A image of a batter using what appears to be a hefty rod has been going around ever since Julian Wood, the recently hired power-hitting coach for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, arrived to help men’s and women’s cricket players improve their power-hitting abilities.
Julian Wood ordered Bangladesh T20I captain Litton Das to use that rod, called the ProVelocity Bat, to play shadow shots that ranged from drives to square cutters to pulls in a recent video released by the BCB.
A batter told Cricbuzz, “The idea is new as far as using the ProVelocity Bat is concerned and certainly we are enjoying the session with him (Julian Wood),” as they aim to use it to help them become more proficient power-hitters.
It is known that the ProVelocity Bat helps with correct sequencing, teaches compact mechanics, and improves hand-eye coordination.
Eight resistance bands on the sliding barrel prevent it from moving, and the more bands added, the more difficult it is to slide the barrel to the bat’s end.
In order to demonstrate that they reached high bat speed early in their swing and maintained it throughout, hitters who attempt to enhance their bat speed must continuously increase the interval between clicks.
Since hearing the double click indicates that they have good swing mechanics and bat speed to overcome resistance and get the barrel to slide all the way to the end of the bat, all of the hitters are eager to hear it.
Bangladesh women’s team batting coach Nasiruddin Faruque told Cricbuzz on Sunday that he had watched Julian Wood closely during his classes with the coaches and when he demonstrated the drill. “If the batters don’t have high bat speed or have flaws in their mechanics, they won’t be able to generate enough power to get the barrel to slide all the way down the shaft and as a result will only get a single click,” Faruque said.
“I believe it’s a smart approach. Although the idea is the same, we haven’t done this previously; instead, we’ve been hitting on a machine, throwing it down, or using a drop shot,” he stated. “I’m not sure what other people think, but this is a novel and creative idea. It’s the same thing; it’s like Bengali salad and Greek salad. Your swing will get better with time as you enjoy it. For individuals who wish to become proficient in death overs, this method is quite helpful.
Faruque stated that he is unsure if it would be successful at the top of the order because it is still unclear how effective it will be against swinging deliveries.
“We in the subcontinent like golf hitting more than baseball hitting, so I asked Wood about it. Wrist work is essential on the fields where we play in Mirpur,” he stated.
“I used Indian bowlers as an example; they just raise the ball within wrist-reaching distance. However, you can use your baseball-style horizontal bat swing if you go to bouncy tracks. He said, “I asked him this question, and he agreed.”