Flick
Also known as: flick off the pads, wrist flick
The flick is an attacking wrist stroke played to a full ball on the leg side. This uses a strong wrist roll to whip the ball to the mid-wicket or square-leg area.
Unlike the delicate leg glance, the flick is a power stroke. The front foot strides forward or the back foot plants firmly, and as the full ball arrives on the legs or pads, the batter rolls the wrists over the ball with a sharp, punchy swing. This means sending it with pace to the leg side. The stroke is especially associated with batters from the subcontinent who play on low, slow pitches where the ball comes on to the bat slowly. A well-executed flick is difficult for fielders to cut off because of the angle and pace it generates.
Think of rolling your bottom hand over the top of the ball at contact. This means that wrist roll is what gives the flick its power and direction.
Develop the ability to flick from both the front foot and back foot. As a result, you can play the stroke against full-length and good-length deliveries on the leg stump.
Example
The batter strides forward to a full delivery on the pads and flicks it powerfully through mid-wicket for four.
Why it matters
The flick converts leg-stump deliveries into attacking scoring opportunities. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will assess wrist rotation and weight transfer to develop this high-value stroke.
How it shows up on video
Correct execution shows a strong wrist roll over the ball at the moment of contact, with the back foot or front foot planted and weight driving through the stroke. This sends the ball powerfully to mid-wicket or square leg. Incorrect technique shows the batter pushing through the line without wrist rotation. This results in the ball going straight to mid-on or being chipped in the air.
Common mistakes
- Not rolling the wrists through the stroke, turning the flick into a weak push to mid-on
- Playing across the line too early and mistiming the wrist snap, leading to a leading edge
- Failing to transfer weight into the stroke, producing a weak flick that pops up to a fielder
- Playing a flick when the ball is too wide of leg stump and the angle is wrong for the stroke
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage cricket analysis (currently in development) will measure wrist rotation speed, contact point relative to the body, and ball-exit trajectory angle to score flick-shot quality.
Related terms
- GlanceThe glance (or leg glance) is a wristy deflection played to a ball on the leg side, angling the bat face to direct the ball fine to leg without force.
- On DriveThe on drive is a classical front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on middle or leg stump. This sends the ball through the mid-on region on the leg side.
- Weight TransferWeight transfer in batting is the movement of the batter's bodyweight from back foot to front foot (or vice versa) as the stroke is executed, generating power and setting up correct balance through impact.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.