Hooking the short pitched ball is one of the glories of the game. A good hook shot player can make the most of fast, short pitched bowling. The back foot should not only go back but also far enough across to the offside so that the line of the foot is outside the line of flight of the ball. It is extremely important to keep your eye on the short ball to be able to bring off this shot safely.

The shot is dangerous to play on fast wickets as a miss would mean the ball making painful contact with your helmet or face. Do not attempt to play this shot unless you have been in for a reasonable period of time and feel well set to be able to meet the ball confidently.