Making Cuts: Sharp Angles by Brummie
Gaining separation from a defender is most easily done through a sudden change of direction using sharp angles, and the more acute the change of direction, the more difficult it is for a defender to recover.
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Physically two variables are: 1) what’s the change in velocity / movement vector. 2) what’s the change in angle. In the acute case above the velocity / movement vector changes more, but actually in the obtuse case the defender has to turn more. Generally though change in direction with greater change in velocity is harder than rotational change.
Also rise up season 7 cutting episode on commitment, shoulder, and smart cuts.
Hi Leslie
1) The defender would only need to turn more if facing the offence (i.e. D2 is facing B). Moreover, much of this is negated if D2 is able to hold a good position on the inside lane; even having to turn further isn’t a negative.
2) Change in direction is harder at a higher speed: absolutely. The idea is that if you’re running hard and being chased (hard) and you’re able to quickly turn, your defender might go straight past you, opening up a cutting lane.
I do agree that change of velocity (speed as well as angle) is important; the lesson here was really against “banana cutting”.
Thanks for the input; good shout on Rise Up too.
Are there times and places for banana cutting?
I think only in two scenarios:
1) there’s no defender involved; mostly likely this in reaction to a switch / poach, where you were cutting in one direction, then a defensive switch happens and you find yourself running at a defender. You want to turn away towards free space, but it doesn’t really matter if you turn sharply
2) you’re actively banana cutting to box out a defender; if you watch Revolver they are very good at this. See the final cut in this sequence: http://new.flikulti.com/team-analysis/revolver-us-open-2015-1/