Swing vs. Seam — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 17, 2024
Swing refers to the lateral movement of a cricket ball in the air, while seam refers to the ball's movement off the pitch due to its seam.
Difference Between Swing and Seam
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
wing is a cricket term describing the ball’s lateral movement through the air, influenced by the bowler's technique and atmospheric conditions. Swing can be conventional, involving natural air currents, or reverse, occurring with an older ball and specific grip and speed. Seam, on the other hand, refers to the ball’s deviation off the pitch after it bounces, caused by the ball’s raised seam. Fast bowlers often utilize seam movement by hitting the seam on the pitch, making the ball change direction unpredictably.
While swing is predominantly influenced by the ball’s condition, wind, and bowler’s skill, seam depends on the ball’s impact with the pitch. Swinging the ball involves manipulating air pressure differences, whereas seaming the ball relies on maintaining the seam’s position upright during delivery and the pitch’s responsiveness.
Swing bowling requires the ball to be polished on one side to create aerodynamic differences, while seam bowling focuses on exploiting the raised seam's interaction with the pitch. Swing generally affects the ball in the air, making it move side to side before pitching, whereas seam movement occurs post-pitch, adding an element of uncertainty after the ball hits the ground.
In terms of strategy, swing bowlers aim to challenge the batsman’s judgment and footwork early in the delivery, using movement in the air. Seam bowlers aim to create confusion with late movement off the pitch, exploiting any imperfections in the surface to produce variable bounce and direction.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Lateral movement of the ball in the air
Deviation of the ball off the pitch
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Influencing Factors
Ball condition, air pressure, bowler’s skill
Raised seam, pitch condition, bowler’s delivery
Occurrence
Before the ball pitches
After the ball pitches
Technique
Polished on one side, grip and speed variations
Upright seam position, hitting the seam on pitch
Primary Aim
To deceive batsman with aerial movement
To exploit pitch imperfections for movement
Compare with Definitions
Swing
Bowling technique to create lateral movement.
His swing bowling technique is difficult for batsmen to read.
Seam
Bowling technique utilizing the raised seam.
The bowler’s seam position was perfect for exploiting the pitch conditions.
Swing
Move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Her long black skirt swung about her legs
The door swung shut behind him
A priest began swinging a censer
Seam
Deviation due to hitting the seam.
The ball seamed away from the batsman after hitting the pitch.
Swing
Move by grasping a support from below and leaping
The Irishman swung himself into the saddle
We swung across like two trapeze artists
Seam
Fast bowling strategy using the seam.
Seam bowlers aim to make the ball change direction off the pitch.
Swing
Move or cause to move in a smooth, curving line
She swung her legs to the side of the bed
The cab swung into the car park
Seam
A line of junction formed by sewing together two pieces of material along their margins.
Swing
Shift or cause to shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs to another
Opinion swung in the Chancellor's favour
The failure to seek peace could swing sentiment the other way
Seam
A similar line, ridge, or groove made by fitting, joining, or lapping together two sections along their edges.
Swing
Play music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm
The band swung on
Seam
A suture.
Swing
(of an event, place, or way of life) be lively, exciting, or fashionable.
Seam
A scar.
Swing
Engage in group sex or swap sexual partners within a group, especially on a habitual basis.
Seam
A line across a surface, as a crack, fissure, or wrinkle.
Swing
A seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone may sit and swing back and forth.
Seam
A thin layer or stratum, as of coal or rock.
Swing
An act of swinging
With the swing of her arm, the knife flashed through the air
Seam
To put together with or as if with a seam.
Swing
A discernible change in opinion, especially the amount by which votes or points scored change from one side to another
A five per cent swing to Labour
Seam
To mark with a groove, wrinkle, scar, or other seamlike line.
Swing
A style of jazz or dance music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm.
Seam
To become fissured or furrowed; crack open.
Swing
A swift tour involving a number of stops, especially one undertaken as part of a political campaign.
Seam
(sewing) A folded-back and stitched piece of fabric; especially, the stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.
Swing
(in musical theatre) an understudy, typically one who covers multiple roles in the chorus of a particular production.
Seam
A suture.
Swing
To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.
Seam
(geology) A thin stratum, especially of an economically viable material such as coal or mineral.
Swing
To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm
Swung at the ball.
Seam
(cricket) The stitched equatorial seam of a cricket ball; the sideways movement of a ball when it bounces on the seam.
Swing
To move laterally or in a curve
The car swung over to the curb.
Seam
A joint formed by mating two separate sections of materials.
Seams can be made or sealed in a variety of ways, including adhesive bonding, hot-air welding, solvent welding, using adhesive tapes, sealant, etc.
Swing
To turn in place on or as if on a hinge or pivot.
Seam
A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix.
Swing
To move along with an easy, swaying gait
Swinging down the road.
Seam
(figurative) A line of junction; a joint.
Swing
To propel oneself from one place or position to another by grasping a fixed support
Swinging through the trees.
Seam
(historical) An old English measure of grain, containing eight bushels.
Swing
To ride on a swing.
