Using a Bowling Machine

The cricket bowling machine is one of the best innovations to date for a batsman/woman to groove their shots. Graeme Hick, along with other countless international and county cricketers, spend hours on the bowling machine grooving and enhancing their technique. The bowling machine is the quickest, most consistent and accurate bowler in the world, with the ability to bowl all the various types of delivery including spin. It therefore can simulate a spell of bowling from a world class bowler whether it be spin or pace.

Safety Guidelines when using a bowling machine:

• Never leave bowling machine unattended when dealing with youngsters and inexperienced adult cricketers. (Remove power lead and take with you during break times)
• We advise junior players under the age of 18 to always be accompanied by an adult, preferably a qualified coach.
• When setting up bowling machines length and line, and before the batters first delivery make batsman stand to the side of the netting and watch the first few deliveries go down. (Avoid batter facing very first delivery of session without having seen the speed and length of a ball)
• When possible place a piece of netting or put a crash mat across the lower part of the bowling machine between batsman and feeder for protection.
• When feeding stand on a secure object with enough height to clearly see over the top of the bowling machine.
• Always put transformer box behind the line of the feeder, so a ball does not deflect off it.
• Try to avoid the use of different coloured and textured balls.
• Never align the bowling machine with middle stump. No bowlers bowl from this position. Unless you have a reason for putting it there e.g. curing a specific fault. Generally position as if a right arm bowler is coming over the wicket.
• Before feeding each delivery, fully extend arm with ball, clearly showing ball to batsman before inserting into machine.
• Give batsman ample time between deliveries.
• When using bowling machine to simulate short fast bowling always notify batsman if you are going to change the speed and length slightly.
• Never be too hasty to push a young player to play short pitched deliveries with the speed of machine of excess of 65mph. (60mph on a hard rubbery surface can seem a lot quicker than 60mph on a softer slower surface. Take this into consideration when setting the speeds)

Below is a selection of videos of Graeme Hick practicing with a bowling machine in the nets.

	1: A one day scoring shot, front foot flick off the legs, useful to put away a half volley pitching on leg stump. 2: Hick explores the tactical side of facing the bowling machine by leaving a good length ball outside off stump. 3: A half volley on off stump towards mid off, presenting the full face of the bat against the ball, with pronounced leading elbow while playing a text book off drive.
	1: Hick plays a front foot drive through the off side.
	1: Hick plays a compact technically correct forward defensive with the bat slightly forward of the pad, presenting the full face of the bat to the ball.
	1: A front foot drive played back up the wicket with a full face of the bat.