How to Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin

{{fa}}Whether an armchair fan, or a budding Muttiah Muralitharan, wikiHow will give you a start at improving your technique. A good spinner can be the difference maker in your team, and knowing how to throw an off spin is will definitely make you one.
[[Category:Cricket]]
== Steps ==
=== Grip Bowl ===
#Understand the off spin effect. An off-spin, or off break, delivery turns from the offside to the leg side when bowled at a right-handed batter, or from left to right as you look down the pitch. That means, it moves into a right-handed batsman and away from a left handed batsman.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#Grip the ball. The grip for spin bowling is very different from seam bowling. <br><br>[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#* Notice that the seam turns from vertical to horizontal in the grip.
#Position the fingers. The middle joints of the index, middle finger and third finger are well spread across the seam. The little finger and thumb are not involved.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#Spin it. With off spin, you are looking to rotate or spin the ball from your forefinger to your third finger[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#Release. The fingers rotate as the ball exits the hand.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*This is almost like turning a doorknob as you release it from the front of your hand.
#Aim. You should aim to bowl the ball outside the off stump. If you bowl too close to the stumps, the batsman may dispatch your ball to the boundary on the leg side.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#Get ready to play. Following the steps above, you should now be able to bowl off-spin and hopefully take some wickets. [[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]

=== Caliber Bowl ===
#Press the ball with your thumb on one side and four fingers on the other.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 8.jpg|center]]
#Start bowling. As you do, rotate your hand slowly until your hand stands perpendicular to the shoulder.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 9.jpg|center]]
#As soon as your hand attains this position, spin the ball. Do this by moving your hand slightly turned to the leg side.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 10.jpg|center]]
#Bowl. [[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 11.jpg|center]]

=== Slipper ===
#Grip three fingers each side of the ball.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 12.jpg|center]]
#Run a medium pace.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 13.jpg|center]]
#Bowl leg side. It will slip under the bat and clip the wicket.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 14.jpg|center]]
#Make sure you rotate off your second finger to add this spinning effect.[[Image:Grip the Ball to Bowl Offspin Step 15.jpg|center]]

== Tips ==
*This can take a lot of practice; keep at it until it becomes second nature.
*Once you have mastered spin, try to throw a Yorker spin.
* Make sure to not grip the ball too tightly.
*An easier hand position and one that looks like you bowling a medium pace is to hold it as if you were going to bowl it normally but at the last second twist your fingers as if you are opening a door.
*The ball should be pitched just outside off stump turning back to middle and off. It should bounce about three metres from the batsmen.
*You should attempt to drift the ball out slightly and deceive the batsman in the flight.

== Things You'll Need ==
*Cricket ball
*Cricket bat
*Measured pitch
*Set of stumps for wicket
* Marker

== Related wikiHows ==
*[[Reverse Swing a Cricket Ball]]
*[[Captain a Village Cricket Team]]
*[[Play Cricket]]

== Sources and Citations ==
*[http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-grip-the-ball-to-bowl-offspin VideoJug] A video demonstration of gripping ball to bowl offspin. Original source of article. Shared with permission and appreciation.

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