Hurler with one leg!

RHunce

ok guys sorry about the title but i really needed something to catch your attention because it would have been a boring title

anyway right when i play hurling i hit the ball on my right hand side

also i hole the hurley with my left hand on top of the hurley. i realise this is unusual and this is where my problem lies. i can hit the ball fairly far from a standing stance or when i get the ball i use my speed to get into space and let fly with a few steps puck. but on the run i find impossible to get a good connection because of the way i hold it.

any tips?
anyone have the same problems?
should i restyle the way i hold the hurl or what?

much appreciated

rob

An Citeog

Are you left-handed or right-handed? Fairly obvious question but if you're left-handed, your left hand should always be at the top. I'm a lefty but find that I have more control when I strike the ball on my right. I'd also play golf on the right. Anyway, I've never really had a problem striking the ball on the run on my right. It all comes down to concentration, technique, timing and practice. Basically, just keep practicing striking on the run and it should get better.

Diabhal Beag

If your a back the only skill you need is to be able to belt to any feckin way out of trouble

entropi

I've tried adapting my grip too before it becomes bad habit, i'm a right hander, yet hold it dominant hand below...i'm gonna need alot of work to change it i've been advised by players on the A squad that it'll help if i change, esp as i wanna play RHF:)

Has anyone here got advice on sideline cutting, and solo'ing at pace? finding the former pretty tough to get anywhere with, the latter is just keeping the sliothar on my stick more than 25 yds:(

Gingy

I used to strike with the left hand on top too (the natural way supposedly, many Kilkenny greats including the Hendersons did it). But over the years it was beaten out of me by managers. I'd advise you to get a ball, go to a wall and become accostumbed to striking the ball both ways, it can only help your game.

At the young scientist a few years ago, I saw a demonstration which proved that right-handed players who strike with left hand on top are more accurate, but those who strike with right hand on top can hit it further. (Science can never be wrong!!!)

Daysha

Hold on a sec....I'm a lefty, yet I play with my right hand on top....is this wrong?! :eek: I played for a fair few years and not once did anyone tell me the dominant hand should be at the top.

I do the same with golf and nobody tells me any different either

An Citeog

Daysha wrote: »

Hold on a sec....I'm a lefty, yet I play with my right hand on top....is this wrong?! :eek: I played for a fair few years and not once did anyone tell me the dominant hand should be at the top.

I do the same with golf and nobody tells me any different either

Horses for courses then I suppose. It's not something I've ever really thought about, just natural really.

Zzippy

Daysha wrote: »

Hold on a sec....I'm a lefty, yet I play with my right hand on top....is this wrong?! :eek: I played for a fair few years and not once did anyone tell me the dominant hand should be at the top.

I do the same with golf and nobody tells me any different either

If you're left handed your left hand should be at the top. Striking the ball well in hurling is all about the wrists, the flex of the wrists during the stroke gives more speed in striking the ball. Using the wrong hand at the top makes this much harder to achieve. Golf uses the opposite grip because in a golf stroke the last thing you want to do is flex the wrists, the stroke is all through the shoulders.

An Citeog

Zzippy wrote: »

If you're left handed your left hand should be at the top. Striking the ball well in hurling is all about the wrists, the flex of the wrists during the stroke gives more speed in striking the ball. Using the wrong hand at the top makes this much harder to achieve. Golf uses the opposite grip because in a golf stroke the last thing you want to do is flex the wrists, the stroke is all through the shoulders.

That must be why I'm shít at golf so!:pac:

Daysha

Zzippy wrote: »

If you're left handed your left hand should be at the top. Striking the ball well in hurling is all about the wrists, the flex of the wrists during the stroke gives more speed in striking the ball. Using the wrong hand at the top makes this much harder to achieve. Golf uses the opposite grip because in a golf stroke the last thing you want to do is flex the wrists, the stroke is all through the shoulders.

I suppose that makes sense. But I've spent the best part of 10 years with my dominant hand at the bottom so changing it at this stage would just feel.....weird.

yahoo_moe

Master of Nothing wrote: »

Has anyone here got advice on sideline cutting, and solo'ing at pace? finding the former pretty tough to get anywhere with, the latter is just keeping the sliothar on my stick more than 25 yds:(

In general with hurling (and most things) it's just about practice and repetition. Particularly for something like solo running - I can only assume you're not doing anything obviously stupid like trying to run the ball on the thin edge of the stick so it's just about practicing and gradually building up your speed and confidence.

As for taking cuts, practice, practice, practice and make sure to get a nice wristy stroke in. Although if someone (or a few people) on your team is already adept at this, then maybe your time is best spent on other things.

Zzippy

Master of Nothing wrote: »

I've tried adapting my grip too before it becomes bad habit, i'm a right hander, yet hold it dominant hand below...i'm gonna need alot of work to change it i've been advised by players on the A squad that it'll help if i change, esp as i wanna play RHF:)

Has anyone here got advice on sideline cutting, and solo'ing at pace? finding the former pretty tough to get anywhere with, the latter is just keeping the sliothar on my stick more than 25 yds:(

Practice, practice, and more practice. For sideline cuts, find the best way to place the ball for your stroke (for me it was having the raised ridges at their closest point where I aimed to hit the ball - sorry hard to describe this). Don't forget to follow through with the stroke too, too many players just hit the ball and stop the hurl there, you will lose a lot of power and distance that way.
Soloing is all about feeling comfortable with the hurl in your hand, like an extension of your arm. Practice every day for 10 or 20 mins, just balancing the ball on it, hopping it on the stick, first touch work off a wall etc, gradually your control will improve a lot and will help soloing.

