back.  Or I am just doing the whole thing wrong. But some videos and tips are always helpful.

One thing that helped me was to make sure my head is ahead of my front shoulder in my stance (or at least in line)...and then keep it there no matter what (I used to yank the head back during pulls and hooks)..this may help with positive footwork.

I also find that poor foot/head movement can be a symptom of not watching the ball put of the bowlers hand.

[OwzatOllie]

One thing that I've been working on against the BOLA is waiting for the ball and holding my shape of the shot.  It's helped my footwork as I don't think about that so much.  It has improved the strike on the ball!

[Seniorplayer]

Cheers for the replies lads. Haha, I am just a weekend warrior. But I do like to play proper shots in textbook manner.  There are times when I play shots without any effort or thinking too much about it.  But there are times I just stand there as if my feet are glued to the pitch and I just swing the bat.  Especially when trying to play late cut shots.

The other issue is defensive shots.  I need to come forward more and then if required transfer weight to the back foot if I go back.  Or I am just doing the whole thing wrong. But some videos and tips are always helpful.

Never really took much notice of the foot to the pitch of the ball brigade always believed  moving your head towards the ball first is best.
With regard to coming forward more it to play a defensive shot   it depends on how far your already moving your front leg already you don't want to be caught on the crease but neither do you want to be to far forward especially against the quicker bowlers because if the bowler bowls short whatever the distance you are forward you have have twice that to get back into position to play the ball.

[WalkingWicket37]

Never really took much notice of the foot to the pitch of the ball brigade always believed  moving your head towards the ball first is best.
With regard to coming forward more it to play a defensive shot   it depends on how far your already moving your front leg already you don't want to be caught on the crease but neither do you want to be to far forward especially against the quicker bowlers because if the bowler bowls short whatever the distance you are forward you have have twice that to get back into position to play the ball.

It's funny how there are so many different opinions on this.
We used to have a coach who loved telling you  to get to the pitch "imagine you're trying to stamp on the ball". Another coach was in your school of thought, "get your head over the ball, everything else will follow".

It's such a simple thing really, but I can't help but feel people try to over-complicate things. Just get your head over the ball and play it under your eyes. If your head is in the right place everything else will naturally follow (it may not always look "textbook" but if it's effective who cares?)

[cesare_in]

Do these help in improving footwork?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEVdcyB3gFM