Bowling
Understanding Your Action
Imagine two lines, one running through your hips and one running through your shoulders. When you bowl these two lines should be almost parallel.
- If your feet, hips and shoulders are all in line and pointed in the same direction as the pitch you have a side-on action.
- If your feet hips and shoulders are all in line and at right-angles to the pitch you have a front-on action.
- If your feet, hips and shoulders are not all in line, then you have a mixed action.
To understand how a mixed action can damage your back, stand sideways on and completely still. Now slowly rotate your hips and shoulders until your head is facing forwards at around 90 degrees to your upper body.
- Can you feel the tension and twist in your spine?
- Does it feel comfortable?
A mixed action creates that tension and discomfort every single time you bowl so remember the saying:
“Keep the hips and shoulders in line and you’ll be fine – twist the back and it will crack!”
