Coaching Profile:
Fin Gledhill
Bowling
At the moment the majority of effort and force generated for Fin to deliver the ball is heavily focused around his upper chest and arms, rather than the energy he could create using his entire body to drive forwards and transfer that energy through the ball upon release.
He loads up leaning heavily onto his back leg with his bowling arm winding up a long way back in a sling shot type motion (such an amount of pull backwards prevents any forwards motion/momentum from his body - which is why he relies on purely his arm speed to move the ball forwards - not his body - and as discussed during the session, his run up isn't really benefiting him at the moment). More so as he gets older, he could be at risk of damaging his pectoral muscle/s or deltoid through such a heavy stretching load in that area.
At the moment the majority of effort and force generated for Fin to deliver the ball is heavily focused around his upper chest and arms, rather than the energy he could create using his entire body to drive forwards and transfer that energy through the ball upon release.
He loads up leaning heavily onto his back leg with his bowling arm winding up a long way back in a sling shot type motion (such an amount of pull backwards prevents any forwards motion/momentum from his body - which is why he relies on purely his arm speed to move the ball forwards - not his body - and as discussed during the session, his run up isn't really benefiting him at the moment). More so as he gets older, he could be at risk of damaging his pectoral muscle/s or deltoid through such a heavy stretching load in that area.
Drill for working on his arm alignment...
- From static back foot contact position...
(i) Back foot at a 45 degree angle to the bowling crease line/stumps line (pointing towards fine leg - or say almost 2 on a clock face)
(ii) Front foot can start slightly off the ground courtesy of a very SLIGHT leaning back (coiled spring) movement....but then striding purposefully STRAIGHT forwards (a strong well balanced stride - not too small to prevent weight driving forwards, not too big to be over- stretching too far and off balance)
(iii) Front arm locked in tight and strong in front of body used for direction & ready to pull straight forwards and down
(iv) Bowling hand just under chin with seam splitting two fingers & thumb beneath for support
The above is all aimed at keeping feet, hips & shoulders aligned to then work together to drive straight forwards.
......when driving forward over front knee towards the batsman's stumps; extend front arm straight forwards and then pull straight down aiming to keep in as tight to left thigh as possible, to act as a pulley for the bowling arm to come around and forwards over the top as high as possible at release.
The direction of the ball is not a major issue at the moment whilst he tries to change the mechanics of his action, but Fin needs to try to build up muscle memory of his entire body working for him to drive the ball forwards (and put less strain through his upper chest and right shoulder).
- From static back foot contact position...
(i) Back foot at a 45 degree angle to the bowling crease line/stumps line (pointing towards fine leg - or say almost 2 on a clock face)
(ii) Front foot can start slightly off the ground courtesy of a very SLIGHT leaning back (coiled spring) movement....but then striding purposefully STRAIGHT forwards (a strong well balanced stride - not too small to prevent weight driving forwards, not too big to be over- stretching too far and off balance)
(iii) Front arm locked in tight and strong in front of body used for direction & ready to pull straight forwards and down
(iv) Bowling hand just under chin with seam splitting two fingers & thumb beneath for support
The above is all aimed at keeping feet, hips & shoulders aligned to then work together to drive straight forwards.
......when driving forward over front knee towards the batsman's stumps; extend front arm straight forwards and then pull straight down aiming to keep in as tight to left thigh as possible, to act as a pulley for the bowling arm to come around and forwards over the top as high as possible at release.
The direction of the ball is not a major issue at the moment whilst he tries to change the mechanics of his action, but Fin needs to try to build up muscle memory of his entire body working for him to drive the ball forwards (and put less strain through his upper chest and right shoulder).
