Topic: Afraid of the Ball (Read 2825 times)

FattusCattus · « **on:** March 17, 2019, 02:07:03 PM »

Has anyone done any training about, or reading on, being afraid of the ball or being afraid of being hit?

A 'friend of mine' (who definately isn't me at all, in any way), struggles with it when he bats. The main problem seems to be hanging back on leg stump and also the back foot, which naturally plays havoc with his otherwise imposing technique.

Any hints or tips to the phsychology of this and the techniques required, or is it as simple as banging a helmet on and getting over it?

Kulli · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2019, 02:12:10 PM »

Practice bit tennis balls or something softer until getting in the right positions is ingrained.

Hoover · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2019, 02:20:22 PM »

Quote from: FattusCattus on March 17, 2019, 02:07:03 PM

Has anyone done any training about, or reading on, being afraid of the ball or being afraid of being hit?

A 'friend of mine' (who definately isn't me at all, in any way), struggles with it when he bats. The main problem seems to be hanging back on leg stump and also the back foot, which naturally plays havoc with his otherwise imposing technique.

Any hints or tips to the phsychology of this and the techniques required, or is it as simple as banging a helmet on and getting over it?

I have been through this. I am from Perth,Western Australia. I missed the 3 very quick bouncers in 1986 batting in a hat trying to pull as I got a few runs with the shot. The 3rd put me in hospital for 3 days. Depressed fracture of the cheekbone.
When I came back a month later I was targeted bigtime and didn�t cope. Alec Stewart was in the middle of his 8 years playing grade cricket here and he offered to help. Buckets of tennis balls with a bowling machine at the WACA indoor centre at my head at serious pace, batting with a half bat had me in tears. 2 hours later I was nailing them an I was cured.
Try that.

liscon12 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2019, 03:20:49 PM »

For me, a fear of being hit is down to one reason and one reason alone....not seeing the ball.

The times when I'm scared or unsure is when I loose the ball out of the hand, after that point you have no idea where the ball is going or what it might hit. If I can see it, I can deal with it

For me it is just a case of seeing balls and balls and balls and balls, you can never have enough deliveries to practice on. I think the ideas suggested about using a tennis racket is good due to the pain being lowered, but just make sure that you constantly focus on the ball because once you loose it you can't control the outcome.

six and out · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2019, 03:41:27 PM »

Yep as some of the others have said.

I got taught this by my dad when I was young when he saw me backing away when I was batting.

He took me in the nets put a breeze block behind my ankles and bounced tennis balls at my head. And just said to me, you have 3 choices - hook, pull or duck... or you get hit.

Fight or flight then and you soon learn what works for you.

KW9221 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2019, 04:53:04 PM »

Last Thursday in Nets, decent pace bowler threw me a bouncer that hit my thumb and it is broken for now. It was my first ball, I continued to bat for next 15 minutes. You shouldn�t let your fear of ball stop you from playing. Give him some throw downs in nets using tennis ball and let him get some confidence.

brokenbat · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2019, 06:33:51 PM »

Slightly out of the box... try boxing. I did Muay Thai for six months a few years back, and much to my surprise, I started watching the ball a lot better and also stayed a lot calmer vs the pace. I think it�s cuz when you�re sparring, you can�t flinch / close your eyes - you have to stay focused on the incoming punch, and block it appropriately. I distinctly remember getting tagged on the nose many times (cuz I would close my eyes when the trainer would punch) before getting it right.

I think there is a direct benefit to batting (you�re training yourself to watch the ball/punch, while staying calm but also alert and ready to pounce). Your �friend� will also have a lot of fun, and get super fit in the process.

JK Lewis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2019, 08:09:37 PM »

Totally agree with most here, tennis balls from the Bola first and then work up the confidence. One other thing though, I recommend that your friend should definitely get an eye test, just to be sure that his vision hasn't changed. I use contact lenses, and always make sure to have an up to date prescription before the new season.

prim0pyr0 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2019, 11:45:48 AM »

Don't know if it would work, but would be interest to see results of him batting while hypnotized. could have him believe he's Cook or Gayle.

strang · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2019, 12:59:07 PM »

Quote from: JK Lewis on March 17, 2019, 08:09:37 PM

Totally agree with most here, tennis balls from the Bola first and then work up the confidence. One other thing though, I recommend that your friend should definitely get an eye test, just to be sure that his vision hasn't changed. I use contact lenses, and always make sure to have an up to date prescription before the new season.

I started out nets this winter, wearing a helmet with glasses. Total nightmare. The glass frames, quite thick cause I'm quite cool, kept interacting with the helmet bars. Made me quite panicky a couple of times. Now gone to contacts, which I normally dont like, but for batting are worth the slight irritation.
I stopped playing the game at 10 because I got hit in the face and broke my nose, fielding Pretty keen on the protective kit this time round.

roco · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2019, 01:04:36 PM »

Strange one for me as I�ve come across a couple of players who have struggled with this and asked for help (my only shot is the pull)

When I worked with them it can down to confidence in technique. When the ball was short they lost their technique so lost the bat as head started moving

The tennis ball thing is good if you have facilities or accuracy as gets used to keeping eye on nap but also underarms from close range getting them used to the ball coming there and getting them to trust that when the ball is at them their body will take over their brain and just react was the best way I found brucie

Author Topic: Afraid of the Ball (Read 2825 times)

FattusCattus

Afraid of the Ball

Kulli

Re: Afraid of the Ball

Hoover

Re: Afraid of the Ball

liscon12

Re: Afraid of the Ball

six and out

Re: Afraid of the Ball

KW9221

Re: Afraid of the Ball

brokenbat

Re: Afraid of the Ball

JK Lewis

Re: Afraid of the Ball

prim0pyr0

Re: Afraid of the Ball

strang

Re: Afraid of the Ball

roco

Re: Afraid of the Ball