The term “fast bowling” has always been vague, but ever since the early days of cricket when people would describe their fast bowler as being like a cannonball coming off the field, it has mostly referred to bowlers that get the ball up really quickly. However, what does “really quickly” mean?
There are several different variables that determine how quickly or slowly a bowler gets his arm moving after he receives the ball. Some factors such as leg-swing and wrist-spin can have an effect on this initial momentum, but most speed is determined by how fast the bowler releases the ball.
The faster a bowler releases the ball, the more quick momentum he will gain. This means that practicing low balls in the batting area or dropping a catch won’t help you very much unless you are also working on your release time!
This article will go into detail about some drills that can be done during practice to improve your own fast bowling. You will learn not only which ones work, but for which types of players they can be used effectively.
How to be a good fast bowler
Being able as we discussed earlier, to identify your weaknesses is the first step towards fixing them. Once you know what things you are not very good at, you can work on those areas by practicing them over and over again.
Research and practice make perfect every time!
By doing this consistently, your skills will improve and you’ll notice that improvement in your game. It may take some time though, so don’t expect instantaneous results.
Another way to improve your bowling is by studying the games of other great bowlers. You can watch their videos or read interviews where they talk about how they improved.
You can also learn from their mistakes by noting what types of shots didn’t go well for them and why. By using these lessons, you can apply them to your own style of play.
Understanding arm-swing
The key to fast bowling is having an effective, efficient swing of the ball. As mentioned before, you do this by using your whole body to throw the ball. But how does it work?
When most people bowl a ball, they use their hands as the main moving part. When they place the ball onto the pitch with a closed hand, though, there is not much momentum generated. They have to open the hand quickly to get enough speed, which takes time and can cost you the game if the batsman is quick to react.
By instead using your wrist or forearm when throwing the ball, you are able to generate more momentum. By doing so, you will find that you don’t need to use as many revolutions of the hand to get the same result.
Learning to balance your body
A lot of fast bowlers struggle with this, however. They try to throw as hard as they can by using their legs and feet more actively, but then it becomes difficult to keep control of the ball.
Most good fast bowlers learn how to use their hands and arms effectively first before moving onto their legs and feet. This is because most of these great speedsters were trained from a young age on up!
They are naturally gifted at throwing the ball quickly, so they do not have to work too much on that part of the bowling action. By learning the different parts of the bowling move separately, you will be able to combine them properly later on.
There are three main parts to the bowling motion: leg swing, arm swing and neck movement. Each one comes after the other, and all must be done efficiently if you want to achieve top speed.
When you think about it, very few things in life move really slowly. For instance, when you stand up out of bed in the morning, you are spending energy to lift yourself off the ground.
Learning how to run the bowler’s run
The second part of learning fast bowling is being able to learn how to run the bowlers’ run. This is referred to as learning how to coach the pitcher in baseball terms or, more commonly, “coaching the field”.
This article has discussed some strategies for helping your slow left-arm bowler develop his spin game, but what about developing his ability to run the ball?
The main thing that makes a good spinner is their desire to continually work on improving their craft. As such, they must be willing to spend time practicing their skills and concepts on the mound.
Just like with batting, there are certain fundamentals of pitching that help players improve. One of these is understanding the off-speed pitches.
A front leg pivot can make any speed pitch look like a darting fastball. A quick back foot shift will make a slower pitch seem faster.
Learning how to release the ball
When bowling, there is an easy way to lose your game! This can occur when you overwork yourself by trying too hard. When you are bowling, your body naturally moves down, up, back, forward- you get the idea.
But not every bowler works with their hands as quickly as possible. Some enjoy working slowly on improving their arm speed, while others find it more difficult.
If the former finds it difficult to slow down, they may feel like they have to do something about it, which could end in frustration or even injury. They might try to force things and make bad habits that will cost them games.
On the other hand, if the latter feels like he/she cannot take it slower, then they may be throwing the ball slightly faster than needed, which is also a bad habit to have.
This article will talk about some ways to learn how to relax and gain control of your arms so that you do not need to rush and therefore hurt yourself. By doing this, you will also be able to maximize your fast bowlers potential.
Learning how to face the batter
As we mentioned before, fast bowling is mostly done with a quick front shoulder rotate. This rotational force comes from your shoulders being locked and pumped up as you run towards the pitch. Your hands are also typically held slightly above your body in a position that helps create speed.
When you’re facing the batter, it’s important to know when to start rotating your chest and arms and when to let them do their thing. The most effective way to learn this is by practicing!
Practice fast bowling for ten minutes and see what muscles get tired more quickly. Try doing one short minute where only your head or upper torso moves and then another where only your lower half (thighs and legs) move. Once those two areas become very tight, add the rest of the moving parts and see which ones feel relaxed.
By using your momentum to help yourself, your nervous system can relax and balance out the workout. Also, make sure to breathe deeply and slowly to give yourself some extra oxygen so your muscles don’t crampup.
Practice makes perfect
The best fast bowlers are constantly practicing their craft. They spend time in bowling centers either working on different styles or just to hone their own style.
Practicing your throwing technique, how you position yourself while delivering the ball, and how quickly you can get the ball moving is very important. Throwing with power is also important, but only if you have enough control to know when to use it!
Practice setting up for an allotted amount of time and then testing out your speed once you’re able to throw the ball as hard as you want. Some people may be faster than others no matter what they do, so there is not much you can do except learn how to combine your natural abilities with training.
Stay positive
As mentioned before, speed is what makes fast bowlers special. Therefore, you must believe that you are capable of bowling faster than your current self if you want to see results.
Many professional slow bowlers will tell you that they spent hours practicing their craft with no success until something clicked and they were able to throw the ball around more quickly.
They would spend weeks feeling hopeless while not seeing any progress then one day everything just seemed easier and they could not stop throwing balls.
That was when things started to change for the better. They knew there was a reason why they could finally get going on this practice session so they kept going back even after it took them several attempts to actually achieve their goal.
You should feel the same way. If you are working hard on improving your game then keep trying because you know you can do it! You have come too far to give up now.
Conclusion
Mechanical fast bowling is an element that many great bowlers have mastered. By having strong arms, hands, legs, and feet, you can create speed through your body’s natural momentum.
By incorporating some of these exercises into your routine, you will know how to identify which ones are effective and what results you want to see with each one.
This article has discussed several types of quick deliveries and some drills you can do to improve your arm strength, lower body agility, and overall fast bowling.
