| LIGHTEST | Least heavy ball ultimately gets hit badly (8) |
| TIGHTEN | Pull in when gent gets hit badly (7) |
| CLANGERS | Erratic ball ultimately irritates slips (8) |
| FORWARDS | Strikers crossing balls ultimately clinching contest (8) |
| DUMBBELL | In weightlifting, a single bar with a heavy ball or disc at either end (8) |
| THIRTIES | Decade hit badly, then tries to rebuild (8) |
| BUDDHIST | Believer died twice in bus hit badly (8) |
| STRADDLE | Be noncommittal when school chum of Copperfield ultimately gets to the top (8) |
| PRISONER | Impressionist returning under pressure to host series ultimately gets one in the can (8) |
| TRIMARAN | Craft of haircut - a barber ultimately gets a name |
| OVERCAME | Across river, foe ultimately gets defeated |
| DONEWITH | Perform fresh hit badly to be of no further interest (4,4) |
| BROWBEAT | Bully starting big argument, gets hit |
| INAFLASH | Suddenly at home a fellow gets hit (2,1,5) |
| SLIGHTEST | Son least heavy, carrying least weight? (9) |
| CLUE | Lead ball ultimately something used to pot swallows |
| LULLABY | Retrospective university ball ultimately involves calming music (7) |
| MORBID | Gloomy team ultimately gets ball I had |
| GEESEA | ... gift for one backpedalling? Again, see ball ultimately transported over boundary's edge ... (5,1-6) (See 31A) |
| LAYING | ...gift for one backpedalling? Again, see ball ultimately transported over boundary's edge ... (5,1-6) (See 20A) |
