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[felix]

Has anybody any technical tips to stop a batsman's head falling over to the off side?  I'm a bit taller than average (6' 2") and I've always had a bit of a tendency to do this, and probably as a consequence have always been relatively poor off my legs, even at my best.  However I'm in a run of awful form at the moment and think this problem has probably got even worse, so that it doesn't just afflict my on side play, but even trying to play drives between cover and mid off I think my balance is collapsing, as shown by a weird tendency to take divots out of the pitch, which is a bit embarassing.  It's got to the stage now where my timing is totally screwed and pretty much my only scoring area is nurdling to point / 3rd man. 

I thought I might have made a bit of a breakthrough at nets this week though.  I normally have a pretty orthodox side-on stance, feet shoulder-width apart.  A teammate suggested I try spreading my feet much wider and opening my stance up (not quite Chanderpaul though).  I was a bit sceptical but I gave it a go.  It felt a bit weird but it seemed to make a real difference, found I could drive both sides of the wicket, my timing was coming back and even felt that my eyes were more level.  I'm not going to feel I've cracked it until I can translate it to form in the middle though.

It's one thing knowing you have a fault, but more difficult to fix it.  I suspect the best thing will be to get some coaching over the winter but mid-season feels like a bad time to dismantle my game.  I know someone on here suggested a long blade bat, but can't think how that would help, think it would only exacerbate the problem (but any excuse to buy more kit  ). Any other ideas? 

Any help much appreciated!

[FattusCattus]

Oh! I thought this was a thread about drinking.

[ppccopener]

same problem, have had it for years. Balance is the key. My stance is a bit bent over, I can't stand up straight due to a back that is showing signs of age. To correct it the only thing that worked for me, and I know others better qualified my offer different advice, was to open the stance so the back leg becomes your solid base, so when you are taking guard your leg left(right hander) is slightly open.

This helps the head stay stiller, it's very hard to stop the head going over to the offside so you need something to assist, trying to do it without any feet movement won't last very long.

bit of a warning thou.....changes to technique don't come easy. I would say it's taken me a year to used to even a small change.

you have to be comfortable with it thou, a good coach, even for a couple of sessions, is gold dust.

good luck

[ppccopener]

Oh! I thought this was a thread about drinking.

youre on form today!

[Kulli]

I had/have a similar issue, I opened my stance up a fraction (partly also as its easier to keep my head level, but the two are related). I still fall over from time to time but it's not nearly as big an issue.

I was falling over on straight leg stump balls though rather than ones to hit though cover.

[FattusCattus]

I wish I could fall over a bit, I seem to have an aversion to off-stump.

Malcolm,  PM @Buzz  on this. He is excellent on easy to understand, concise advice on this issue.

[felix]

Oh! I thought this was a thread about drinking.

Nothing like a catchy title to draw 'em into a dry technical thread

[felix]

I wish I could fall over a bit, I seem to have an aversion to off-stump.

Malcolm,  PM @Buzz  on this. He is excellent on easy to understand, concise advice on this issue.

Yep might just do that, he's very good.  One for the kitchen coaching videos...?

[felix]

same problem, have had it for years. Balance is the key. My stance is a bit bent over, I can't stand up straight due to a back that is showing signs of age. To correct it the only thing that worked for me, and I know others better qualified my offer different advice, was to open the stance so the back leg becomes your solid base, so when you are taking guard your leg left(right hander) is slightly open.

This helps the head stay stiller, it's very hard to stop the head going over to the offside so you need something to assist, trying to do it without any feet movement won't last very long.

bit of a warning thou.....changes to technique don't come easy. I would say it's taken me a year to used to even a small change.

you have to be comfortable with it thou, a good coach, even for a couple of sessions, is gold dust.

good luck

Cheers Carlo, I've tried really hard to remain upright in my stance, and always been an advocate of picking my bat up early, but none of this has worked.  Interesting you say opening your stance worked for you so maybe this is going to help me, though puzzled by what you say about "the back leg becomes your solid base" - shouldn't your weight be more on your front foot?

I think you're right that some coaching is going to be the longer-term answer - I was wondering about eversley - and I know that adjustments aren't likely to be easy which is why I don't want to do anything that drastic now.

[MD2812]

In the nets, get someone to stand way outside off and give you throw downs.

This helped me work on getting my foot & head moving to the ball.

The more you do this, the more this should become muscle memory

[ppccopener]

eversley and the dummer nets were organised by myself and the legends that are @FattusCattus  and @WalkingWicket37  to help each other out. I think, and hope, people got some positives out of it, we may do another one who knows :-)

if the back leg is across and your stance is slightly open this helps balance the head, when you move forward into the shot if you are not balanced you are moving forward in the wrong direction, this can put you inside the line when moving forward.

This is the issue with technical stuff, change too much and you give yourself more issues-you don't want that.You have got to do it slowly and small changes, and you have to be happy with it-this is so important.

Balance is the key, you only need to transfer the body weight forward or back, it doesn't take much of a movement either way.

if you could take a picture of your batting stance into the shot, as much as possible you need a straight line head in line with bat and hands- (forward defence/back defence).

a slightly open stance helps gives some ballast with the back leg across.

The pro's talk about leading with the head, that's fine but we don't have the talent of KP and AB de V . Most of us need something to help get the head in line. Pro's have unbelievable talent we can't get anywhere near....

I've had a little bit of coaching myself, but most of the time I've worked it out for myself, and I also don't like big changes in technique because if you bat long enough you revert to what is comfortable.

Ive reworked my own technique on my own in the last 18 months, the advise I got from a qualified coach I binned.

You need patience and time and some determination.

[ppccopener]

sorry it should read  ''this can put you outside the line when moving forward'   

and dummer and eversley there were quote a few of us, not just Camelot and brucie    sorry to leave anyone out!

[felix]

eversley and the dummer nets were organised by myself and the legends that are @FattusCattus  and @WalkingWicket37  to help each other out. I think, and hope, people got some positives out of it, we may do another one who knows :-)

I'd definitely want to come along to any future sessions at Eversley, though maybe it'll have to wait until the end of the season.  I found the bounce at Dummer to be horrible, and nothing like any real pitch I've batted on, was Eversley better?  I think we're all smart enough to be able to help each other out a bit

This is the issue with technical stuff, change too much and you give yourself more issues-you don't want that.You have got to do it slowly and small changes, and you have to be happy with it-this is so important.

I've had a little bit of coaching myself, but most of the time I've worked it out for myself, and I also don't like big changes in technique because if you bat long enough you revert to what is comfortable.

Yeah I hope I don't need any drastic changes, I've always thought I had a decent (entirely self-taught) technique, given the modest level I play at.  So I'm a bit nervous about a bad coach messing me up.

[ppccopener]

I'd definitely want to come along to any future sessions at Eversley, though maybe it'll have to wait until the end of the season.  I found the bounce at Dummer to be horrible, and nothing like any real pitch I've batted on, was Eversley better?  I think we're all smart enough to be able to help each other out a bit

Yeah I hope I don't need any drastic changes, I've always thought I had a decent (entirely self-taught) technique, given the modest level I play at.  So I'm a bit nervous about a bad coach messing me up.

Eversley I think everyone prefers, and yes we all help each other out which I think is great. We are all in the same boat. 

[FattusCattus]

Yep - bounce and pace at Eversely is much, much better. I'm up for a batting session there whenever I am free if anyone is interested, as I have now faced 8 deliveries in all cricket this year!!