Glide
Also known as: glide, dab, run-down
The glide is a delicate deflection played to a full or good-length ball outside off stump, using an open bat face to steer the ball fine on the off side between slip and third man.
The glide (sometimes called a dab or run-down) uses the pace of the delivery rather than generating its own. The batter presents an angled bat and allows the ball to glide off the face towards the third-man boundary. Wrists stay soft and the blade angles late, similar to the late cut but played to a full or good-length delivery rather than a short one. It is a precision stroke against pace bowling, relying on timing and placement. When executed well it takes only the finest edge — or no edge at all — and travels with the pace of the delivery, making it very hard to stop.
Example
A full ball angled in at off stump is met with an open blade at the last moment, the batter gliding it fine for four past a diving third slip.
Why it matters
The glide extends scoring range to the third-man area. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will assess bat-face angle and contact timing so batters can add this precision touch shot to their armoury.
Related terms
- Late CutThe late cut is a delicate batting stroke played to a short, wide ball outside off stump, using soft wrists to deflect the ball very fine to third man after it has almost passed the batter.
- 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.
- Back-Foot PlayBack-foot play is batting in which the batter moves the weight back and onto the rear foot to play short-pitched or rising deliveries, creating time by moving away from the pitch of the ball.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.