Perfect Your Fast Swing Bowling Technique-Expert Tips and Tricks

Bowling fast and accurately is one of the most exciting skills in cricket. However, it requires proper technique and lots of practice to consistently bowl quick and take wickets. In this article we talk about Perfect Your Fast Swing Bowling Technique-Expert Tips and Tricks.

The Run-Up

An effective run-up sets the foundation for a good fast bowling action. Keep these tips in mind:

• Length – Your run-up should be between 15 to 20 strides long. Make sure it’s not too short or too long. Experiment to find your optimal length.
• Alignment – Run straight towards the stumps in a narrow corridor. Do not arc to the left or right as it affects control. Your last few strides should direct momentum straight down the pitch.
• Acceleration – Start off jogging then transition into a rhythmical sprint. Reach maximum controlled speed in your final few steps. The acceleration gives momentum to your delivery stride.
• Consistency – Measure and mark your run-up so the number of steps and alignment stays the same. Practice it repeatedly till your body automatically hits the cues. This builds muscle memory.

The Boundary Stride

The penultimate stride is critical for optimal body alignment and transfer of momentum:

• Length and Width – Land your second last stride on the popping crease between 1 to 1.5 feet wide of the stumps. Too close or too wide affects alignment.
• Knee Height – Lift your lead knee quite high pointing down the pitch. This helps in creating torque and loading your back leg.
• Weight Transfer – Transfer all your weight and momentum onto the front foot which acts as the brake. Feel the stretch loading your back leg muscles.

The Delivery Stride

The final stride begins opening up your chest and shoulders to the batter:

• Front Foot Plant – Land firmly on the ball of your front foot, pointing down the pitch towards the batter. Keep your head still and eyes level at all times.
• Back Foot Drive – Simultaneously drive the back leg down hard with the knee pointing straight ahead. Do not collapse it sideways else you lose power.
• Shoulder Alignment – Keep your chest and shoulders sideways on. Imagine driving your back hip and shoulder towards the batter for direction and whip.

The Arm Action

A fast arm paired with good body alignment creates extra pace and bounce:

• High Elbow – Keep your bowling arm high with elbow pointing upward as you make your delivery stride. This creates torque and helps in slinging down faster at release.
• Rotate Shoulders – As the front foot lands, rotate your upper body along the spine axis so the chest faces the batter. Do not open up too early.
• Straight Arm – Release the ball with a fully straight arm close to the ear. The elbow should be pointing downwards at about a 30-degree angle during release.
• Flick the Wrist – Impart maximum speed by flicking the wrist sharply downwards through release. Imagine slinging a stone at the batter with a straight high-elbowed action.

The Follow Through

An aggressive full-bodied follow through enhances control, speed, and fluidity:

• Chest Over Front Leg – Allow the momentum to carry your head, chest and shoulders over and past the landing front leg bending at the waist. Do not collapse sideways.
• Back Leg Swing – The back leg should swing around through with knee and ankle pointing ahead. This continues driving the shoulder for a long fluid follow through.
• Eyes on Target – Keep your eyes fixed at the batter’s end even after the ball is released. Hold the pose till you complete the full follow through action.

Building Pace and Control

Implement these best practices into your coaching to generate more speed while maintaining accuracy:

• Analyze Video – Record your bowling action from the front and side angles. Compare it with professional fast bowlers to observe technical gaps.
• Target Areas – Identify your strongest and weakest zones on the pitch. Focus training on landing maximum deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty.
• Strength Training – Build a tailored plan focusing on core, back, shoulder and leg strength using weights, medicine balls, resistance bands and cardio.
• Repeat Drills – Master technical cues through segmented repetitive drills for run up, load up, delivery stride, arm action and follow through. Go back to basics.
• Measure Speed – Use speed measuring devices to check your pace during net practice. Set incremental targets e.g. touch 135 kmph within x months.
• Analyze Batters – Study batter strengths and weaknesses. Bowl according to carefully planned line and length combinations.

Outthink the Batter

Besides speed, fast bowlers also need guile and smarts to outmaneuver opponents.

• Study Batters – Analyze technique to identify strengths, weaknesses and reflex triggers of target batters during match simulations.
• Field Placements – Set fields which cut scoring areas and build pressure. Have catching fielders in areas where the batter tends to hit.
• Change Pace – Vary every alternate delivery between fast, slower, swinging, seaming, bouncer and yorkers. Don’t become predictable.
• Change Angle – Alter your wide/close of stumps position between overs to create a new angle and challenge comfort zones.
• Maintain Pressure – Bowl consecutive dot balls directing at stumps, close catchers and follow with a boundary ball to induce false shots.

By combining these tips and best practices into your coaching regime, you can significantly improve the speed, control and cleverness of your fast bowling over time. With passion and smart work, you could also make the cut to represent local teams and beyond. I sincerely hope you find this “Perfect Your Fast Swing Bowling Technique-Expert Tips and Tricks” article helpful.