Daysha wrote: »

I suppose that makes sense. But I've spent the best part of 10 years with my dominant hand at the bottom so changing it at this stage would just feel.....weird.

Its about what works best for you - if you're happy with your grip then carry on. Changing it will be very difficult, but if you want to get the most out of your potential it might be worth it. When I started playing golf I used the hurling grip, I was ok but got no accuracy or huge distance. Changing the grip took a few months of practice and no little disillusionment, but it improved my game immeasurably. I took out the hurl last night and tried your grip, tbh I don't know you hit the ball at all!

Big Ears

I stopped playing a few years ago but I used to play with my left hand on top(and I'm right handed), it's something I've tried to correct now that I've stopped playing funnily enough.

I can play a decent pass with the corrected way but my shooting is abysmal, possibly because I only pick up a hurl every few months now.
Practising to use right hand on top, even if you don't change to it should improve you're striking off the hurl though.

But as everyones says practice, practice, practice , it's all about learning motor programs and repetition is needed for that to be ingrained into you.

nice_guy80

dominant hand at end of hurley is the proper way to hold it. tis the way all kids are being coached now. its being drilled into them. catching ball with weaker hand and leaving strong hand on the hurley at all times

however many top inter county hurlers have got away with the other grip - Ciarán Carey of limerick springs to mind.

however, executing some skills with the wrong grip is very hard. it does make it easier to strike the ball on your weak side however!

An Citeog

nice_guy80 wrote: »

dominant hand at end of hurley is the proper way to hold it. tis the way all kids are being coached now. its being drilled into them. catching ball with weaker hand and leaving strong hand on the hurley at all times

however many top inter county hurlers have got away with the other grip - Ciarán Carey of limerick springs to mind.

however, executing some skills with the wrong grip is very hard. it does make it easier to strike the ball on your weak side however!

Someone catching the sliotar with their strong hand and then having to switch hands is something that really annoys me.

Mossy Monk

I too am right handed but have the left hand at the top. I have been told I am wrong to do so but you should do what you are most comfortable with

LeoB

We have a young lad in our club who is a very talented hurler. The coach got him to use use a smaller Hurl and this seems to be working for him quite well. I think I heard one of the Cork hurlers holds Hurl wrong way. I would'nt know.:o

I agree with Zzippy tho' whatever works best for you. I know a few intercounty footballers who have unusual way of kicking or doing a solo. Did'nt stop them. Practise, Practise and more Practise, perfect practise that is:)

entropi

yahoo_moe wrote: »

In general with hurling (and most things) it's just about practice and repetition. Particularly for something like solo running - I can only assume you're not doing anything obviously stupid like trying to run the ball on the thin edge of the stick so it's just about practicing and gradually building up your speed and confidence.

Aye i try get in practice every day but its not easy:P and nah i don't do anything that silly haha!:D

As for taking cuts if someone (or a few people) on your team is already adept at this, then maybe your time is best spent on other things.

Yeah we have one or two who are good at it, although it would be nice to obtain the skill, i can use that time to do something more productive, cheers:)

Zzippy wrote: »

Practice, practice, and more practice. For sideline cuts, find the best way to place the ball for your stroke (for me it was having the raised ridges at their closest point where I aimed to hit the ball - sorry hard to describe this). Don't forget to follow through with the stroke too, too many players just hit the ball and stop the hurl there, you will lose a lot of power and distance that way.

cheers for the tip there!

Soloing is all about feeling comfortable with the hurl in your hand, like an extension of your arm. Practice every day for 10 or 20 mins, just balancing the ball on it, hopping it on the stick, first touch work off a wall etc, gradually your control will improve a lot and will help soloing.

I've practicing alot recently with shooting, I'll go with your ideas listed above next, along with my jab lifts, thanks alot.

Its about what works best for you - if you're happy with your grip then carry on. Changing it will be very difficult, but if you want to get the most out of your potential it might be worth it. I don't know you hit the ball at all!

Yeah I'm happy with the grip as it feels more natural to strike and control like that, but then again I've only been playing for a junior team a few weeks now and the league only started yesterday, so i could use the time during training sessions to adjust my grip

nice_guy80 wrote: »

dominant hand at end of hurley is the proper way to hold it. tis the way all kids are being coached now. its being drilled into them. catching ball with weaker hand and leaving strong hand on the hurley at all times

Exactly how i do it, it feels more natural to hold my stick in my right (dominant) hand, catch on left (weaker) hand maybe i can change it up a bit, see if things improve with distance or accuracy.

Sure I'm 28 now, only starting where some have been playing for 20+ years at this stage, but determination will win out here haha!! sure didn't Sean Kelly start playing around my age, and was pretty good for Cork from what i heard...