How Your Neck Could Be Holding Back Your Batting

Cricket Matters | Expert Cricket Coaching, Mindset & Performance Tips

In this episode of, Josh and James explore a surprising factor in improving your batting performance: your neck. They delve into why physical traits like neck mobility and alignment are crucial for batting, complementing their prior discussion on the importance of physical readiness before focusing on technique.

You'll Learn:

• How restricted neck rotation or alignment impacts key aspects of batting, from maintaining balance to tracking the ball's line and length. Learn why batting is more about "head to the ball" than foot positioning.
• Why keeping your head level is essential for clear vision and power in shots. A skewed head position disrupts both your perception and your ability to generate consistent power.
• How screening for cervical rotation, flexion, and extension helps identify physical restrictions that may affect your side-on stance and overall batting technique.
• How a proper side-on stance enhances your bat swing path, allows better hand extension, and avoids the pitfalls of being overly front-on during play.

Key Takeaways:

• A still and level head is the foundation of good batting. Blurred vision from head movement or misalignment compromises your ability to track the ball and play shots effectively.
• Physical limitations in neck rotation and extension lead to poor posture and positioning, reducing power and accuracy in batting.
• A proper side-on position creates space for the hands to move back further, increasing the bat’s power and efficiency during a swing.
• Coaches should screen players for neck mobility issues, which often underlie technical flaws in batting stance and shot execution.
• Many players unconsciously adjust their stance due to neck discomfort, leading to technical compromises like being overly square-on at the crease.

Quotes:
“A side-on position gives you that extra 2–3 inches in your back swing, which can make all the difference.”
“If you’re already skewed, you’ll struggle to track the ball, and your power will be compromised.”
“We need to know as coaches—is it a physical restriction causing the issue or just comfort?"

Find James on:

• Instagram: @jamesbreese
• Twitter: @_jamesbreese

To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. The Role of Head Alignment in Precision (00:01:11)

3. Rotation and Side-On Batting (00:02:43)

4. Physical Limitations vs. Comfort in Technique (00:04:57)

5. Mobility, Tone, and Retraining Solutions (00:06:42)