6 Bowling Accuracy Drills Using a Target Stump

Bowling accurately is mostly about repetition with feedback. When you bowl at a full set of stumps, near misses can feel like success. Swap the wicket for a single stump and every ball tells you exactly how close you were. These six drills work in the nets, at the club or in the garden, for juniors and seniors alike.

What you need

• A single target stump, such as the Half-Size Cricket Target Stump or a single stump on a ground spike for grass.
• A few balls, so you are not chasing one after every delivery.
• Markers or cones to mark lengths on the pitch (optional).

1. Hit the stump

Place one stump where middle stump would be and bowl a set of six. Count how many hit it. Repeat for several overs and note your score each time. A simple scoreboard like this keeps practice honest and shows progress from week to week.

2. Off-stump channel

Move the target stump to the off-stump position. Bowling just outside off stump is a classic way to create edges. Aim to hit or pass within a bat's width of the target stump with every ball.

3. Good-length marker

Lay a marker on a good length for your pace (for most bowlers, a few metres in front of the batting crease) and keep the target stump at the batting end. Score a point only if the ball lands near the marker and goes on to pass close to the stump. This trains line and length together.

4. Yorker challenge

Put a marker at the base of the target stump and try to land the ball on it. Yorkers are hard to bowl consistently, so keep the sets short and focus on a smooth run-up rather than extra pace.

5. Two targets

Set up two single stumps, one on middle and one on off. A coach or partner calls a target just before you bowl. This mimics changing your plan between deliveries in a match.

6. Pressure over

Finish each session with a "pressure over": six balls in which you must hit the target stump at least twice. Add a forfeit or reward to make it feel like a match situation.

Tips for better results

• Warm up first and build up to full pace gradually.
• Quality over quantity: short, focused sets beat long, tired ones.
• Record your scores so you can see improvement.
• Use a smaller target as you improve. A half-size stump makes every drill harder.

Why use a flexible target stump?

Hard targets can crack and splinter when hit repeatedly. Flexible foam stumps with a carbon core bend on impact instead of breaking, so you can keep bowling without stopping to repair or replace kit. See our full range of cricket bowling aids.