Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Vic Nicholas on January 24, 2012, 01:03:37 PM
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Hi Guys,
I have always been fascinated with the large protrusion on Jaques Kallis bat handle and suspect that it is some kind of counter weight.
Apparently tennis players and golfers use lead tape to gain the perfect balance that they feel comfortable with.
If I purchased lead tape from a tennis store, would I be able to get the same effect by wrapping a bit around the very end of my bat handle?
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yes, i think this has been discussed before. it depends how much you want to add to it. even a small amount can make a different. my brother has done something similar and then wrapped plaster tape around it to make it secure.
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Exactly what I do. You can get lead tape easily enough off eBay.
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Most cricketers simply put another grip on to counter balance, but I have small hands, so that doesn't really work for me, so I figured a little lead tape under the grip at the extreme end of the handle would act as a nice counter weight to make the bat feel lighter in my hands.
That is my theory.
I just wonder if others have tried it and what they think of it...because Jaques Kallis has clearly been doing it for years.
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I have before put a few layers of cut up grip around the exposed wood right at the top of the handle. Not sure whether it made a difference but it looked good!
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I have lead tape on my BlackCat Shadow as a counter balance and it is of decent thickness and it certainly makes a difference. Makes bat feel much lighter.
After putting lead tape I cover it with few layers of electrical tape and then if need I wrap a small piece of grip.
Overall it works perfectly for me.
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I had it on my tennis rackets for a while, made a substantial difference there. A counterweight purely made from elastoplast was on my laver when i got it, didnt notice a difference but then it was elastoplast not anything particularly dense!
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I have lead tape on my BlackCat Shadow as a counter balance and it is of decent thickness and it certainly makes a difference. Makes bat feel much lighter.
After putting lead tape I cover it with few layers of electrical tape and then if need I wrap a small piece of grip.
Overall it works perfectly for me.
Hey CD where did you get your lead tape from? I have had a NewBery b52 that is an awesome bat but doesn't pick up too well for me, so before i try anything drastic like shaving some of the weight off the bottom wouldn't mind trying this...
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The Jaques Kallis counter weight:
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ0MrVDo7hg/TZbR0lplm_I/AAAAAAAACns/PV4sjrVf_Q8/s1600/Jacques%2BKallis%2Bwallpapers%2Bby%2Bcool%2Bsports%2Bplayers%2B%25252812%252529.jpg&imgrefurl=http://coolsportsplayers.blogspot.com/2011/04/jacques-kallis-wallpapers.html&usg=__C3WzB_9qhD-kHXSsAWgOgeZZ_AY=&h=600&w=800&sz=51&hl=en&start=15&sig2=l5Im5y8JOv5TGCKSeyEEzw&zoom=1&tbnid=9RDY03x5tJnkIM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&ei=oXgfT5iJEeSziQfqrbH8DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djacques%2Bkallis%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1
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Hey CD where did you get your lead tape from? I have had a NewBery b52 that is an awesome bat but doesn't pick up too well for me, so before i try anything drastic like shaving some of the weight off the bottom wouldn't mind trying this...
Hey Mate,
Hope you're well!
You can get it from a shop that carries Golf equipments.
Or you can try Canadian Tire (I'm sure you guys have it too!)
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Hey Mate,
Hope you're well!
You can get it from a shop that carries Golf equipments.
Or you can try Canadian Tire (I'm sure you guys have it too!)
Thanks CD, i'll drive up to canadian tire or golftown today, hopefully it will let me use my bomber :)
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Going to open up an old topic here.
I was talking to my mate today about this as he was saying his bat pics up heavy etc... So I told him to try this.
What I wanted to see from you guys was tho where do you apply your lead tape/counter balance?? When I have done it I have just put it on the wooden bit right at the top of the handle or is it best at the tip of the handle where the twine stops???
Thoughts Ladies and Gents please
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Very top Redders, as per the Kallis pic
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I've used it in the past and put it right at the very top as well
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the counter balance needs to be as far down the bat as possible to maximise the benefit.
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Hu?! Are you going back on what you said then?? Lol
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Hu?! Are you going back on what you said then?? Lol
no down as in bottom/end/knobbly bit/handle end. Redders get me the tape and I'll stick it on for you lol
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I tried counter weighting my bat with lead tape. I couldn't feel any difference at all with 2oz of tape so I started attaching more weights (metal washers). I was over 5oz before it felt different. Add a 1.5oz grip and it feels different straight away. Maybe Kallis is using tungsten, ether way I'm not sure he can legally add a counterweight. It's not willow, cane, twine, glue and his handle already has it's allotted 10% cork/rubber so I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be there.
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Well I wasn't sure how noticeable the lead tape would be. But I've added 2 ounces to the end of the handle and can definitely tell the difference. The Thruxton used to pick up heavier than the Dynadrive but now it's the other way around. Very keen to hit the nets to test out the mod.
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I've recently done this on a bat that weighs 2.10 and I want it to feel like 2.8 and I found that even though I put alot of tape on it, it hasn't actually made any difference to the pickup of the bat. I'm not sure whether it works with cricket bats as they aren't light like tennis rackets and golf clubs. I think it's more of a psychological thing that makes you think it's lighter.