Seam
(historical) An old English measure of glass, containing twenty-four weys of five pounds, or 120 pounds.
Swing
To shift from one attitude, interest, condition, or emotion to another; vacillate.
Seam
Grease; tallow; lard.
Swing
(Slang) To be put to death by hanging.
Seam
To put together with a seam.
Swing
To have a subtle, intuitively felt rhythm or sense of rhythm.
Seam
To make the appearance of a seam in, as in knitting a stocking; hence, to knit with a certain stitch, like that in such knitting.
Swing
To play with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
Seam
To mark with a seam or line; to scar.
Swing
To be lively, trendy, and exciting.
Seam
To crack open along a seam.
Swing
To engage in promiscuous sex.
Seam
(cricket) Of the ball, to move sideways after bouncing on the seam.
Swing
To exchange sex partners. Used especially of married couples.
Seam
(cricket) Of a bowler, to make the ball move thus.
Swing
To have a sexual orientation
Which way does he swing?.
Seam
Grease; tallow; lard.
Swing
To cause to move back and forth, as on a swing.
Seam
The fold or line formed by sewing together two pieces of cloth or leather.
Swing
To cause to move in a broad arc or curve
Swing a bat.
Swung the car over.
Seam
Hence, a line of junction; a joint; a suture, as on a ship, a floor, or other structure; the line of union, or joint, of two boards, planks, metal plates, etc.
Precepts should be so finely wrought together . . . that no coarse seam may discover where they join.
Swing
To cause to move with a sweeping motion
Swinging his arms.
Seam
A thin layer or stratum; a narrow vein between two thicker strata; as, a seam of coal.
Swing
To lift and convey with a sweeping motion
Swung the cargo onto the deck.
Seam
A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix.
Swing
To suspend so as to sway or turn freely
Swung a hammock between two trees.
Seam
A denomination of weight or measure.
Swing
To suspend on hinges
Swing a shutter.
Seam
To form a seam upon or of; to join by sewing together; to unite.
Swing
To cause to turn on hinges
Swung the door shut.
Seam
To mark with something resembling a seam; to line; to scar.
Seamed o'er with wounds which his own saber gave.
Swing
To cause to shift from one attitude, position, opinion, or condition to another.
Seam
To make the appearance of a seam in, as in knitting a stocking; hence, to knit with a certain stitch, like that in such knitting.
Swing
To manage or arrange successfully
Swing a deal.
Seam
To become ridgy; to crack open.
Later their lips began to parch and seam.
Swing
To bring around to the desired result
Swing an election.
Seam
Joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
Swing
(Music) To play (music) with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
Seam
A slight depression in the smoothness of a surface;
His face has many lines
Ironing gets rid of most wrinkles
Swing
The act or an instance of swinging; movement back and forth or in one particular direction.
Seam
A stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit;
He worked in the coal beds
Swing
The sweep or scope of something that swings
The pendulum's swing is 12 inches.
Seam
Put together with a seam;
Seam a dress
Swing
A blow or stroke executed with a sweeping motion of the arm.
Seam
Movement of a cricket ball off the pitch.
The ball’s seam caused it to deviate sharply after pitching.
Swing
The manner in which one swings something, such as a bat or golf club.
Seam
Interaction of the ball’s seam with the pitch.
Seam movement is unpredictable on a grassy pitch.
Swing
A shift from one attitude, position, or condition to another
A swing to conservatism.
Swing
Freedom of action
The children have free swing in deciding what color to paint their room.
Swing
A swaying, graceful motion
Has a swing to her walk.
Swing
A sweep back and forth
The swing of a bird across the sky.
Swing
A course or tour that returns to the starting point
A swing across the state while campaigning.
Swing
A seat suspended from above, as by ropes, on which one can ride back and forth for recreation.
Swing
The normal rhythm of life or pace of activities
Back in the swing.
Swing
A steady, vigorous rhythm or movement, as in verse.
Swing
A regular movement up or down, as in stock prices.
Swing
A type of popular dance music developed about 1935 and based on jazz but employing a larger band, less improvisation, and simpler harmonic and rhythmic patterns.
Swing
A ballroom dance performed to this music.
Swing
A subtle, intuitively felt rhythmic quality or sense of rhythm.
Swing
(Music) Relating to or performing swing
A swing band.
Swing
Determining an outcome; decisive
The swing vote.
Swing
(intransitive) To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
The plant swung in the breeze.
Swing
(intransitive) To dance.
Swing
(intransitive) To ride on a swing.
The children laughed as they swung.
Swing
(intransitive) To participate in the swinging lifestyle; to participate in wife-swapping.
Swing
(intransitive) To hang from the gallows; to be punished by hanging, swing for something or someone; (often hyperbolic) to be severely punished.
Swing
To move sideways in its trajectory.
Swing
To make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.
Swing
(intransitive) To fluctuate or change.
It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability.
Swing
(transitive) To move (an object) backward and forward; to wave.
He swung his sword as hard as he could.
Swing
(transitive) To change (a numerical result); especially to change the outcome of an election.
