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Sports Glossary
Learn the language of your game — answer-first definitions across every SwingVantage sport, each with a real example. Free to explore.
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23 terms
- Bottom HandIntermediateIn cricket batting, the bottom hand is the lower hand on the bat handle, the right hand for a right-hander. It controls cross-bat power and direction; too dominant, it closes the bat face.Cricket
- BouncerIntermediateA bouncer is a fast, short-pitched delivery that rears up toward the batter's head or chest. It is used to intimidate, disrupt balance, and set up the fuller ball.Cricket
- Cover DriveIntermediateThe cover drive is an elegant front-foot stroke that sends a full ball outside off stump through cover, between point and mid-off.Cricket
- Direct Hit Run-OutIntermediateA direct hit run-out is when a fielder's throw hits the stumps directly, not relayed through the wicket-keeper. It dismisses a batter who is short of their crease.Cricket
- Diving StopIntermediateA diving stop is a fielding technique where the player launches themselves horizontally through the air to stop a ball that is beyond their standing reach, often preventing a certain boundary.Cricket
- FlickIntermediateThe 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.Cricket
- GlanceIntermediateThe 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.Cricket
- Hook ShotIntermediateThe hook shot is an attacking batting stroke played to a short-pitched, rising ball aimed at the body or head — the batter pivots and whips the ball to the leg side, often in front of square.Cricket
- In-SwingIntermediateIn-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from off to leg (in towards the body of a right-handed batter), often targeting the stumps or pads.Cricket
- JudgmentIntermediateJudgment in cricket batting is the ability to quickly decide which deliveries to play and which to leave, choosing the right shot for each ball bowled.Cricket
- Leg-SpinIntermediateLeg-spin is spin bowling where a right-arm bowler spins the ball from leg to off: away from a right-handed batter, or left to right as that batter sees it. The bowler's wrist rotation provides the spin.Cricket
- On DriveIntermediateThe on drive is a classical front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on middle or leg stump. It sends the ball through the mid-on region on the leg side.Cricket
- Out-SwingIntermediateOut-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from leg to off (away from the body of a right-handed batter), enticing an edge towards the slip cordon.Cricket
- Pull ShotIntermediateThe pull shot is a back-foot, cross-bat stroke played to a short-pitched ball. It swings the ball around to the leg side, usually between mid-wicket and square leg.Cricket
- Seam BowlingIntermediateSeam bowling is a style of pace bowling where the ball is gripped so the seam is upright and the ball lands on the seam. This causes it to deviate unpredictably off the pitch.Cricket
- Slip CatchingIntermediateSlip catching is the specialist skill of catching edges in the slip cordon, the fielders placed behind the batter on the off side. It usually takes exceptional reflexes and soft hands.Cricket
- Slog SweepIntermediateThe slog sweep is a powerful, high-risk batting stroke where the batter sweeps a short-pitched or good-length ball over deep mid-wicket, aiming to hit it out of the ground for six.Cricket
- Slower BallIntermediateThe slower ball is a pace bowler's variation delivery, usually 20–30 km/h below full pace. It is meant to deceive a batter expecting the standard pace.Cricket
- Square CutIntermediateThe square cut is a back-foot, cross-bat stroke played to a short, wide ball outside off stump. It slashes the ball square on the off side, toward point.Cricket
- Straight DriveIntermediateThe straight drive is a front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on or just outside off stump. It sends the ball back past the bowler, straight down the ground.Cricket
- Throwing Mechanics – FieldingIntermediateThrowing mechanics in cricket fielding refers to the technique for generating an accurate, powerful, low-trajectory throw from the outfield or inner ring to the wicket-keeper or bowler's end stumps.Cricket
- Top HandIntermediateIn 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
- YorkerIntermediateA yorker is a delivery bowled to pitch right at the batter's feet, under the swinging bat. It is one of the hardest balls to score off and a key death-overs weapon.Cricket
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