Front Shoulder Opening Early
Also known as: front shoulder opening, opening the front shoulder, front shoulder falling away, opening up too early when driving, chest-on at contact, shoulder opening when driving
When your front shoulder opens early, your chest turns towards the bowler before contact. The bat then comes across the line, and drives get sliced, edged or dragged. It often comes from the head falling away or reaching for the ball. Lead with the front shoulder pointing at the ball and keep it there until after contact.
On front-foot drives and in defence, coaches want the front shoulder to point down the line of the ball through contact. That keeps the bat path straight. If the shoulder opens, the body turns square on to the bowler too soon. The arms then swing across the line instead of through it.
Common causes include the head falling towards the off side and trying to hit the ball too hard. Reaching for a wide ball is another. A very open stance can do it too if the batter never turns back side-on. The result is a ball that goes squarer than intended, off the outside edge or in the air.
Fixes start with the head. Lead with the head and front shoulder towards the ball. Let the front foot follow. Hold the finish with the front shoulder still pointing at the target. Useful drills include hitting throwdowns with only the top hand and driving at a cone placed where the ball should go.
Tips by skill level
Practise drives holding a finish with your front shoulder pointing at your target. Ask a partner to check it on every shot.
Use one-handed top-hand drives in throwdowns. The top hand and front shoulder work together. An early opening is easy to feel in this drill.
Example
The batter keeps slicing her cover drives to point. Side-on video shows her chest facing the bowler before the ball arrives. She works on leading with her front shoulder. Her drives start going through cover.
Why it matters
A shoulder that opens early drags the bat across the line. Keeping it closed is a simple fix for many sliced drives and edges.
Common mistakes
- Turning the chest to the bowler before contact
- Trying to hit drives too hard
- Letting the head fall to the off side
- Reaching for wide balls with the arms
Frequently asked questions
Why does my front shoulder open when I drive?
Common reasons are the head falling to the off side, trying to hit too hard or reaching for the ball. Each one turns your chest to the bowler before contact. Lead with your head and front shoulder towards the ball.
How do I keep my front shoulder closed when batting?
Point your front shoulder at the ball as you stride and keep it there until after contact. Hold your finish. Top-hand-only drives in practice help you feel it.
Related terms
- Head PositionHead position in batting refers to where and how still the batter's head is during the stroke — keeping the head level, forward-leaning, and over the ball is a universal marker of quality technique.
- Straight BatPlaying with a straight bat means swinging the bat vertically, in line with the ball's path. It is the safest, most orthodox way to defend and drive full or good-length balls.
- Cover DriveThe cover drive is an elegant front-foot stroke that sends a full ball outside off stump through cover, between point and mid-off.
- Nicking Off (Edging Behind)Nicking off is edging a ball outside off stump to the wicket-keeper or slips. It usually comes from playing at balls you could leave, pushing at the ball with hard hands or reaching away from your body. Know your off stump, play late under your eyes with soft hands and leave anything you do not need to play.
- Open Batting Stance (Chest-On Stance)An open batting stance turns your chest towards the bowler, with your front foot pulled back towards the leg side. Many T20 batters use it to see the ball with both eyes and to set a wide, stable base for hitting. It works in any format if you still turn side-on for off-side shots.
- 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.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.