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[NT50]

Hiya Guys,

I only started bowling off-spin during the off-season, and despite being relatively new i had some pretty decent results, taking 8 wickets @7.5 in my first 3 games.
I then got injured and missed a large part of the season, only returning last Saturday. Since which I've played 4 games, taken 1 wicket and have been going at about 10 an over.
My main concern has been that i just can't find my line and length with my action all over the place.

This Sunday it got so bad i tossed the ball to our opening bowler after i'd finished my 2 overs and asked my captain to take me out of the attack after being hit for several boundaries.

I went to training tonight and tried something out that seemed to work. I slowed down my approach to the crease, loosened my grip on the ball and released it a bit earlier than i was on Sunday.

The ball came out a lot slower, but got a lot more flight and my first 20 or so balls landed in and around 5th stump line on a good length turning back into off-stump. It got a bit more wayward towards the end but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as it was on Sunday.

As someone who has never had any kind of coaching in regards to off-spin, i have nothing to fall back on when it all goes wrong.

Releasing the ball 'behind my head' seemed to give me a lot more control over length and a looser grip seemed to stop me pushing the ball wide of the line i wanted.
Previously i had an almost death-like grip on the ball and didn't release it until it came into my eye-line.

Is this a common coaching point when it comes to off-spin?

And is there any more things i should be looking to do in my action to make my line&length more consistent?

Thanks!

[WalkingWicket37]

You're over thinking it.

The best way to get better at bowling is to bowl!
Mark a box that you want to be landing the ball in and just keep bowling into it. You'll soon get your natural pace and action, with the accuracy coming with practice.

Simples 

[KW9221]

As a fellow off spinner, my advice is to keep your grip loose because loosen grip mean more turn. It won't turn as sharp but you will get more turn in general. You will need to come up with more variation.

[tuffers007]

As a slow left arm spinner. Turns the opposite way but the action is the same. Get as tall as you can. High front arm and bring down quickly. As if youre trying to put it in your pocket. This will help you get your body over and through your action at a decent pace. Will also help with the flight. Whilst in your bowling action you need to pivot on yout front leg bringing your back leg round to finish in front of your front leg. This will help with the drift and again the flight. Visualising where you want to land the ball will help wih your control.
I get asked a lot by junior spinners. I always say to them "spinning the ball is easy, putting it where you want it is the hard part"
Best thing to do is practice, practice and more practice. The control will come in time.Dont ever give up!!!
If you get hit for a few runs, who cares. Youre a spinner thats part of the job.
Watch clips of graham swan on you tube. Bloody brilliant bowler. Youll be surprised at how mych you can learn from just watching.

[richthekeeper]

I've got the opposite problem, I can bowl perfect off spin line and length but have zero ability to turn the ball 

[WalkingWicket37]

I've got the opposite problem, I can bowl perfect off spin line and length but have zero ability to turn the ball 

Have you tried taking the gloves off to do it? 

[Nothing2SeeHere]

Hiya Guys,
.
My main concern has been that i just can't find my line and length with my action all over the place.

As someone who has never had any kind of coaching in regards to off-spin, i have nothing to fall back on when it all goes wrong.

Have you been through the drills here? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A32iTdLGfM

I'd love to have a set of drills like this for Leg spin but the action isn't quite the same to do it. I think working through the drills gives you the confidence to back yourself and learn that one ball doesn't mean 2 or 3 because you always recover next ball when you bowl in practice.

I have been bowling (slow) seam this year for the first time (previously been a wicket keeper but short of quick people in the field this year). First over I had a shocker of 3 consecutive wides but I recovered and bowled through including the final over where I had to restrict the opposition to less than 5 runs to win the game. Its the confidence from practice that meant I expected each ball to be a decent ball (by my standards) that allowed me to take it on the chin and keep going.