High Knee/front Leg During Action?

[copthat1]

Hi fellow wrist spinners,

Basically what is holding me back in taking the next step is my ability to land the ball in the right area on a consistent basis. My downfall is pitching the odd one short, and on a bad day too many short. To try and keep the ball fuller, would it be useful to try and incorporate a higher front leg into my action? It's hard to explain what I mean, but basically try to knee myself in the chest with my front leg, if that makes sense. I get the feeling that this would allow me to rock back, and then inevitably to rock forward, creating more momentum towards the target to and allowing me to propel the ball.

At the moment, all my drive is coming from the back leg and the pivot, but sometimes when that fails then my action becomes front on and I drag it down. Basically I think that getting my front knee nice and high would help eliminate or mask any weaker tendencies in my final "drive" through the crease when I actually deliver the ball.

Make any sense?


Something similar to Nathan Lyon's action at the 3.35 minute mark of this video. Notice how his front knee at his highest point is about 1 and half stumps high.

 

[Spin Lizard]

I dunno about high front leg, I suspect it would make little difference.

If what you are doing works when you drive off your back leg properly, then getting rid of the 'fail' to drive is what you need to do. If Nathan Lyon imitation helps you do this, then go for it. If it's wearing a hat when you bowl, do that. Whatever.

Everything prior to the pivot is largely cosmetic. Gotta get that pivot grooved, consistent, and able to hold up under game pressure.



*edit: I'm just a lowly finger spinner. same principles still apply though.

 

[boogiespinner]

Looks sound to me, if you do it, I think the knee should be at the high point as the back leg makes contact. I don't think you can rock back, say, quite like a baseball pitcher.

 

[someblokecalleddave]

You mean this stage of his action...

I've been having a similar conversation about the fact that my foot hardly leaves the ground. This does look to be extreme though, but... if you think it works for you and forces an improvement in your bowling I can't see that there'll be any harm. I guess some of the people who specialise in bio-mechanics will look at it and pose the question is it likely to cause any injuries?

 

[someblokecalleddave]

I dunno about high front leg, I suspect it would make little difference.

If what you are doing works when you drive off your back leg properly, then getting rid of the 'fail' to drive is what you need to do. If Nathan Lyon imitation helps you do this, then go for it. If it's wearing a hat when you bowl, do that. Whatever.

Everything prior to the pivot is largely cosmetic. Gotta get that pivot grooved, consistent, and able to hold up under game pressure.



*edit: I'm just a lowly finger spinner. same principles still apply though.

We all love Spin Lizard, he's one of us, despite his finger-spinning antics!