James Cameron’s Avatar revolutionised the concept of 3D viewing in all formats. It’s gone to the point where every modern day television comes with an option to view our entertainment in a three dimensional format. Str8bat’s cricket sensors are a similar revolutionary concept that would put Mahatma Gandhi to shame. The 3D viewer available on the str8bat app has raised the bar higher than Bob Marley on a Saturday night, and is a tool that is aimed to help you reach those highs on the pitch in front of millions.
In a conversation with Cricket Australia's Coach Development Specialist Bryan Harper, we talked about the importance of the 3D viewer and how it is a crucial factor in improving your batting performance on the pitch.
What is the 3D viewer?
Without trying to sound too obvious, the 3D viewer is a complete 360 degree view on every shot played during practice. It tracks every millisecond of your motion in a set time period before and after you’ve played the ball. The red bat on screen indicates the point of contact with the ball.
As a player, you want to be swinging your bat through the line of the ball to make contact. “The longer you can have that bat face going through the line of the ball, the more chance you have of success,” says our mentor from down under.
What is the importance of the 3D viewer?
As mentioned earlier, the 3D viewer is a graphical representation of a shot played. It shows the frame motion of the batter’s stance, position in and around the crease, bat lift, bat swing, point of contact with the ball, follow through, etc. It shows you a ball by ball analysis of all the shots you played during a training session, somewhat like how your stomach gives you a shot by shot analysis of your last drinking binge.
It has separate sections of every ball played, which opens up the possibility of comparing two shots and seeing what’s different. Using this technology can help you become the apple of everyone’s eye better than the iPhone 12 mini ever was.
How to practice using the 3D viewer?
Go into the middle or into the nets like you would on an average Tuesday morning, and practice hitting the balls with an increased focus on making sure the face of the bat is nice and square through the ball for as long as possible. Every shot is saved on the app as one video, and you can scroll about the timeline of the video repeatedly to gather all kinds of information possible, including checking your bat swing. Using this tool will simultaneously give you a 3D view into your batting as a whole, making your post practice session like a budget Oppenheimer screening.
How to use the data?
Our Aussie coach advises you to keep a few factors in mind whilst viewing the data. Consider these as the sambar chutney to your masala dosa, and you’ll understand their importance. The factors are as follows:
- What did the data show you?
- How long does your bat swing through the ball?
- Do you understand how to control your bat face?
- What movements help you achieve a longer and straighter bat swing?
Tips on improving using the 3D viewer
A wide bat lift results in a bat path that cuts through the ball, while a narrow bat lift results in a bat path that plays through the line of the ball. According to the ball bowled against you, find the bat lift that suits the situation carefully. It’s this decision making that will prevent you from having a new career as a bathroom cleaner. Having a full bat lift with a slightly open bat face will result in a higher bat speed and longer bat path, both being key to having a successful bat stroke.
While asking Mr. Harper on what’s the most important input he can give you, he said, “A short step usually results in a shorter swing length. However, the batter usually prefers to take shorter steps when the bowling is faster. Prioritising balance and a good bat swing over a longer bat swing will help maintain consistency in the long run.”
