One of the most common emails I get is from players requesting I help them with their technique. No matter if it's batting, bowling or fielding, my answer is usually the same.

It's an answer that Greg Chappell crystallised for me in a story on his now defunct coaching website:

"A top PGA Tour player went back to his long-time coach, Mr Penick, for a lesson. This man has been playing terribly. Before the slump, though, he'd been a star on the Tour.

Mr Penick suggested that the golfer start the lesson by hitting some shots. Mr Penick sat in a chair behind the student observing closely but saying nothing.

"Any suggestions, Mr Penick?" the golfer said.

Dead silence. Mr Penick just sat there. The golfer knew what that meant. Mr Penick had nothing to say just yet, so the golfer again started hitting.

After 30 minutes, with still not a peep from the guru, the golfer was hitting the ball great, but was also frustrated. He wanted to hear something, anything, from Mr Penick. After all he had made a long trip to see him because his game was a wreck.

By the time the golfer had finished the session, dripping with sweat, Mr Penick hadn't said a word. But the golfer's frustration had vanished; he felt like a new man. His swing was grooved, and he was striping the ball as well as ever.

The golfer had found his groove without any information. Soon after the lesson, the golfer returned to the PGA Tour and won a tournament."

The obvious thing for the coach to do would have been to correct his swing. He didn't need to though. He just needed to get the player back to doing what he knew he could already do.

So back to my answer.

If you are in a slump or feel like you need to groove your bowling action or cover drive, stop yourself. Like the golfer you probably just need to go back to basics and practice what you know you can do until you get it back.

No coaching required.