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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: SOULMAN1012 on October 16, 2012, 07:53:07 PM

Title: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on October 16, 2012, 07:53:07 PM
Had an interesting time pickimg my new bat today. I always used a bat that weighs 2lb 8oz. Whilst visiting H4L today i chose a part made that i would have sworn was no heavier than my normally desired 2lb 8. Turned out to be 2.13 naked.

The pick up was so good and felt so right that i choose it and had it made and when finished weighed 2lb 14 fully finished. This has now made me decide that the weight of a bat is almost irrelevent as the pick up is really all that matters.

Is it just me or is this the way that we should all choose our bats ie pick up over specific weight???
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Alvaro on October 16, 2012, 08:20:01 PM
Sounds great. Did you shadow bat pulls and cuts?
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Nickauger on October 16, 2012, 08:20:10 PM
Without meaning to sound patronising mate, a simple forum search would have told you that!
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: uknsaunders on October 16, 2012, 08:21:46 PM
PICS
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Bruce on October 16, 2012, 08:27:16 PM
I take it that it was a Tempo you got?
The bats with high spines hights pick really well
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Canners on October 16, 2012, 08:40:40 PM
I have bought many 2.12+ bats because I liked the feel only to decide its too heavy a few games later... And then having to shell out on another 2.8/9- on that note I think weight is the higher priority out of the 2

Pickup is important, but if you know what shape suits your game you should theoretically know what weight you should be using (approximately) :)
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: steelcouch on October 16, 2012, 08:45:14 PM
sorry, overall weight is important to a bat.
most shots and innings are more than lifting your bat backwards on and off for one minute.
Anyone how says its not are wrong or trying to sell you a bat.
Rant over
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on October 16, 2012, 09:02:40 PM
no mate i picked an Hattori, yea understand what your saying that after batting for a couple of hours the weight may become more noticeable but for me not having a huge pick up when batting i don't see it being an issue but i guess time will tell.

i would post pics but laptop is broke so doing this post from phone. I would also totally agree with what yoyu say if i was forced into buying a vat because i was told that was best but i wasn't i chose it myself. Just found it interesting hoe muvh difference there was from what i was expecting the bat to weigh was all i was saying
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Vantage_Cricket on October 16, 2012, 09:05:57 PM
When using a bat for a sustained amount of time, ie in the middle or in a net session over time you'll probably realise that the bat may be slightly heavy for you as you may become lethargic with your shots due to the actual weight of the bat.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on October 16, 2012, 09:14:48 PM
thats a fair point, i suppose time will tell but im hoping that whilst still being in my 20's and fairly fit and strong over the winter nets it will become as comfy as previous bats and the weight will just be irrelevent as i become used to the new weight, feel etc
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: beaver5 on October 16, 2012, 10:14:36 PM
I feel weight is more of a guide/starting point. I've always used between 2.7 & 2.10 as I'm not a big bloke and bat speed is important as I'm a wristy player. Yet I bought an Uzi off eBay which was advertised as 2.10 but turned out to be 2.14 when it arrived. Pick up was brilliant and went like a train. Played some of my best innings with it but when my form went I blamed it on using too heavy a bat. This over analysing your own performance, blaming your kit and looking for that elusive bat that will hit he ball further than any other is what keeps the bat manufactures in business. And keeps us obsessively reading this forum.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: tim2000s on October 16, 2012, 10:43:52 PM
Weight is much more important than you think. I have a lovely Pakistani bat that weighs 2lb 13oz. It picks up better than this, however, after a couple of bags of balls on the bola, I am perceptibly late to every shot with it. The guys feeding can see this. I normally use around 2lb10oz.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Colesy on October 16, 2012, 10:48:49 PM
Have to say I picked up Byo's Hattori when I played him last and said "2.10" only to be told it's 2.12.

I think a few ounces either way wouldn't make a dramatic difference but going from 2.8 to 2.14 may be noticeable. Any bat that picks up like a feather will always be nice but like Alvaro said, pulls and cuts may be more of an issue with a heavier bat.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: thedon on October 17, 2012, 06:44:17 AM
I find that the pick up of a bat always seems better in winter ie cold conditions. strange
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Byo on October 17, 2012, 07:53:48 AM
Have to say I picked up Byo's Hattori when I played him last and said "2.10" only to be told it's 2.12.

