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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: yogi206 on October 10, 2013, 09:15:10 AM

Title: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: yogi206 on October 10, 2013, 09:15:10 AM
Just wondering what peoples veiws are on this, do you have a toe guard on your match bat?

I was told that i shouldn't have a toe gaurd on the bat because any damage in the toe wouldnt be caught early enough to "rescue" the bat ?

Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: jamielsn15 on October 10, 2013, 09:25:04 AM
I don't have one on my B3, all others do.

I haven't had any problems with the B3, but I do know that I wouldn't want to use it on a wet or even damp pitch - I'll always use one with a toe guard...
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: EaglesCC on October 10, 2013, 12:26:03 PM
Adding a toe guard was the first thing I used to do if I bought a bat without one. But now I feel like I'm adding unnecessary weight. Ofcourse I'd still like to protect my bat from damp conditions so will be use shoegoo instead.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: TangoWhiskey on October 10, 2013, 03:26:35 PM
Adding a toe guard was the first thing I used to do if I bought a bat without one. But now I feel like I'm adding unnecessary weight. Ofcourse I'd still like to protect my bat from damp conditions so will be use shoegoo instead.

Just out of interest, how much does a toe guard weigh? I mean I know it won't be the full feel of the weight due to the distance it is from the pivot of your hands but still I can't help but feel if you can tell the difference between the weight of identical bats, one with a toe guard and one without then you are probably in the wrong career!
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: joeljonno on October 10, 2013, 05:30:04 PM
Adding a toe guard was the first thing I used to do if I bought a bat without one. But now I feel like I'm adding unnecessary weight. Ofcourse I'd still like to protect my bat from damp conditions so will be use shoegoo instead.

Shoegoo is a good call, but quite expensive and have to order online generally. I have found the glue you get with the toe guards from SD is as good, and a lot cheaper.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on October 10, 2013, 05:44:54 PM
Shoegoo is a good call, but quite expensive and have to order online generally. I have found the glue you get with the toe guards from SD is as good, and a lot cheaper.

Impact adhesive is pretty much the same thing (I think)
I use this in a tube, but the tin looks great value and will do the job

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0001P03RY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1381426970&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0001P03RY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1381426970&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70)
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: compstallcc on October 10, 2013, 05:57:43 PM
the toe guard kits are 50p on sports direct and you put a fair amount of that fevibond on an youre good to go.

i used to use toe guards but last season one fell off half way through and innings and the pick up had a noticable difference
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on October 11, 2013, 06:30:52 AM
 I am not a fan of toe guards as they leave enough gap to let the moisture seep in through the toe when the bat is put it in angled position on the ground. Worse part is the cracks are hidden under the toe guard and it is found only till it's too late .
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: uknsaunders on October 11, 2013, 08:18:50 AM
toe guards - adds weight and falls off

complete waste of time when linseed oil does a perfectly good job. Those people who insist on whacking their bats down into the ground while waiting for the bowler will naturally reap the consequences in terms of feathering and water take up. Been playing adult cricket nearly 30 years and never had an issue with toes getting wet!
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: jamesisapayne on October 11, 2013, 09:26:30 AM
If anyone has used a toe guard and it hasn't fallen off at some point I'd live to know the secret!

Ill be shoe gooing my m&h original. Didn't Julian millichamp or someone post a video on YouTube of the process?
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: Giraffe208 on October 11, 2013, 09:35:04 AM
He certainly did.....About half way through I think

Julian Millichamp - Updated maintenance video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_e3AFndzmM#ws)
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: jamesisapayne on October 11, 2013, 11:22:09 AM
He certainly did.....About half way through I think

Thanks bud, I'll be doing this later :-)

It's at 8:30 for those that want to see it.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: Nato on October 11, 2013, 11:55:47 AM
My GM Epic has a toe guard, and my Purist does not. I have toyed with the idea of adding one to it, but it's nicely balanced as it is, so will probably not bother. It's going back to GM at some point this winter for a service anyway, mostly because the stickers have fallen off it. I'd rather have it all liveried up than naked.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: amritpremi on October 11, 2013, 02:40:29 PM
I prefer having toe guard on a bat, all my bats have it, and never felt different than when they didn't. Recently I bought a SC which did not have a toe guard fitted, one of my club mates took the bat to have a feel of it and tapped it on the ground. As soon as he tapped it there was a tick sound and I new something hit the toe, took the bat and found a small hole in the corner of the toe, felt so bad. As soon as I reached home my first task was to fill the hole with glue and put the toe guard on. I usually don't tap my bat much on the ground but I want to be sure when I do it doesn't hurt my bat, just for the sense of safety.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: EaglesCC on October 11, 2013, 10:15:09 PM
Just out of interest, how much does a toe guard weigh? I mean I know it won't be the full feel of the weight due to the distance it is from the pivot of your hands but still I can't help but feel if you can tell the difference between the weight of identical bats, one with a toe guard and one without then you are probably in the wrong career!

Of course not all toe guards weigh the same but I'd have a guess at around 1oz inc glue etc. the bottom of the bat is where you'd most notice weight being applied. 1oz near the handle would feel completely different.

I don't think judging the feel of a bat can be made into a career.... Else I'm there  :D

Shoegoo is a good call, but quite expensive and have to order online generally. I have found the glue you get with the toe guards from SD is as good, and a lot cheaper.

Do you mean just the fevibond glue? Never thought of that!

I prefer having toe guard on a bat, all my bats have it, and never felt different than when they didn't. Recently I bought a SC which did not have a toe guard fitted, one of my club mates took the bat to have a feel of it and tapped it on the ground. As soon as he tapped it there was a tick sound and I new something hit the toe, took the bat and found a small hole in the corner of the toe, felt so bad. As soon as I reached home my first task was to fill the hole with glue and put the toe guard on. I usually don't tap my bat much on the ground but I want to be sure when I do it doesn't hurt my bat, just for the sense of safety.

Now I thought I was sensitive!  ??? ;)


I've never had a toe guard come off but then I've become pretty good at applying them... And I don't use the bottom of my bat to dig trenches.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: EaglesCC on October 11, 2013, 10:32:55 PM
He certainly did.....About half way through I think

Julian Millichamp - Updated maintenance video ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_e3AFndzmM#ws[/url])


Off topic but interesting that JM suggests against knocking in a bat on the 45degree angle. Many people recommend the opposite.
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: mini998 on October 12, 2013, 08:23:50 AM
I prefer shoegoo

I'm a big tapper, habit picked up watching some of my favourite cricketers doing it. I also use backside of the toe edge to mark my guard about every other ball, again something I picked up from a childhood hero. Because of all the tapping I normally apply shoegoo around the toe area plus bit on the backside of the blade near toe,that  works for me
Title: Re: Toe Guard or No Toe Guard ?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on October 12, 2013, 08:42:28 AM
He certainly did.....About half way through I think

Julian Millichamp - Updated maintenance video ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_e3AFndzmM#ws[/url])


He's just all class isn't he. What a guy.

I must say i don't follow all of his practices, especially the knocking in process. But there is more than one way to skin a cat. (pardon the pun!)