Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: High Elbow on October 08, 2014, 03:29:15 PM
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Dear All,
I have just today joined the forum - so thank you for letting me - as it looks very unusual and interesting!
I have a general question about bats.
I am 39 years old, 6'3", and weigh under 11 stone, so very slim (but not a weakling). I have been playing cricket only for the last 3-4 years for a local non-league team, but only this year have I decided to take it seriously, bought my own bat and had some coaching. The coach says I am too hunched over in stance and not really using my height and reach to drive the ball. He suggested I get a Long Handle or even Long Handle + Long Blade bat. I have been to quite a few shops and they apparently don't really stock them these days (which surprised me as there must be plenty of players around my height).
So I am therefore looking at a custom bat.
Can anyone suggest the best length, shape and weight bat for someone of my build? I currently use a Kookaburra Kahuna (SH, about 2 lbs 7 oz).
And can anyone suggest a good maker? I live in London and have an outside budget of about £200.
Many thanks,
Ben
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Red Ink have some good offers on at the moment. I think Aldred have as well. There are plenty of people on here who will be able to make something to your specifications
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Dear All,
I have just today joined the forum - so thank you for letting me - as it looks very unusual and interesting!
I have a general question about bats.
I am 39 years old, 6'3", and weigh under 11 stone, so very slim (but not a weakling). I have been playing cricket only for the last 3-4 years for a local non-league team, but only this year have I decided to take it seriously, bought my own bat and had some coaching. The coach says I am too hunched over in stance and not really using my height and reach to drive the ball. He suggested I get a Long Handle or even Long Handle + Long Blade bat. I have been to quite a few shops and they apparently don't really stock them these days (which surprised me as there must be plenty of players around my height).
So I am therefore looking at a custom bat.
Can anyone suggest the best length, shape and weight bat for someone of my build? I currently use a Kookaburra Kahuna (SH, about 2 lbs 7 oz).
And can anyone suggest a good maker? I live in London and have an outside budget of about £200.
Many thanks,
Ben
You should be able to find a long blade pretty easily off the rack. I have mates that buy both long handle and long blades pretty regularly.
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As a 6'5" player, let me help with some advice.
I started using LHLB bats, but I only have one of these, because, while it is a lovely bat, I find the weight distribution odd, and was holding it low down the handle. I have since moved to a LB bat, and find that the balance on these suits me very well. Dependent on your location, I'd be happy to meet up so you could get a feel for how these are balanced.
The other point I would suggest is to stand in your stance when waiting for the delivery with your bat already lifted behind you (much like the Gooch stance). At the level you are playing, this shouldn't cause you a problem, and you can then stand upright in your stance and not be hunched over. You don't need to (and indeed shouldn't) lean on your cricket bat like a crutch when waiting for a delivery.
What I would say is that you will struggle to get a LB at 2lb 7oz without forking out for a very low density cleft. You may want to talk to B3 about this as they have a few at the moment, but these are far from cheap. I do have a Hunts County long blade which is heavier than you like, but was got through Jake, and with your budget and Jake's relationship with Tony, I think you could probably get something very good, but you should talk to Jake if you want to take this approach.
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I'll just clarify for you, Jake is Vitas Cricket... £165 for a custom made Hunts. Great value.
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Dear All,
I have just today joined the forum - so thank you for letting me - as it looks very unusual and interesting!
I have a general question about bats.
I am 39 years old, 6'3", and weigh under 11 stone, so very slim (but not a weakling). I have been playing cricket only for the last 3-4 years for a local non-league team, but only this year have I decided to take it seriously, bought my own bat and had some coaching. The coach says I am too hunched over in stance and not really using my height and reach to drive the ball. He suggested I get a Long Handle or even Long Handle + Long Blade bat. I have been to quite a few shops and they apparently don't really stock them these days (which surprised me as there must be plenty of players around my height).
So I am therefore looking at a custom bat.
Can anyone suggest the best length, shape and weight bat for someone of my build? I currently use a Kookaburra Kahuna (SH, about 2 lbs 7 oz).
And can anyone suggest a good maker? I live in London and have an outside budget of about £200.
