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[thecord]

Hey @Woodyspin no disrespect taken! If you look at the P1's they're actually some of the thinnest inners on the market with padding only on the areas that actually need it. The padding is also thinner yet in my opinion more protective than your average chamois inner and the thin breathable material means less sweat issues. The only downside for me is the price but they do last well in my experience.

As for taking nicks stood up I don't personally believe there's any shortcuts with this. It's a combination of ability / instinct and training to improve whatever you are blessed with as a starting point. The more you take the more you'll get used to it. If you can get someone to stand with a snicking bat at training and you stood up that's probably your best bet.

Have fun with it and never forget the satisfaction you feel the first time you glove a thin edge perfectly in a match!

[Cow_corner]

Plus one for P1s, hands sweat less and a better feel of the ball into the gloves compared to chamois inners for me.

[Woodyspin]

If you can get someone to stand with a snicking bat at training and you stood up that's probably your best bet.

Can you actually buy these?

[thecord]

Can you actually buy these?

Not that I have seen, has always been a DIY job. If anyone else knows differently though that would be interesting

[richthekeeper]

I love threads like this. I started keeping when I was about 21, playing for my club's 5th XI, and by the time I was 26 I was being called into the 1sts. I'm not first choice but certainly a capable deputy, I've even taken leg side stumpings stood up to an ex-County seamer!

Anyway, the key is practice and mindset. Once I got the bug I just wanted to be the best I could, which meant setting myself challenges and practicing the skills I wasn't so good at. First it was aiming for no byes conceded, then I worked my way up to being a reliable catcher and then a more attacking keeper who could help to create chances either by standing up to quicks or by taking sharp stumpings.

I'm also tall with bad knees, so I find the Z position most efficient. I lead with my head and focus on moving with the ball, which helps me get into line early. I also try to keep my hands within my peripheral vision (ie not on the floor when I crouch) so that I can always see both hands and ball. Basically do everything I can do get in the right position to take the ball and more often than not my hands will be in the right place.

Smaller keepers will always have the advantage of movement but they're also less likely to take that spectacular full length diving catch ;-)

Also, don't be too proud to wear a helmet if it helps you keep your eyes on the ball.

[Woodyspin]

Love that Rich, i haven't done much more than the very occasional "can you keep we have noone else, despite us having no bowlers either" to "oh crap its saturday and I've realised we have no keepers can you bring your gloves with you" jobs.

But each time ive enjoyed it more, i took on the Z position whilst keeping to thw quicker spinners as i find myself being in position alot better, as with the kids i still have to sit on my heels because the ball comes through so slow i feel myself coming out of position before its got to me.

As for seemers I've tried to follow in the steps of Jack Russell and step on2 to position with both hands slightly in front but by my side still. Seems to work for now...

Only thing i struggle with is if the ball comes through quicker than expected at about belly button (waist) height i tend to cushion it with a little jump?

[HallamKeeper]

I may have posted similar remarks in other posts so sorry for repeating myself.

I made my own snick bat. Basically a thin 'technique' bat with some old vinyl flooring I found screwed to it, cut to the actual size of a bat. Then duct tape it to keep it from falling to pieces. It will need a bit of extra tape occasionally.

As for nicks standing up, I have dropped a couple but mostly caught them. The only thing I can put my finger on, so the speak, is my mental set-up before the ball was bowled. I'm sure everyone has a different approach but when I keep best I am really enjoying it. Literally smiling and looking forward to the ball hitting my gloves. When I drop them it is usually when I feel a bit pissed off or I've let a fumble get on my mind so I then rush everything to get through it quicker. I've really tried to switch on and off my concentration and faked enjoyment to myself at the same time when I don't feel right. To me enjoyment = relaxation. I hope that makes sense and I haven't had some kind of breakdown.

Otherwise the three main things I have worked on are:
1. Good foot work - rhythm even when moving a short distance. If that just sounds like jargon, ask a keeper you think is good and they will show you.
2. When taking the ball, the 'give' needs to be in the direction the ball is travelling, nothing else matters, if it suddenly turns 90 degrees and heads off to square leg your hands go towards the square leg umpire (obviously impossible but exaggerated for effect).
3. Hands need to be low for as long as possible. Mostly because you should rise up to take the ball, not be at the height before it arrives. It also keeps your head low and you can get a much better idea of the length.

All this might be rubbish but I believe it.

[Woodyspin]

I made my own snick bat. Basically a thin 'technique' bat with some old vinyl flooring I found screwed to it, cut to the actual size of a bat. Then duct tape it to keep it from falling to pieces. It will need a bit of extra tape occasionally.

Yeah i wish they just sold these...

[HallamKeeper]

Maybe give Katchet a call, it would be right up their alley.

[richthekeeper]

If you can't make a snick bat, just getting a mate to play inside the line of the ball with a normal bat is good enough.

When you're starting out it's best to focus on the basics of taking the ball cleanly and moving well. Taking catches stood up is one of the hardest things to do and will come with practice.

There are a number of different tricks I've seen on this forum that I've tried out and either adapted into my game or abandoned. But ultimately they all boil down to footwork, concentration and a positive mindset.

I still find it really difficult to keep to our first team offie; he bowls quick and flat, gets big turn and also has no real idea what he's doing. This causes a problem because it's hard to predict!

[Woodyspin]

I actually pick our first team offie quite well, he bowls quick and flat, gets more bounce than turn, but has an even quicker ball which he occasionally holds seam up... that his doosra ball because it actually swings away! f##king nightmare for a batsman if he gets it right and you don't spot it!

I've put a few nicks, big and small down this year due to hard hands! annoys me because i don't do it when they don't hit it.

I also find i catch with my dominant hand? so it will hit my right first or hit a bigger portion of my right hand than it does my left (if that makes sense) is that normal?

[richthekeeper]

ideally you want to catch the ball right in the middle of your hands. think about keeping to a right handed batter, any nick is going to your right hand. so if you're normally catching in the centre of your hands, you've got more chance of that thin edge going in clean.

maybe something to work on - i like to practice catching tennis balls with my gloves on, which helps train soft hands. i also usually do one-handed glove catches in my warm up.

if you can trust your hands to catch the ball more often than not, it will help you focus on making sure you're getting in the right place.

[richthekeeper]

...which raises an interesting point, i guess. what do other keepers focus on?

for me, it's much worse to miss the ball completely (or have it flick off the glove) than being in the right position but not taking it cleanly.

[Woodyspin]

Have you both seen this http://www.katchet.com/store/p19/The_KatchMax.html

[HallamKeeper]

It arrived this afternoon. I'm a sucker for a new toy.