1. The ABC’s of BATTING TECHNIQUE Gary Palmer
© Gary Palmer 2010

2. But without the nuts and bolts grammar you won’t know where to start”
“If you want to write a good novel, you need a good vocabulary and a firm grasp of grammar.
A Test Match innings is a cricketer’s novel, created slowly and carefully for his own pleasure and that of his team mates and supporters; and in this instance, shots are his grammar and vocabulary.
Without a cricketing vocabulary, you simply can’t craft an innings: like many people who are not good writers, you might have a splendid idea, a match saving innings, a match-winning century.
But without the nuts and bolts grammar you won’t know where to start”
Bob Woolmer
Art and Science of Cricket 2008

3. To be an effective technical coach you must have a thorough knowledge of the mechanics of correct batting techniques
© Gary Palmer 2010

4. Key Reasons For Adjusting Technique
Has the ball been hit towards the correct target area
Has the ball been hit Cleanly
Have you missed the ball
Do you keep getting out a particular way
Are you finding it difficult to hit a certain target area
Is you performance inconsistent

5. Tips for correcting technique.
Have a reason for changing it.
Know what you need to change.
Identify the source of the technical fault.
Adjust Technique in order of priority
Demonstrate and explain correct Technical change
Explain the benefits of technical correction.
Finally correct the technique and let the player feel and see the improvement in his/her shots.

6. THE MOST IMPORTANT SHOTS TO CONSTRUCT TECHNIQUE
The most important shots to coach perfect technique are:
Front Foot Drive & Defence in the V
Back Foot Drive & Defence in the V
These shots form the foundation of good basic
Technique.
Your Individual flair is built around these solid
foundations.
© Gary Palmer 2010

7. CONSTRUCTING, ANALIZING AND FIXING TECHNIQUE
The A,B,C’S are the key: - ALIGNMENT - BALANCE - COMPLETION OF SHOT
To Play the perfect shot you must strive to be
well balanced
perfectly Aligned
exaggerated completion of shot
© Gary Palmer 2010

8. We need to analyze Balance and Alignment at the key 5 stages
well balanced
perfectly Aligned
exaggerated completion of shot
Set Up ( Aligned to Bowler)
Backswing
Leaning in and stepping forward or Back
Contact with ball
Completion of Shot
To play the perfect shot you must maintain Alignment and Balance throughout the above 5 key stages .
Always analyze technique in the above sequence

9. exaggerated completion of shot
well balanced
perfectly Aligned
exaggerated completion of shot
ALIGNMENT
What do we mean by Alignment?
Good Alignment of the body allows the full face of the bat to swing in a straight line from backswing to target area allowing you to hit relevant scoring areas consistently
When do we analyze Alignment?
- Alignment to bowler in Stance.
- Alignment on Backswing.
- Alignment to ball when Stepping forward or back
- Alignment on Contact with ball
- Alignment on Completion of Shot
Alignment = Direction
© Gary Palmer 2010

10. exaggerated completion of shot
well balanced
perfectly Aligned
exaggerated completion of shot
BALANCE
What do we mean by Balance?
Good Balance allows you to control your shots so they are more effective and consistent
When do we analyze Balance?
- Balance in Stance
- Balance during Backswing
- Balance Stepping Forward or Backward
- Balance on Contact with Ball
- Balance on Completion of Shot
Good Balance = Control of Shots

11. Question - What is the importance of Alignment?
Alignment allows you to hit your target area with good technique, thus minimising the risks of getting out.
Alignment = Consistent Direction of Shot
© Gary Palmer 2010

12. What do we Align to ? The Bowler Ball Target Area What do we Align ?
Head & Shoulder ( Head being the Cross Hair)
Feet & Hips
Forearms ( Especially Leading elbow)
Bat Path (Straight line from Backswing to Target)
Maintain Balance throughout and Finish shot with toe of bat at target area.

13. What Components of Technique do we need to Align
Stance
Feet/ Shoulders/Leading Elbow & forearms/Head/v’s in grip
Backswing
- Head/Shoulders/Leading elbow & Forearms/feet/Back swing.
Alignment stepping forward or Back
Alignment on contact with ball
Head/Shoulders/Feet/Leading Elbow & Forearms/Bat path to target
Alignment to Target area
Head/Shoulders/feet/Leading elbow & Forearms/Full Face of bat
Alignment on Completion of Shot
Head/Shoulders/Feet/Leading elbow & Forearms/Toe of bat to target.
The Check Drive is the simplest and best method of driving.
© Gary Palmer 2010

14. Question- What is the importance of good balance.
Balance allows you to control a shot.
Balance = Control of Shot.
© Gary Palmer 2010

15. Technical components of Balance
Front foot Shoots in the V
Head Always leans to ball forward of body
Head always forward of front foot on contact
Head Always above and in line with body
Weight over front foot with back heel raised.
Back foot Shots in the V .
Head forward of body when stepping back
weight on back foot with head over front foot
Head Always above and in line body

16. COMPLETION OF SHOT What do we mean by Completion of Shot?
well balanced
perfectly Aligned
exaggerated completion of shot
COMPLETION OF SHOT
What do we mean by Completion of Shot?
Technically correct exaggerated shape of Shots
What do we analyze on Completion of Shot?
Balance, Alignment and good exaggerated shape
Components of Alignment to Check
Head/Shoulders/Feet/Leading elbow & Forearms/Toe of bat to target.
Check for Good Balance.
Good Completion of Shot = Consistency of Shot

17. Question -Why is it important to have good completion of shot.
This allows you good contact with the ball, and also makes hitting the target area easy.
Good completion of shot lengthens your hitting zone which leads to consistency of hitting the ball cleanly.
Completion of Shot = Consistency

18. There is only one way to play a technically perfect shot.
This means…..
no mixed messages
coaches and players all have the same information to work with.
Simplicity
Lets make Robots of correct technique so batting looks and becomes more natural and efficient.
Robots give the correct information perform efficiently and this equates to good performances.

19. Once players have the tools of good technique they can begin to express themselves within their game plans.
The Coaches job is to lead the process of Constructing a players technique.
The players job is to lead the development of their game plans with input from the coach.
Through experiences of success and failure in pressurised match situations the player will work out what game plans he or she is most comfortable with.

20. TECHNIQUE IS THE KEY TO DELIVERING A WIDE VARIETY OF GAME PLANS SUCCESSFULLY
-Technique gives you a wide variety of game plan options. -Technique is the key to surviving challenging spells of bowling. - Technique helps you play the swinging and turning delivery effectively - Technique is the key to consistency - Technique is the key to a match winning innings - Technique gives you confidence and self-belief

21. CORRECT TECHNIQUE OF THE BASIC SHOTS NEEDS TO BE ACHIEVED TO ENJOY CONSISTANT AND POSITIVE PERFORMANCES.
-Once the above is achieved it must be regularly serviced and maintained. -Only when this is done does the mental side of batting become of paramount importance, the mentally strong players who can handle pressure will become the best players.