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We all know that balling in Cricket is all about variations. The more you have variations, the better you can perform. There are majorly two types of spin in Cricket: leg spin and off spin and it is hard to discuss on Leg Spin VS Off Spin and which one is better.
The spinner who has many variations is usually the biggest problem for the batsman. So, do you want to become a spinner or have a slight interest in spin bowling? Then stop thinking more. It is not that much hard. You just have to learn some basics and start practising. So, let’s get started with some basics.
Leg spin means that spinning the ball from leg side to off side for a right-handed batsman. So, are you clear about it? Yes, then let’s move towards off spin.
Off spin means that spinning the ball from the offside to the leg side or towards the stumps.
So, you understood the basics, right? Now, I know you have one question that which one is better?
So, what do you think? Which factor makes a spin better for you? If you like spinning the ball much and wide variations than leg-spin would be a better option but if you like to bowl in the line and like to have better control over your delivery than off-spin is a good option.
So, both spin have their own advantages. Some people like leg-spin and some suggest off-spin. So, let’s see some of the advantages of both the spin bowling.
Advantages of Leg spin:
Some of the top advantages of doing leg spin bowling are listed below-:
- Leg spin bowling is most effective in taking wickets.
- Most difficult to play.
- Leg spin has more potential to spin the ball.
- Leg spin is much more effective than Off spin in limited-overs.
Disadvantages of Leg spin:
Some of the biggest disadvantages of bowling Leg spin are listed below-:
- If your line and length is wrong, it is the easiest ball to play and hit big shots.
- Leg spin bowls are usually slower than Off spin.
Advantages of Off spin:
- Usually, the bowl goes faster in Off spin than in Leg spin.
- It is easy to bowl in the perfect line and length in Off spin.
- It is the most useful bowling in Test Cricket
Disadvantages of Off spin:
- Off spinners usually don’t get much spin.
- It is easy to play Off spin if it didn’t get much spin.
Let us now see that how can we bowl these deliveries. It is not an easy task to bowl either Leg spin or Off spin. You need some tutorial. So, let’s see how to bowl legspin first.
How To Bowl A Leg spin
So, now you learnt what is Leg spin and its advantages and disadvantages. Now, let us see how to bowl a Leg spin delivery.
Grip
To bowl Leg spin, the very first thing you have to learn is to grip the ball perfectly. The grip is the base of spin bowling, so you have to learn it. In Leg spin, the grip is referred to as “two up and two down”. This means that your two fingers should be kept on the top of ball and two at the bottom. Don’t worry if you didn’t understand.
In this grip, your index finger and middle finger should be kept on the top of the ball and other three fingers should be on seam of the ball. When you try to grip the ball make sure that your two fingers on the top of the ball should not be stretched too much. You can adjust the grip according to your comfort.
Try to grip the ball loosely, it will help you to release the ball easily and increase the angle of spin of the ball.
Run up
Run up for a leg spin bowling is quite simple. Just take a run up of 9 feet (It is an ideal run up distance) and release the ball. Initially during the run up, try to start slowly. It will let your run up comes naturally.
You may take up a jump for giving extra spin and power to the ball.
Release of the ball
Releasing the ball is the main point and the most hardest part of Leg spin. Usually people make mistakes here. If your release is wrong that your line and length may be disturbed and spin may be affected.
This is the point which separates a good spinner and a noob spinner. So, you have to work hard to improve it. Let’s see how to perfectly release the ball.
Try to stretch yourself high during releasing the ball and release the ball at the highest point possible. It will give your ball a good flight and spin.
To get good spin and flight, your wrist should face the sky. After all to apply the spin, spin your wrist.
This was all about Leg spin, now let’s see how to do Off spin bowling.
How To Bowl A Off spin
So, now let’s see how to bowl a Off spin.
Grip
The grip for a Off spin is generally same as the leg spin. Two fingers at the tp and another three at the seam. There are also many other grips to bowl an Off spin, but generally this is the most famous and easy. It is also the most effective Off spin grip. See the image given below to understand better.
The main difference between Leg & Off spin is releasing it. Both the spin has almost same grip. There are some more Off spin grips which are shown below.
In this grip, your index and middle finger get stretched more and it helps to give more spin. I have used this grip and it works like a charm. But if you are not comfortable with it, don’t try to use this otherwise you may affect your game.
Run up
Run up for Off spinners also is not a complicated thing. It is simple and same as Leg spinners. Start the run-up with slow leg movement. Make sure that you are comfortable in the run-up you are taking. In Off spin generally, the run-up of 7 feet is taken.
The main difference between the Leg and Off spinners comes during the release of the ball. So let’s see that.
Release of the ball
Releasing the ball is the main difference which makes the change in spin. For Off spin, you have to slightly flick your wrist and rotate your fingers. When releasing the ball try to bend your arm 45 degrees towards the right if you are a right-handed baller and vice-versa.
If you want to learn about off spin in more details, then click here.
Which One Spins More? Leg Spin Or Off Spin?
When it comes to spinning the ball more, no doubt Leg spin spins more but bowlers like Nathan Lyon spins the ball much more in an Off spin ball than a leg spinner. That’s why if you master Off spin than you can spin the ball easily like a Leg spin ball but in the initial stage, it’s very hard in Off spin to spin ball very much whereas in Leg spin, spinning the ball is slight easily.
Which One Has More Control? Leg spin or Off spin?
When it comes to spinning the all, Leg spin is slightly easier but it is hard to have control on a Leg spin ball. In an Off spin, you have good control over the ball but in the Leg spin it is hard to have good control at an initial stages.
So, choose one of these two wisely. If you are also a batsman then you must read this article.
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