Posted by Witness the greats play the pull shot and you will learn nothing. A good pull shot is played instinctively after careful deliberation and many hours of practice.
Whether played off the front or back foot, your weight must be even, progressing and at once forward-moving and retreating. The central pivot of the pull is the ball and your bat must describe a weak parabola bethwart it.
Make good contact and you will feel marginal and overwrought. This is not to be sniffed at and almost entirely incorrect, so keep practising and remember this memorable and helpful mantra:
“Height over waist, ball bethwart bat. Width beyond knee, bat bethwart legs.”
Perform stood on one leg for added authority.
Never before had I felt so insipred as the moment I read “bethwart”. It was phenomenal. A masterful use of language so perfect I was almost moved to tears.
The I saw it used again in the last line. Twice. As though this most invigourating word were nought but a joke.
For shame.
‘Bethwart’ is the best word we have ever invented. Superior even to ‘innocuoso’. We are so pleased that you felt that way (initially).
In defence of the later usage, it is a word that warrants inclusion in a mantra and repetition adds to the rhythm.
In defence of future usage in still-to-come Cricket School updates… er… well… We’ll be honest, it’s a classic example of our own personal mantra: “Repeat until funny”.
That’s the fiftieth time you’ve told us your personal mantra now, and I still don’t… oh wait a minute, now I do – hahahahaha, very good.
“you will feel marginal and overwrought” – surely this is your constant state of mind, O King?
I’m going to be running an afterschool cricket club in the summer term. These posts are forming the cornerstone of my coaching manual.
Stay with us for the on-drive.
Think we’ve put together the definitive description as to how to play that stroke.
Not entirely sure we’ll make it that far. I intend to spend 7 weeks on the forward defensive.
Dan, you will be producing the future Scottish cricketers who are bound to shine at the 2015 world cup. Oh, hang on….
Apologies, that post was far too close to topical cricket discussion for my liking
More Bobby Key and Cricket Bats in unusual places posts please KC!
And animals, preferably cats. Although I might be able to engineer a black Lab being indifferent to the India V England game on Sunday.