How to Play Front Foot Straight Drive in Cricket

Last Updated: June 5, 2022

Cricket is a game of a batsman and a bowler and the fielders as well. A batsman can play different types of shots depending on the ball that the bowler delivers. Straight drive is a classic shot that every batsman dreams of making it perfect. Straight drive is one the most beautiful shots in cricket played by a batsman. Some players struggle to play this graceful shot. This article will help play this shot better with more confident and ease.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Mastering the Stance

1
Turn your non-dominant side towards the bowler.
- If you are right-handed, turn your left side towards the bowler. If you are left-handed, do the opposite.
2
Hold the bat.
- Put the bat face down on the ground between your legs, the handle of the bat should be facing you.
- Hold the bat handle with your hands and keep the dominant hand on the bottom, close to the blade of the bat, an inch further from the blade.
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3
Lift the bat up.
- Hold the bat out to the side so that it's parallel with the ground, or keep it pointed up or down at a slight angle. Keep your wrists close to your waist line.
- The handle of the bat should be facing the bowler. The face of the bat (the flat side of the bat) should be facing the ground.
4
Position your feet.
- Place your feet apart from one another to the point you feel comfortable.
- Do not put your feet too wide from one another or you won't be able to play the shot.
- Keep your body weight on the middle of two legs.
- Bend your knees slightly, and keep your chest parallel to your knees, so that you are not standing stiff and ready to move.
- Make sure you are always bouncing your knees a little for better balance.
- If you are right-handed slide your left foot slightly behind and turn your body slightly to the left side.
5
Position of your head.
- The most important part of the stance is positioning your head because your body will go that way where your head goes.
- Your head should be close to your left shoulder facing the bowler.
- Your eyes should be on the ball.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

When Ready to Face the Ball

1
Hit the bat on the ground two-three times and keep your arms moving.
- This will help you keep your body balanced and your arms moving.
- Do not hit the bat on the ground too hard - just a little touch on the ground is okay.
2
Watch the ball.
- Watch the ball as much as possible when the bowler releases the ball from their hand.
3
Move your left foot to the front.
- Right before the bowler ready to release the ball from his hand, move your front foot to the front.
- Make sure your head parallel to your knees.
- Do not move your head further than that or you will lose balance.
- Keep your arms at the same position like they were.
- If you are a right-handed batsman your front foot will be your left foot. If you are a left-handed batsman, simply the opposite foot.
4
Shift your body weight to the front foot.
- Wait for the ball to come to you.
- When you shift your body weight to the front foot, your right foot should be on the toe and your right leg should be straight.
- When the ball comes to you, get ready to play the straight drive shot.
- When the ball reaches you, move your arms forward in the line of the ball. Try to hit the ball when the ball is right under your head.
5
Swing your arms toward the ball.
- Swing your arms forward in the line of the ball and hit the ball.
6
Follow through with the shot.
- There are two types of follow through. One is check drive and the other one is full swing.
- Check drive helps you stay balanced and get a good contact of the ball with the bat. Batsman plays full swing when they hit the ball with power. Check drive is more basic however.
- We will stick to check drive as shown above.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Practicing at Home

1
Get a bat and ball as well as a rope.
2
Hang the ball using the rope.
3
Get into your comfortable stance as mentioned above.
- Master the stance before hitting the ball.
- Keep moving from your front foot back to your original stance several times to get comfortable with it.
4
Hit the ball.
- Hit the ball with the middle part of the bat.
- Do this everyday for 30 minutes to an hour. You will finally master the straight drive shot.
- When you are ready, play on the field and show off your skills when playing this classic shot.