Anatomy involved in bowling in cricket and a smash in badminton.

Phase 3

Development

The picture is of an ideal bowling action.

Phase 1

The bowler flex’s the elbow so that the ball can come around the body at high speed.

Phase 2: The bowling arm coming around the body straight (flexion of the elbow) allows the maximum speed to be generated from the movement. The point of rotation is further away which allows greater speed through the air. The straight leg (extension of the hip and knee) allows all of the speed to be stopped dead and all of the weight generated into the bowl.

Phase 3

Badminton smash

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Development

Phase 1

The backswing of the racket and bending of the arm (flexion at the elbow) allows the racket to be brought back then fired forward extremely fast. The slight flexion of the knee allows the body’s weight to be shifted over to the back of the body.

Phase 2

Again the elbow is still flexed to generate maximum speed and should not fully extend until the shuttlecock is struck. The knee is still slightly bent (flexion) but the weight is beginning to transfer to the front of the body.

Phase 3

The extension at the elbow to straighten arm allows all of the speed and the power of the triceps to be transferred into the shuttle-cock.

The straightening of the leg (extension of the knee) allows the bodies weight to be brought forward and used to hit the shuttlecock hard.

Squat

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Development