Print

[InternalTraining]

^ You are comparing apples and oranges.

Pros have access to some of the best cricket training personnel in the world. Clubbies don't. Big difference.

[Sloggerz]

I couldn't disagree more.

- Bowling machine do take time to get used to but it is not impossible. Absence of a "realistic" bowler actually improved my batting as my ball-tracking (with eyes) improved.
- Maybe there are plenty of human ball throwers in England who can "swing, cut and spin" a ball using SideArm. Zero in my location.
- Machine is available when humans are not.
- My Bola JR can land a ball anywhere I want! I have yet to meet a club cricketer who can land the ball on the same spot like McGrath! None. You are completely wrong here.
- There is no "large margin of error" with a bowling machine. The balls are not dropped on a dime but between the speeds of 55-65, the pitch is accurate enough. I can practice all my shots with a Bola JR. To build muscle memory, all you need is a machine set on low speed.
- How many balls can you throw in an hour session or longer? Bola JR never complains about shoulder aches or pains.

Valid point. Machine is available when humans are not! Hate relying on others for throw down or practice. Actually one of the factors that put me off playing for many years.

[InternalTraining]

^ I bought my machine because human were either: a.) not available; b.) only practiced with their friends and excluded everyone else.

On top of the that, if I do find human bowlers, 60% of balls are bowled wide! Trying to get a decent batting practice within a club setting is a schitty experience!

Your time and your enjoyment is worth lot more than the cost of a Bola JR. You won't regret it.

[WalkingWicket37]

@InternalTraining if 60% of the balls you face in training are wide I think your club needs a bowling coach...

[edge]

For most clubbies, circumstances will dictate which is best - if all your mates are crap at throwing, use a machine! If your local machine net costs loads of money to hire and only has 5 and a half balls in the bucket, better off trying your luck buying the mrs a sidearm for Christmas.

[Sloggerz]

^ I bought my machine because human were either: a.) not available; b.) only practiced with their friends and excluded everyone else.

On top of the that, if I do find human bowlers, 60% of balls are bowled wide! Trying to get a decent batting practice within a club setting is a schitty experience!

Your time and your enjoyment is worth lot more than the cost of a Bola JR. You won't regret it.

I can relate to the wides in club nets being a left hander.
 Is the bola JR quick enough? How does it compare to the main model apart from the speed.

[Sloggerz]

Has anyone come across freebowler. Thoughts on that?

[InternalTraining]

I can relate to the wides in club nets being a left hander.
 Is the bola JR quick enough? How does it compare to the main model apart from the speed.

I find Bola JR to be more than adequate. The max speed is 65 mph. I generally set it between 57.5 to 62.5 mph. If I want to practice against quick bowling, I move the machine to 18 or 17 yard distance from the popping crease. The swing control works beautifully and you can get banana shaped in and out-swing deliveries. Bola JR is easy to transport and very light to carry in/out of the car trunk or back seat. The poles are short enough to fit in a small/mid-size sedan if you roll the back seat over. I use a portable battery and a feeder extension which gives me 18 deliveries per feed. In my opinion, it is better than Bola PRO for club use. Two types of balls are available, a softer orange and slightly harder white to mimic hard/fast bounce. Again, don't be decieved by the soft ball ("JR") image, it is the best tool to improve your timing. After a few rounds, you will notice soft balls racing to long off/on boundaries because of sheer "timing". It is an amazing training tool.

I also own the regular (PRO) Bola model and it is a heavy beast to setup and transport to/from your nets. Also, the higher speeds really server no benefit when training muscle memory. Plus, Bola regular balls are hard and injuries are a real concern (I ended up in ER with a golf ball sized contusion trying to pull a 75mph ball - I pulled too fast and got hit on my right forearm).

Per my discussions with the owner of Bola, the impression (my understanding not exact statements) was that  the JR machine was really developed as a portable version and not as a kids/"junior" player machine. But, they also didn't want to undercut the adult market for the regular (PRO or big) Bola machine. So, they market the lighter/portable machine as a "JR" or kids machine.

Having said all the nice things about Bola JR, one thing is that it can't throw crazy Warne/Mushy style spin balls. I just set the speed to 45-50 mph and set the swing to 3 or 4 degrees and aim the nose high. Balls get a good drift and some turn for spin. It is good enough for me.

[Sloggerz]

Thanks for the detailed review. Bola Jr sounds like an excellent option. Does the portable battery take long to charge? How long does the battery last once its fully charged?

[InternalTraining]

You can shop around for a good battery and a charger. I bought a cheapo charger and a decent batter. On full charge, I can run the machine for close to 2 hours. You can also use a power pack and connect the machine to a wall outlet (depending on where you use the machine).

[Mfarank]

Its simple, if you're an introvert, use a bowling machine. If you're an extrovert, throwdowns are the way to go

[SurreySam]

Simple!  What if I'm bipolar?

[WalkingWicket37]

Simple!  What if I'm bipolar?

Really classy making jokes about mental health mate...

http://www.openingupcricket.com/#

[SurreySam]

Really classy making jokes about mental health mate...

http://www.openingupcricket.com/#

Joke or statement...

[adb club cricketer]

Bowling machine is pretty useless, i would never use one again.  It actually damages your batting more than it helps IMO.
Practice against actual bowlers bowling is best. Throwdowns is next best.