Swing
(transitive) To make (something) work; especially to afford (something) financially.
If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it.
Swing
To play notes that are in pairs by making the first of the pair slightly longer than written (augmentation) and the second shorter, resulting in a bouncy, uneven rhythm.
Swing
To move one's arm in a punching motion.
Swing
(transitive) In dancing, to turn around in a small circle with one's partner, holding hands or arms.
"to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing"
Swing
To admit or turn something for the purpose of shaping it; said of a lathe.
The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
Swing
To put (a door, gate, etc.) on hinges so that it can swing or turn.
Swing
(nautical) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor.
A ship swings with the tide.
Swing
The manner in which something is swung.
He worked tirelessly to improve his golf swing.
Door swing indicates direction the door opens.
The swing of a pendulum
Swing
The sweep or compass of a swinging body.
Swing
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing.
Swing
A hanging seat in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
Swing
A dance style.
Swing
(music) The genre of music associated with this dance style.
Swing
The amount of change towards or away from something.
Swing
(politics) In an election, the increase or decrease in the number of votes for opposition parties compared with votes for the incumbent party.
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
Swing
(cricket) Sideways movement of the ball as it flies through the air.
Swing
Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
Swing
In a musical theater production, a performer who understudies several roles.
Swing
A basic dance step in which a pair link hands and turn round together in a circle.
Swing
(obsolete) Free course; unrestrained liberty.
Swing
Influence or power of anything put in motion.
Swing
(boxing) A type of hook with the arm more extended.
Swing
To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.
I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air.
Swing
To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open.
Swing
To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.
Swing
To be hanged.
He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief.
Swing
To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.
He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round.
They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are swung by their men visitants.
Swing
To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business.
Swing
To admit or turn (anything) for the purpose of shaping it; - said of a lathe; as, the lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
Swing
The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.
Swing
Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.
Swing
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.
Swing
Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion.
The ram that batters down the wall,For the great swing and rudeness of his poise,They place before his hand that made the engine.
Swing
Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
Swing
Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency.
To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius.
Swing
A state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity;
The party went with a swing
It took time to get into the swing of things
Swing
Mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
Swing
A sweeping blow or stroke;
He took a wild swing at my head
Swing
Changing location by moving back and forth
Swing
A style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
Swing
A jaunty rhythm in music
Swing
The act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
Swing
In baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball;
He took a vicious cut at the ball
Swing
A square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
Swing
Move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting;
He swung his left fist
Swing a bat
Swing
Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;
He swung back
Swing
Change direction with a swinging motion; turn;
Swing back
Swing forward
Swing
Influence decisively;
This action swung many votes over to his side
Swing
Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
Swing
Hang freely;
The ornaments dangled from the tree
The light dropped from the ceiling
Swing
Hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement;
The soccer player began to swing at the referee
Swing
Alternate dramatically between high and low values;
His mood swings
The market is swinging up and down
Swing
Live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style;
The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely
Swing
Have a certain musical rhythm;
The music has to swing
Swing
Be a social swinger; socialize a lot
Swing
Play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
Swing
Engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends;
There were many swinging couples in the 1960's
Swing
Lateral movement of a cricket ball in the air.
The bowler used swing to get the ball to move away from the batsman.
Swing
Conventional swing caused by air pressure differences.
The bowler relied on conventional swing during the cloudy day.
Swing
Reverse swing with an older ball.
Reverse swing helped the bowler get crucial wickets in the final overs.
Swing
Aerodynamic effect on the ball.
Swing depends on maintaining one shiny side of the ball.
Common Curiosities
What is swing in cricket?
Swing is the lateral movement of the cricket ball in the air due to aerodynamic factors.
What is seam in cricket?
Seam is the movement of the ball off the pitch caused by the raised seam hitting the surface.
What affects seam movement?
Seam movement is affected by the pitch condition and how the ball is delivered by the bowler.
Can seam occur on any pitch?
Seam movement is more effective on pitches with grass or imperfections.
Can swing occur with any ball?
Swing is more pronounced with a newer ball or one side polished to create aerodynamic differences.
How does seam occur?
Seam occurs when the ball’s seam makes contact with the pitch, causing it to deviate.
Which bowlers use swing?
Fast and medium-pace bowlers primarily use swing.
How do bowlers achieve reverse swing?
Reverse swing is achieved with an older ball, bowled at high speed with a specific grip.
How does swing occur?
Swing occurs through differences in air pressure around the ball created by the bowler’s technique and the ball’s condition.
What affects swing movement?
Swing is affected by the ball's condition, atmospheric conditions, and the bowler's skill.
Which bowlers use seam?
Fast bowlers often utilize seam movement.
Is swing more effective in certain weather?
Yes, overcast and humid conditions favor swing bowling.
What is the primary aim of seam bowling?
The primary aim is to exploit the pitch for unexpected movement post-bounce.
What is the primary aim of swing bowling?
The primary aim is to deceive the batsman with movement in the air.
Is seam more effective on certain pitches?
Yes, green or worn pitches enhance seam movement.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
