Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: Buzz on March 08, 2011, 11:31:24 AM
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today's technical question...
Where on the handle do you hold the bat?: near the bottom (Sachin style) in the middle (like most players) or right at the top (Gilchrist style)?
The second part of the question is why do you hold the bat in this part of the bat and have you ever experimented?
Finally do you think that where you hold the bat has either been impacted by the bats you own (like Sachin - gripping down the bat as it was so heavy when he was younger) or have you total confidence that the your grip shapes the bats you buy.
I would suggest that that where you hold the bat will have an impact on the shots you play.
For me, I hold the bat nearer the bottom of the handle, because I have fairly quick hands and have played a lot of hockey, this means that I find it easier to work the ball to the leg side, but I also like hitting over the top. I find it difficult to play the ball on the front foot through cover, but have no problem off the back foot. I, personally can't answer the question about the bats I buy, but I do typically favour a bat with a mid to lower middle.
I have tried with holding the ball further up the handle, but haven't found it help me improve my rage of shots.
I would be interested in your views...
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Somewhere around the middle, maybe a little on the low side. I have probably a hand's gap between my left and right hand. I like to go through cover, and I'm not particularly strong through leg.
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I grip the bat right at the bottom, however I'm 6'2 and score nearly all my runs in the V, so many coaches etc have said I should try gripping the bat higher up. When I've triend this it's felt strange and I feel that I have way less control over the blade. It's possible I need stronger arms and wrists for this.
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I'm a permanent technique fiddler.
Used to be Gilchrist style, but I wanted more control when knocking spinners for singles so I moved my bottom hand down.
Over the last 12 months or my top hand has migrated south too & now I feel I get lower & 'into' the shot more somehow.
When I see a pic of any cricketer I always take note of the grip.
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Somewhere around the middle, maybe a little on the low side. I have probably a hand's gap between my left and right hand. I like to go through cover, and I'm not particularly strong through leg.
given this - out of interest - how are you most commonly out?
It is, typically, pretty difficult to play shots with your hands apart like this as they would work independently of each other rather than together.
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i hold mine high as i can hands with a tiny gap iam right handed bat but left handed so my top hand is dominate
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Around the middle... maybe slightly on the high side.
If my hands get too low I tend to let them get ahead of my head and body and drive the ball in the air on the off side.
Oh, and... no gap, I can't imagine batting with a gap between my hands.
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in truth i very little contact with my bottom hand bar my thumb and small finger are usually only touching
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i hold the bat right near the bottom of the bat i think.
ive adjusted it slightly higher up tho as i used to hit my knuckles on sholder of the bat now i have like two kunckels instead of one lol
not sure why i do this but it just feels right for me.
im convincded this is also why i play alot of shots in the air as my grip is low and am all bottom hand
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I say right at the top but really on a sh, I hold all of the handle and hold right at the top only on a long handle.
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I hold it towards the bottom of the handle, i feel as though it gives me better 'touch' and control with the bat. Also I feel as though it makes the bats feel lighter the lower you hold it on the handle.
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I hold towards the bottom prob same as you buzz due to hockey just feels better
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I hold the bat towards the bottom. I open the batting, so I'm generally looking to be pretty compact in my strokeplay. I feel more in control of the bat with my hands closer to the blade.
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Depends what my role is, if im out to stodge it through and score slowly then near the bottom, out to tee off and score quickly then right at the top
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i hold it at the top, i feel it helps keep the ball on the ground and it is what comes natrually, i tried holding it low when i had a man crush on shane watson and wanted to copy him! It didnt feel right for me as my bottom hand was controlling too much for my liking. My thoughts now are grip it high and stand tall
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Mid to high for me, don't like strangling the blade and don't feel in complete control at the top.
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Interesting point made - I too have played a lot of hockey and therefore have quick hands, but hold the bat near the top.
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Mid to high also. Top hand player def, have played a bit of hockey, comes in handy when sweeping/reserse sweeping from the power in the wrists.
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Morne van Wyk talks a bit about a change of grip here:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/504792.html
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Depends on the bowler, type of wicket and match condtion. If its time to go for it than its up top like Razzaq, i find it helps me play shots straight over the bowlers head a lot more easily. If its normal condtions than my hands move slightly lower but still middle to high i would say because i like playing through the covers. i rarely play with my hands low. Just doesnt work for me
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Mid to high also. Top hand player def, have played a bit of hockey, comes in handy when sweeping/reserse sweeping from the power in the wrists.
Alright Eoin Morgan!!! aha
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I hold it in the middle mostly drive straight to square on off side
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Further to the above commentary - I thought I would include a picture of how I think the bat should be held (regardless of where on the handle you hold the bat)
(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/how-to-grip-the-bat.jpg)
please note the position of the bottom hand with the v of the forefinger and thumb pointing down the outside half of the back of the bat, not the inside half.
During the past few weeks I have had a few people pm me and ask for tips [which I am very happy to get by the way] and the most common fault I see is how people are holding the bat, especially with their bottom hand.
Phillip Hughes is a classic example of someone who isn't holding the bat correctly and it is really harming his technique:
(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/hughes.jpg)
you can play the pull and the cut well with too strong a bottom hand, but playing through the off side off the front foot is much harder and playing defensively off the back foot will be really hard.
Strauss is someone who has worked on this to help is problems will full balls outside the off stump.
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tried all types of grips but feel i have more control gripping the handle near the bottom, also like using oval handled bats to locate the right grip.
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i hold the bat right near the bottom of the bat i think.
ive adjusted it slightly higher up tho as i used to hit my knuckles on sholder of the bat now i have like two kunckels instead of one lol
not sure why i do this but it just feels right for me.
im convincded this is also why i play alot of shots in the air as my grip is low and am all bottom hand
no thats due to you not keeping a high elbow and smashing everything for 6 ;)
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I hold the bat right at the top, it's not anything I've put much thought into really, it is just where I feel most comfortable holding it from.