Slower Ball
Also known as: change-up, slower delivery, off-pace delivery
The slower ball is a variation delivery bowled by a pace bowler at by a lot reduced speed. This means usually 20–30 km/h below full pace. This means to deceive a batter expecting the standard pace.
Pace bowlers develop slower balls to create deception without changing their action. Variations include the off-cutter, the leg-cutter, the back-of-the-hand delivery (ball held behind the hand at release), the knuckleball (ball gripped on the knuckles). The scrambled seam. The key is that the bowling action looks identical to the full-pace delivery. This means the deception comes from a subtle change in finger position or wrist angle at release. If a batter commits early to the expected pace, the slower ball causes them to play through the ball too early. This results in a top edge, a missed ball, or a catch to a deep fielder. The slower ball is a crucial weapon in death-overs bowling in limited-overs cricket.
Learn to bowl the off-cutter first as your slower ball. It is the easiest variation to disguise. This is because the grip change is minimal and the release point does not change.
Develop at least three different slower-ball variations — off-cutter, back-of-hand, and knuckle ball — so the batter cannot pre-plan their response based on a single trigger.
Example
The fast bowler delivers a back-of-the-hand slower ball at 20 km/h below full pace. The batter, expecting full pace, swings early and top-edges to deep mid-wicket.
Why it matters
The slower ball is the pace bowler's most important limited-overs variation. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will detect arm speed and wrist position differences to help bowlers disguise this delivery effectively.
How it shows up on video
A well-disguised slower ball is identifiable on video only by the altered finger or wrist position at the point of release. This means the run-up, loading, and arm swing look identical to the fast delivery. Batter footage shows them beginning their swing too early, getting ahead of the ball, and finding the bat through the hitting zone before the ball arrives. This produces a skied shot or a mishit to a fielder.
Common mistakes
- Decelerating the arm in the approach to the crease, telegraphing the slower ball before release
- Only having one type of slower ball so batters can quickly identify it after seeing it once
- Bowling the slower ball at the wrong length — too full makes it easy to drive, too short makes it easy to pull
- Using the slower ball as a default option under pressure rather than as a strategic surprise
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage cricket analysis (currently in development) will compare arm-speed metrics at release across deliveries to identify slower balls and measure the consistency of the bowler's disguise across a spell.
Related terms
- Death-Overs BowlingDeath-overs bowling is the skill of bowling the final overs of a limited-overs innings. This means typically overs 17–20 in T20 or overs 41–50 in one-day cricket. This means when the batting team is trying to hit every ball for a boundary.
- Off-CutterThe off-cutter is a pace bowling variation where the ball is cut off the index finger and middle finger to spin towards the off side off the pitch, acting like a slow off-break without a full-length spin action.
- Leg-CutterThe leg-cutter is a pace bowling variation where the ball is cut off the middle and ring fingers to move towards the leg side off the pitch, acting like a slow leg-break.
- Good LengthA good-length delivery is one that pitches at the spot that forces the batter to be uncertain whether to play off the front foot or the back foot. This means the most dangerous line for any bowler.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.