The Front Foot Drives

View Videos of Front Foot Drives

OFF DRIVE:

STRAIGHT DRIVE:

ON DRIVE:

Video Analysis of the Front Foot Drives

BACKSWING, STEPPING FORWARDS TO THE LINE OF THE BALL

As the bowler is about to deliver the ball

1. With a dominant top hand and relaxed bottom hand, pick up bat over off stump, open bat face slightly.

• Push hands up behind back hip pocket
• Create diamond shape with arms
• Leading elbow bent at 90°, pointing down wicket
• Free rear arm from body
• Bottom hand holds bat with fingers and thumb only

2. From sideways position, lean towards ball with head and shoulder forward of body. As bat nears top of backswing start to make initial foot movement.

• Eyes level
• Leave hands behind hip pocket
• Head in line with ball, forward of front foot
• Head and leading shoulder pointing up the wicket

3. Step towards the line of the ball, and bend front knee. Keep back leg straight.
(Note differences for on drive)

• Weight on front foot
• Head directly above front foot
• Inside toe of back foot touching ground
• Maintain sideways position of body

EXECUTING FRONT FOOT DRIVES
Do not try to hit the ball too hard
Think! Let the ball come, and stroke it forward of front foot with correct technique

4. From top of backswing, SWING arms and full face of bat towards line of ball, with forearms passing close to body.

• Arms maintain diamond shape throughout
• Keep arms relaxed at all times
• Top hand controls shot, bottom hand guides bat

5. Strike ball forward of the front foot, keeping top hand dominant and bottom hand relaxed.

• Hands forward of bat face on impact
• Bottom hand - hold bat with fingers and thumb only
• Forearms in line with each other
• Strike ball with full face of bat
• Inside toe of back foot grounded (not tip of toe)

6. Complete follow-through with leading elbow high above hands and close to the head. Toe of bat follows the line of the ball.

• Eyes remain level
• Diamond shape still maintained with arms
• Looking through the hands
• Keep back leg straight
• Bottom hand - hold with fingers and thumb only
• Hands high

COACHING POINTS TO LOOK FOR FROM SIDE VIEW

1. Lean towards ball with head and shoulder forward of body.
2. Good step forward towards the pitch of the ball, head directly above the front foot.
3. Backswing remains raised (hands up high behind back hip pocket).
4. Weight on bent front leg.
5. Back leg straight with heel raised and inside of toe touching the floor, thus ensuring sideways body position.
6. Diamond shape maintained by arms throughout shot.
7. Bat swings through the line of the ball.
8. Toe of bat follows direction in which ball has been hit.
9. Leading elbow high, close to head.
10. Bottom hand, fingers and thumb grip (to allow flow of arms and bat through line of ball).
11. High hands above eye level after the ball has been struck, forearms in line with the bat.

DIFFERENCES WITH FRONT FOOT ON DRIVES

Think! Time the ball with correct technique
1. Dip head and shoulder more than for off and straight drives, and LET THE BALL COME MORE.
2. Open leading shoulder to point at straight mid on, so hip opens slightly, allowing the bat to swing through.
(Maintain more open body position throughout.)
3. Take a SHORT stride towards the ball, stand tall on balls of feet and point toe of front foot directly up the wicket.
4. Plant front foot down the line of the leg stump - NO WIDER.
(If you miss the ball it should hit your front pad.)
5. Stand tall, get up onto toes with weight on front foot and head forward and directly above body. EYES LEVEL.
6. As the bat SWINGS through the line of the ball, work harder to maintain:

• Dominant top hand
• Relaxed fingers and thumb bottom hand grip
• Diamond shape with arms (high leading elbow)
• High hands
• Hands forward of bat face on impact