How To Bowl A Flipper

                         The flipper is one of the variations in leg spin bowling.It is perhaps the most mysterious form of leg spin,since there are very few articles on the net that describe it completely.If we want to take a look at the different forms of leg spin bowling,you should visit this link-Different Forms Of Leg Spin Bowling

      Now,lets continue with how this mysterious delivery works.
   Lets start with a bit of history about this delivery.The Flipper was developed back in the 1930’s by the New Zealander Clarrie Grimmett

                          Unlike the Garden back-spinning Flipper Grimmetts original version of the ball was an off-spinning ball clicked out of the hand with the wrist in the standard Leg Break position. The batsman then expected the ball to break towards the off-side and because of the spin imparted by the Flippers unique ‘Click’ method the ball went the other way like an off-break.

 Features of the flipper

1. It is faster and goes straight.
2. Its speed ranges from  95 to 110 kmph
3. Its speed is comparatively much higher than other deliveries like leg break,googly etc.

      

     Flippers are usually of 4 varieties and I am gonna discuss them one by one.

1.The Warne Flipper

        As the name suggest,this delivery is from Shane Warne and it is the probably the most common version of the flipper.

          Next,you will get to know how to bowl this kind of flipper.

Dip

                 

            There is no dip. Instead of falling out of the sky because of the top spin with the Leg Break the Flipper with it’s under-spin holds it’s line through the air seemingly resisting the forces of gravity and keeping a very straight line from hand to impact with the pitch. 

                  The ball bounces far less than a top spinner and has a tendency to skid in low under the bat. This can easily lead to a LBW.

Bounce

                         

   As mentioned above bounce is minimal which makes the Flipper combined with it's very straight trajectory an easy ball to get onto as a batsman if it's bowled consistently. The Flipper because of it's flight and lack of bounce therefore needs to be treated as one of your variations that you bowl on an irregular basis. 

Grip

                       The grip varies from bowler to bowler but it should be an approximate version of the image above. The first finger plays some part in balancing/holding the ball but 65% of the rotation is created with the use of the thumb and the rest of the job 35% is done with the middle finger. 

Wach this video below where Shane Warne bowls a brilliant flipper.

                          

2.The Grimmett Flipper

                         This is the simplest variant of the flipper. It’s the same delivery but you simply use more fingers along the seam – 3 fingers or four fingers.

              The advantage is that you can get a lot more back-spin on the ball and you’re able to bowl it considerably faster because of the secure grip. Along with the increase in speed and the vertical seam, this ball has the ability to be bowled with in-swing to a right handed batsman and then on pitching it breaks like a little Leg Break.

                               

3.The Off Flipper

            Using the Flipper grip turn the wrist 'Round the loop' so that the palm of the hand faces the batsman and your thumb is pointing towards Cover. Theoretically when you now click the ball from the hand it’ll produce Off-spin. This variation is exceedingly difficult to keep control of your line with.

        Also,the degree of turn produced is really less.

4.The Googly Flipper

          As the name suggests,this delivery looks like the Wrong Un but then spins away like a Leg Break. All that’s required with this is that the ball is bowled in exactly the same way as you would a Wrong Un, but you just need to twist your arm and your wrist a bit further in order that when released at the point that you click the fingers the spin imparted creates a ball that spins towards the off stump.

      So these are the four variations of flippers.However,these require immense amounts of practice,so start practising now!