Construction of Technique through innovative drills

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Construction of Technique through innovative drills

Average coaches - can spot faults

Good coaches - can spot faults and show corrections

Excellent Coaches - can spot faults, show corrections and through drills and coaching techniques can actually correct or construct techniques.

There are not 3 different ways of playing the front foot straight drive.
This is too confusing for both players and coaches. The most effective technique that has been used for years by all great players as a template to work towards is the right one:

Backswing should go back towards off stump

During backswing the elbow of the back arm should point towards the stumps and a diamond shape should
be formed with the arms.

Start to step at the top of the backswing or on the second part of the backswing for those players with two
backswing movements. (Do not start stepping immediately you begin to pick the bat up)

It is more important to bend the front arm to 90 degrees, rather than cock the wrists, this allows a batter to
play with high hands.

Always exaggerate technique in practice especially the
full face through the line of the ball for as long as
possible. Encourage check swing when coaching front
and back foot drives but finish shot with high hands.
The check swing allows the bat to swing through the
line of the ball for longer, therefore is a more efficient
technique.

When driving, dip leading shoulder, but focus on getting
the head towards the ball and let shoulder follow Do
not turn shoulder too much.

Controlled flow of the bat through the line of the ball
with relaxed forearms, trying to swing the bat quickly
when playing straight batted shots compromises
technique and leads to mistakes. (Hook, cut and pull
being the exception)

Slower swing of the bat enhances timing and creates time for the player.

When driving let the ball come to you but make contact slightly forward of the front foot, this will free your
arms up, improve weight distribution towards the front foot and therefore lengthen your hitting zone thus
enhancing stroke play.

When on driving take very small stride, point front foot
up the wicket and don't plant your foot any wider than
the line of leg stump.

When playing forward defence make contact with the
ball forward of the front pad, so if the ball turns you
can still play it with the bat.

Bottom hand, one handed practice is counter
productive when coaching front and back foot drives.

Top handed practice when working on the drives is the
best practice, you could possibility enforce.

When grooving shots get players to hold the finished
shane of the shot for a few seconds so it is easily
imprinted into a players muscle memory.

Shadowing the correct shot after playing it incorrectly is very good practice and should be enforced when
possible.

Re petition of shot against an easy tennis ball feed coupled with over emphasis of correct batting shapes is
the secret to constructing good technique.