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[SamRyan]

Hi The season before last i started with my problems with not having a proper run up and my idea was to sort it out for this season just gone but never properly got round to it. I currently have about 13 yards which i slowly jog in and just use my action to fire the ball through but my shoulder i fear is taking too much of the brunt of my action and slowly getting wrecked could anyone give me some advice please on how to sort my run up ? also which are the best shoes for bowling ?

Thanks
Sam

[Howzat]

Put a marker down on the outfield and just run from that mark with your eyes shut and bowl when it feels natural get a mate to mark where your front foot lands. Then pace this out and that will be your new run up

(Do a couple of times to get an average)

[SamRyan]

CHeers mate might try it tonight may go for a net even tho its wet any other ideas people ?

[SillyShilly]

The run up is so important - what Leo said makes perfect sense and should help you., try it out.

From the sounds of it you have more of a worry with your arm action and injuries rather than an issue with your run up - some people use their run up to generate pace, you obviously use your shoulder strength and speed to generate the pace and there is nothing wrong in doing this.......in the long term it may put more stress on certain body parts, but the same can be said for those who really accellerate through the crease.

I would suggest that you should work on conditioning exercises for your shoulders and arms (swimming is fantastic for shoulder rotation) - if your less worried about injuring yourself it may help you with your run up and the pace at which you are approaching the crease and delivering the ball.

[SamRyan]

CHeers mate might have a little job to the swim baths and go for a swim its just i bowl 6 days a week in cricket season and i have to keep firing it through but i have been told my action is good and i could add 5+ mph but what cricket shoes are best for bowling i was tempted to get the 75 quid nikes ?

[SillyShilly]

I've had asics for a long time and will continue to get them - they've always been really comfortable - i usually get a decent insole as well as this will help provide a little extra cushioning on the impact. I couldnt comment on other brands, but you wear you shoes every match and through training, worth investing well here.

I see what you mean about your action, when i run in as fast as i can i can add an extra 5mph but this will often compromise accuracy - getting both to work well together is the hard thing to do and something you have to practice.

[Washington]

Yeah Leo's advice is spot on, its just you have to overcome the mental side of it then ie. not think about your run up whilst running up! Try to develop a 'trigger' or set of sequences that gets you focused prior to each delivery. For example do exactly the same thing prior to each ball like Sreesanth? An extreme example but one which highlights it.

As for using mainly your shoulder thats not a problem as the shoulder rotation, and rotator cuff within the shoulder is vertical therefore there is no undue stress on the tendon/ligaments as there are with spinners e.g Shane Warne

Just do a lot of shoulder flexiblity and strengthening work. Use a resistance band for this its an excellent piece of kit

[scuudz]

Since my captain/coach have asked me to seriously think about putting more effort into my bowling (because apparently I have great seam position when I bowl :S), I have been trying my best to focus on my bowling atleast half as much as I do on my batting.  I kept having issues with messing up my run-up and my body not being balanced when I delivered the ball, which led to me bowling numerous wides (mostly outside the right handers off-stump with me coming right-arm over).  The coach suggested that I not worry about my run-up at all, pretend the crease doesnt exist and just bowl the ball when you 'feel right' and are only looking at where you want to land the ball, and not at the crease.

This really worked for me.  Started to get it to pitch in line with off/off-middle......and proceeded to be driven powerfully off the front foot several times.  I said, "Now, I need to get the length right", to which my coach responded, "One miracle at a time."