Cricket Batting Tips – The Grip
Here is how to properly grip the bat in cricket to avoid problems:
Cricket Batsman Tips – Top Grip The top hand will hold the top of the bat handle. The top of your index finger and the top of the bat will form a “V” with the knuckle of your index finger aligned with the center of the top of the bat.
Playing more shots with the front foot, such as drives and slice shots, requires a firm and powerful upper-hand follow-through. If the top hand is more prominent, it generates more power than the bottom hand, leading to stable technique and correct hitting angle.
The top hand grip should be firm on the bat. Upon impact of the ball, it must not spin in the batsman’s hands while he is playing shots. This can cause top edges because the entire face has been turned to the side and the ball hitting these edges, more often than not, seems to find hands willing to catch the ball downfield.
Adam Gilchrist and the squash ball. Adam Gilchrist was famous for using a squash ball, gripping it between the handle of the bat and his upper hand. He squeezed it tight with his top hand to make sure the bat doesn’t spin and the hand provides all the top force when playing shots. This was discovered only after he played a masterful 149 from 104 balls in the 2007 Cricket World Cup Final in Bridgetown. This caused quite a stir as it was suggested that it was not legal. However, no law was violated. It was smart and innovative batting!
Cricket Batsman Spikes – Lower Grip The bottom hand will grip the bat in the region of the bottom of the handle. The thumb and the knuckle of the index finger will also form a “V”.
Only the leading and striking finger will grip the bat with the rest of the fingers only “resting” on the handle of the bat. The bottom hand shouldn’t grip the bat too tightly and should only serve as a guide on most forward shots. Too much power will result in shots that lift the ball into the air and waste time due to the fact that the top hand has too much power.
There are many players who use their bottom hand more to generate power instead of their top hand. This is commonly known as underhanded players. When playing cross shots i.e. slice shot, hook, sweep, the power of the bottom hand will play a bigger role. Hitters may decide to make use of the lower grips; completed around the bat when all fingers grip tightly, known as the “O” grip. This is not recommended until the hitter is completely comfortable gripping the bat and can master the basics. If both hands are very low on the bat, then the “O” grip is used. This is discussed in the next chapter.
Cricket Batman Tips – Hands Together The best way to grip the bat is to place it on the ground with the handle pointing toward your feet and the toe of the bat pointing away from your feet.
Bend your elbows and lift the bat just below your waist toward your back leg. The rhythm must be
horizontal. The swing of the bat should be comfortable when swinging in a straight line and with the elbows bent as if holding a baby. The grip should be firm and comfortable with little pressure on the front arms.
The hitter who uses a high grip on the handle will tend to play more off the front foot and groundstrokes and will avoid hooking and cutting early innings before they have settled into the crease and are comfortable playing on the other side of the innings. the line. Adam Gilchrist’s squash ball was also used because his grip was high on the bat and his lower hand was gripping the bat too tightly in an “O” shape.
This causes problems. Now, with the squash ball, the bulge in your upper hand forces the lower hand to form the “V”.
Players from the subcontinent who play for India, Sri-Lanka and Pakistan tend to grip the bat very low on the handle. These hitters are naturally very “dolls”. Rotating your wrists during contact can be of great help against spin pins to move the ball into the gaps. These players are good at playing straight off the wicket, ie slice, hook and drop shots. This could make driving difficult. However, if the lower hand does not grip the bat with the “O” grip but simply grips the bat with the thumb and forefinger, this will definitely allow them to drive comfortably.
Again, it’s about mastering the basics and then adjusting to what feels most comfortable to the hitter.
