Jun 7, 2013

How To Throw Harder In The Game Of Cricket

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By Lucille Lamb


Having a powerful throw is a massive advantage in the sport of cricket; not only can it help with general fielding, a strong throw also sends a powerful psychological message to the opposing team. Batsmen are much less likely to try and steal runs when the ball is hit in your direction, if you have demonstrated that you have a strong throw. Learning how to throw harder is not difficult either.

It might sound obvious, but one of the best ways of improving the strength and accuracy of your throwing is to throw a cricket ball. Only by actually throwing can your arm muscles, ligaments and joints develop the strength and flexibility needed for superb throwing. Practice with a partner where possible, and if no one is available, give your practice structure by throwing at target.

When practicing like this though, it is a good idea not to over train, as this can lead to injury. Practice should lead to some minimal tiredness in your arm, as this is needed for it to strengthen. Practicing for longer than half an hour or so is not a good idea though, as this can over strain the muscles in the arm and lead to injury.

Practicing regularly for short periods is therefore the best way to train your arm to throw better. Adding 15 minutes a day of throwing to your training routine can have a huge effect. Practicing the skill for this long will not strain your arm too much.

If you do not complement this training with some more general fitness and strengthening work, however, your improvement will eventually hit a ceiling. It is important to do strengthening work on your arm and shoulder muscles. Using an arm cycle at the gym is a good idea, as is doing more push ups and weight training.

Although upper body strength is important to throwing, it is also vital to improve your core strength, and your leg strength. Both of these things help to provide a firm base from which the arm can launch a powerful effort. Improve core and lower body strength by doing squats, either with or without weights, and 'planking' and other core strengthening exercises.

Stretching to maintain flexibility is also very important for anyone who wants to try and improve the power of their throwing. Stretching and staying flexible will help to keep your throwing arm free from injury, and will also help to improve the range of movement in the limb, and its responsiveness. If possible, it is also a good idea to have sports massage, to keep the deep tissue free of knots, tension and toxins.

Learning how to throw harder is something which any cricketer can work on, and it can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your fielding. Pay attention to small details, and throw a cricket ball regularly. You must also complement practicing the skill with fitness, strengthening and flexibility work, to aid your improvement and stop you becoming injured easily.




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