I think a few ounces either way wouldn't make a dramatic difference but going from 2.8 to 2.14 may be noticeable. Any bat that picks up like a feather will always be nice but like Alvaro said, pulls and cuts may be more of an issue with a heavier bat.

Agree with you there Colesy - the GM I had been using was 2.10, and is a really good bat, but going to the Hattori which is 2.12 I have not noticed any difference (apart from the fact it goes further out the middle).  I have played a couple of longer innings (for me) with the Hattori and have not got tired etc - will be using the Hattori from now on as I love it  :D
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Bruce on October 17, 2012, 09:18:59 AM
I'm still yet to fall in love with my Hattori, It was the most expensive bat I have bought, Nice grains, good rebound etc just not got on the way I thought I would. It's sometimes 3rd choice. (behind a Talisman T20 and a Solution)
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: thedon on October 17, 2012, 09:59:43 AM
I'm still yet to fall in love with my Hattori, It was the most expensive bat I have bought, Nice grains, good rebound etc just not got on the way I thought I would. It's sometimes 3rd choice. (behind a Talisman T20 and a Solution)

Sometimes it takes a good season for a bat to open up
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: tim2000s on October 17, 2012, 10:04:12 AM
Sometimes it takes a good season for a bat to open up
And if you have a bad season, it can take a couple ;)
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Bruce on October 17, 2012, 10:11:18 AM
And if you have a bad season, it can take a couple ;)
I hear ya!
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: thedon on October 17, 2012, 10:22:19 AM
Over winter nets I give my new bat to team mates to use. Normally opens up the bat nicely for the season
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: tim2000s on October 17, 2012, 10:24:37 AM
nothing wrong with that. Other people using the bat help to play it in.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: norbs on October 17, 2012, 10:38:26 AM
You are in the majority most people leave the workshop with a heavier bat.. your not the 1st and wont be the last

@tim2000s You are only late on the shot with a heavier bat if the swing weight is out of your norm! MMOI ;)
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: tim2000s on October 17, 2012, 10:48:07 AM
You are in the majority most people leave the workshop with a heavier bat.. your not the 1st and wont be the last

@tim2000s You are only late on the shot with a heavier bat if the swing weight is out of your norm! MMOI ;)
And if you are a weakling.... Although, I was waiting for a comment like that, as the combination of increased weight and longer blade definitely changes that....
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: norbs on October 17, 2012, 10:50:12 AM
And if you are a weakling....

Yep it is still the force required to get it going in the swing...
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Alvaro on October 17, 2012, 11:00:40 AM
You are in the majority most people leave the workshop with a heavier bat.. your not the 1st and wont be the last

Would you recommend bringing batting gloves to the workshop, as I find they sometimes alter pickup?
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: PedalsMcgrew on October 17, 2012, 11:10:15 AM
Yep it is still the force required to get it going in the swing...

Is it fair to say then that there is an optimum weight for everyone? And if that is the case, is it just a case of trial and error or is there a way of working it out using the maths and the numbers and stuff  :D
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: tim2000s on October 17, 2012, 11:21:36 AM
Is it fair to say then that there is an optimum weight for everyone? And if that is the case, is it just a case of trial and error or is there a way of working it out using the maths and the numbers and stuff  :D
There is an optimum swing weight and balance for everyone....
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Cys1 on October 17, 2012, 12:35:08 PM
Would imagine that weight would be more important since it will remain relatively constant.
Pick will vary for different bats with different shapes.

Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Cys1 on October 17, 2012, 12:38:04 PM
You are in the majority most people leave the workshop with a heavier bat.. your not the 1st and wont be the last

Would this not be due to people selecting shapes for bats that are simply not possible at certain weights?
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: norbs on October 17, 2012, 01:01:33 PM
You are in the majority most people leave the workshop with a heavier bat.. your not the 1st and wont be the last

Would this not be due to people selecting shapes for bats that are simply not possible at certain weights?

