Why Your Drives Go in the Air
Also known as: drive goes in the air, drives in the air, hitting drives in the air, caught at mid off, caught driving, mistimed drive in the air
Your drives go in the air when you hit the ball before your head is over it or before the ball has reached you. The bat face opens or points up, so the ball lifts. Common causes are driving at balls that are not full enough, reaching away from the body and hitting too early. Get your head over the ball and play it later.
A ground drive needs the ball to be met under the eyes, close to the front pad. The bat comes down straight with its face angled slightly down. When contact is ahead of the head, the bat is still rising. The ball goes up, often straight to mid-off, mid-on or cover.
Length is a big factor. A ball that is short of a driving length bounces higher at contact. Driving it on the up makes lofting more likely. Reaching for wide balls has the same effect, because the hands go away from the body. Pushing hard with the bottom hand can also tilt the bat face upward.
Fixes focus on timing and position. Let the ball come to you and strike it under your eyes. Keep your head over the front knee and the top hand in control. Choose drives only for balls that are full enough. If a ball is short of that length, defend it or play off the back foot.
Tips by skill level
Drive only half-volleys in the nets. Hold your finish with your head over your front knee.
Use throwdowns at good length and full length in turn. Drive only the full ones and defend the rest.
Example
A batter keeps getting caught at mid-off. He drives at good-length balls before they reach him. He waits for fuller balls and lets them come under his eyes, and his drives stay on the ground.
Why it matters
Getting caught in the ring from a drive is a frustrating way to get out. Keeping drives on the ground turns a risky shot into a reliable scoring one.
Common mistakes
- Driving at balls that are not full enough
- Hitting the ball in front of the head
- Reaching away from the body with the hands
- A dominant bottom hand that opens the bat face
Frequently asked questions
Why does my drive go in the air?
Usually you are hitting the ball before your head is over it, so the bat face points up. Driving at balls that are not full enough, or reaching away from your body, makes it worse.
How do I keep my drives on the ground?
Wait for the ball to come under your eyes and keep your head over your front knee. Lead with the top hand. Drive only balls that are full enough.
Related terms
- DriveIn cricket, a drive is an attacking stroke that sends a full-length ball along the ground in front of the wicket. It uses a straight, full swing of the bat and is unlike a golf drive.
- Lofted DriveA lofted drive lifts the ball over the fielders instead of along the ground. Get close to the pitch of the ball, keep your head still and swing through the line with a full face and a high finish. Choose a full ball and check the field first. Decide whether you only need to clear the infield or go all the way.
- Driving on the UpDriving on the up means driving a ball while it is still rising after the bounce. It is usually a good-length ball that you cannot reach as a half-volley. Keep your head still and over the ball, move your front foot towards its line and present a full, straight face. Punch through with a short, firm finish to keep the ball on the ground.
- Playing the Ball LatePlaying the ball late means meeting it close to your body, under your eyes, instead of reaching out in front for it. Your feet and backlift still move early. Only the contact happens late. It gives swing and seam less chance to beat you. It also keeps any edges soft.
- Top HandIn cricket batting, the top hand is the upper hand on the bat handle (for a right-hander, the left hand) and controls straight-bat strokes. A strong top hand keeps the bat face straight through the hitting zone.
- Timing the BallTiming the ball means meeting it with the middle of the bat at the right moment. The bat face should point where you want the ball to go. Keep your head still and over the ball, let it come under your eyes and swing smoothly through it. A well-timed shot travels further than the effort behind it suggests.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.