Coaching Corner 8 - Back-foot Drive
This shot is played mainly to a delivery short of a length which bounces about stump high. It can also be played to a long hop that keeps low or to a low full-toss. The ball is hit in the “V”, the arc between mid-on and cover, depending on the exact line of the delivery.
Main points:
- Follow the basic movements of the back defensive shot. (Coaching Corner 7).
- Instead of playing the ball gently, now “punch” the ball with a firm bottom hand grip, but always remembering that the top hand is in control and the front elbow bent.
- Make sure that you don’t lean back when you make contact, but that the ball is hit under the eyes.
- Finish with the bat and hands high for a checked follow-through.
Follow through in the direction of the shot.
Take the back foot back!
Common faults:
- Failing to keep the back foot parallel with the crease. (See Coaching Corner 7)
- Not getting the left elbow high enough. (See Coaching Corner 8).
- Not hitting the ball from a firm base – i.e. taking your front foot off the ground before contact is made.
- Pulling the head back rather than making contact with the ball under the eyes. Again, this will lead to the ball being hit up rather than down.
- Not moving the back foot across enough. (See Coaching Corner 7)
- Not following through in the direction of the shot.
- Not getting over the ball – make maximum use of your height and don’t bend the back leg.
- Playing the shot on a bad pitch where the ball is keeping low. Don’t play the shot against a swinging or turning delivery unless it is very short and therefore you have plenty of time to judge it.
Tip:
- See Coaching Corner 7
- Although this is a back-foot shot, at the point of impact, the balance and weight should be slightly forward. This will prevent you leaning back too far and hitting the ball in the air.