No nothing to do with that.... it is just they pick it in the workshop as you work on it and we dont generally weigh until the end
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: norbs on October 17, 2012, 01:02:54 PM
Would you recommend bringing batting gloves to the workshop, as I find they sometimes alter pickup?

Some people like to try them with gloves some dont....
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: SkipperJ on October 17, 2012, 01:26:51 PM
You are only late on the shot with a heavier bat if the swing weight is out of your norm! MMOI ;)
^ This ^
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: steelcouch on October 17, 2012, 02:09:22 PM
Bats haave prgress a hell of a lot in shapes, size and performance, but in one area i think we shoudl look to history and that is bat selection.
In days gone by when we were less fickle i cant see peopl eregularly coming out with bats too heavy for them etc.
These days we are making ego purchases ( we have all done them!) and going after big bats and trying to justify them because " it has a great pick up"

I think this is different to exploring your optimum weight where you do need experiementation to find what works form you, but in the past you tended to go from the lightest weighing bat, that you were pretty sertain you could use to simething neavier gradually.

Tip, hold a bat in your top hand and extend you arm fully. If you can hold that with out undue effort. i.e. no movement whatsoe ever for ten seconds then you bat is not too heavy for you.
You will be able under normal cirecumastances pklay all shots and have enough strength to play an innings.

All this optimum stroke speed etc will have limited effect if you do not have the FITNESS AND STRENGTH to use your bat.
Fatigue has a massive effect on skil. That is something they do not teach you in Pysics books i am afraid.

1) get the right weight of bat for you  ( i agree an ounce or so shoyudl not have too much effect. 2 oz i think is a significent step up, but managable i.e a nicely weighted heavier bat compared to a badly weighted light bat)
2) get set up right. middle, pick up edges
3) DOnt change, unless given EXTREMELY good advise to the contry. Remember most of people have strong opinions on cricket. 80% are incorrect.
Only listen to proven experts if not in supply, then trust yourself.
4) I dont begrudge peopl espending money on things they like, or even love. Hell i have a room full of sports equipment, but i would guess that over 50% of peopl eon here use bats too heavy to encourage all round stroke play. It is only the last 40 years where professional were using more than 2lb 6 and they were still hitting sixes.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: SkipperJ on October 17, 2012, 04:21:11 PM
Tip, hold a bat in your top hand and extend you arm fully. If you can hold that with out undue effort. i.e. no movement whatsoe ever then you bat is not too heavy for you.

All this optimum stroke speed etc will have limited effect if you do not have the FITNESS AND STRENGTH to use your bat.
Fatigue has a massive effect on skil. That is something they do not teach you in Pysics books i am afraid.
Agree with the above. The other tip for selecting a bat - hold it with only your top hand, and swing it through a few times, making an arc mimicking your back lift and a shoulder-high followthrough. You will know which bat feels right.

Also, even if you get a bat that is 1-2 oz heavier, work on your fitness (pump those weights!) You will see better returns, compared to searching for the holy grail.

Lastly, the best judge of what is right for you is *YOU*. If you pickup a bat and it feels perfect in your hands (regardless of actual dead weight) go for it - like the OP.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: trypewriter on October 17, 2012, 04:27:43 PM
Agree with the above. The other tip for selecting a bat - hold it with only your top hand, and swing it through a few times, making an arc mimicking your back lift and a shoulder-high followthrough. You will know which bat feels right.


One useful thing that I was told - buy a guy selling bats, so he was keen for buyers to get it right - was to follow the above advice, but to try to stop the swing at various points. The theory being that if you couldn't stop the swing comfortably, the bat was too heavy for you to control.
Title: Re: Weight vs Pickup
Post by: Buzz on October 17, 2012, 05:17:51 PM
there are some really good thoguhts on this thread - loving the idea of swinging the bat around like a madman and trying to stop, whilst retaining control...

some of the old school tips like the arm outstretched ones are the best.

With a slightly heavier bat, once you have hit a few boundaries with it, your confidence can go up with the bat and you can cope just fine.

Except on a really hot day when you are sweating buckets in your lid and your lack of fitness shows you up...