How to play the off drive

Certain shots just look beautiful and the off-drive, also known as a straight drive, is one of them! For centuries, players of every level have enjoyed getting on the front foot to pace and slow bowlers before driving them back up the pitch, often just to the left of their follow-through.

From all ages on the village green to world-class players at the world's top stadiums, the off-drive is sure to produce anything from a ripple of applause from a small audience to a roar of appreciation from a sell-out crowd. Unsurprisingly, many international batters of recent times have perfected this shot with the likes of Marvan Attapattu, Marnus Labuschagne, Shane Watson, and Ajinkya Rahane synonymous with the drive.

But as with all attacking shots, playing the off-drive does come with associated risks. Firstly, if the ball were to spin, swing, or move away off the pitch then the batter could be a prime candidate for a thin edge through to the wicket-keeper or first slip. And equally, should the ball come back in towards the batter then there is the risk of being struck on the pad and an LBW decision coming into play.

An off drive is an attacking shot played on the front foot that goes anywhere between the non-striker’s stumps and to the right of an extra-cover fielder.

Similar to the cover drive, the batter can play the shot and then finish with a full follow-through following the line of the ball.

The off-drive can be played along the ground but equally, if the ball pitches in the right area and the batter is feeling confident, the ball can be sent in the air, all the way to the boundary for maximum runs.

The Off-Drive Technique

As with any drive, this shot is played on the front foot to a ball which the batter judges to be ‘pitched up’. Although it can not be played to a short delivery, if a ball is on a ‘good length’ then the shot can be played but the ball is likely to go in the air.

The line of the ball also needs to be considered and the shot is most easily played to a delivery in line with off-stump or just outside. Anything wider and the batter will look to play a cover drivecover drive, straighter and the batter may attempt an on-drive. As you can see from the below image, the batter has picked up the line and when within his stance and is getting ready to make the first movement towards the ball.

Step into the shot with the front foot planted close to the pitch of the delivery and the back foot remaining grounded in the crease - see the image below. The batter has head weight over his front foot, still in a perfectly side-on position awaiting to meet the ball below his eyeline.

If looking to play the off drive along the ground, the batter’s head should be over the ball at the point of impact. If the aim is to play the shot in the air then the head should be more upright. In the below image our pro batter is looking to hit the ball through the infeild along the ground, so is hitting the ball in the 'hitting zone' below his eye-line with the face of the bat facing slightly towards the ground.

The head of the batter should remain in line with the ball and be facing forward into the shot, thus allowing them to see where the ball has gone and making a decision on a run.

Whether driving along the ground or in the air, it is key to retain the ‘shape of the shot’. This is done by not trying to hit the ball too hard, but rather concentrating on the timing and follow-through.

The above image demonstrates nicely how to keep your balance and following through with the shot, your arms leading into the ball and weight and momentum going towards the ball and where the shot has been played.

Conclusion

The off-drive is a great shot to be able to play as it enables you to score runs off a ball which the bowler could have considered to be on a good line! Seeing the ball race to the boundary, as you hold your pose, provides one of the great feelings for a batter in the game.

Ask a team-mate to provide some consistent throw downs on a drive-able length and let’s get practicing hitting the ball on the front foot with a full follow-through.

The pro player we have used for the videos and images uses a Trogon Cricket Grade 1+ English willow bat with our black and white sticker range.

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How to play the off drive

The Off-Drive Technique

Conclusion

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