Many thanks,
Ben
Hi Ben,
I am 6'5" and I recently got a H4L HellFire G2 LB, which is within your budget. In this video I explain why I changed from a SH to LB and why it helps us taller folk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw)
Our store is in London, too, so you should pop in and see if anything we have is suitable? Failing that, I could arrange for a LB H4L G2 bat to be custom made for you in time for our visit there on Saturday! :)
Cheers,
Paul
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A couple of points to bear in mind - if you're used to a short handle, make sure you get a long blade rather than long handle - the reason being that with the latter you'll just hold it right at the top of the wood and change nothing, whereas the longer blade cuts off that option. A second one, you'll probably be able to bear a couple of oz more than you think - I use bats between 2lb 12 and 3lb 4 with a long blade but struggle to get past 2lb 13 with a short handle....
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A long blade or long handle or maybe a combination of both? Doesn't really matter as long as it feels natural and comfortable.
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Ryan's point is very important. If you can, try a few as you really need to see how they feel.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
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I'm another 6'3"er, highly recommend a long blade over a long handle (or that's my preference anyway). I find on a long handle you just hold it in at exactly the same height that you would anyway, so you get no benefit and just an extra inch of handle poking you in your wrist. I've mainly used standard SH bats over the years due to difficulties of getting hold of a LB, but I do definitely feel I drive better with a LB. As for manufacturer, I haven't received my new bat yet but am very happy with the photos of my new LB Red Ink in shaping - 2lb10oz and still looking a good size bat. John was helpful with advising me on a lighter cleft to use for it so would definitely recommend him on service so far and price!
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I am yet another 6'3er but use SH still as a rule.
Saying that I do have an Aldred LB plus a few others which I am probably going to be testing out in the nets over Winter.
I don't often get yorked or suffer from bad back, so not sure if it will make much difference to be honest. But am interested to see if it makes any difference?
And I absolutely agree that a LH bat isn't as good as LB! LB gets my vote, although each to their own!!
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im 6'2" and use sh bats. i have considered getting a long blade but yet to try it.
never had any real problems with yorkers or the like just missing straight balls
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im 6'2" and use sh bats. i have considered getting a long blade but yet to try it.
never had any real problems with yorkers or the like just missing straight balls
Ah, you use one of those new fangled bats with a hole in it....
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I'm 6'2 and use SH bats, but used a LH earlier in the season when borrowing my brothers gear and never noticed until after the game. I do like the idea of switching to a LB, but it's just a fair bit more hassle to get ahold of one.
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Wow, thanks for all the useful advice and offers of help. :)
I can see I am going to have to try a few of the larger bats for ease and pickup and see what feels right...
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I started using LHLB bats, but I only have one of these, because, while it is a lovely bat, I find the weight distribution odd, and was holding it low down the handle. I have since moved to a LB bat, and find that the balance on these suits me very well. Dependent on your location, I'd be happy to meet up so you could get a feel for how these are balanced.
It's interesting what you say about a LH not making a great difference. The only LH I have seen was a Newbery for about £175, so not cheap, and it was just 1" longer. I am glad I heeded my instinct not to buy it, it sounds like it would definitely have been a waste of money.
The other point I would suggest is to stand in your stance when waiting for the delivery with your bat already lifted behind you (much like the Gooch stance). At the level you are playing, this shouldn't cause you a problem, and you can then stand upright in your stance and not be hunched over. You don't need to (and indeed shouldn't) lean on your cricket bat like a crutch when waiting for a delivery.
Very good advice. When I watched cricket as a kid on TV in the 1980s, it looked like they were "leaning" on the bat in stance, in hindsight that's probably just how it looked to my untrained eye...
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Hi Ben,
I am 6'5" and I recently got a H4L HellFire G2 LB, which is within your budget. In this video I explain why I changed from a SH to LB and why it helps us taller folk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw)
Our store is in London, too, so you should pop in and see if anything we have is suitable? Failing that, I could arrange for a LB H4L G2 bat to be custom made for you in time for our visit there on Saturday! :)
Cheers,
Paul
That is a very kind invitation. Walworth is not too far away from me so I will try to pop in in the next few days. :)
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The general consensus seems to be that LB's are better and I would certainly agree. A LB bat helps to give you more of an upright position when batting.
We recently had some specially made Long Blade with Long Handle bats in and they really made a difference - sold quickly too!
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My second question(s) is, when ordering a custom bat, what profile/ edges/ sweet spot should I be looking for?
(NB I have looked at photos of custom bats with "big" profiles, and while they look as if they would really "hammer" the ball due to the increased weight, would they be very tiring to pick up and/or miss with, due to them weighing as much as a hammer?)
Are these things dependent on whether I am an attacking or defending batsman, the kind of shots I go for, or something else?
As a novice, perhaps it might be better to go for an "all round" profile/ edges etc?
Finally, should I get an extra grip or anti-scuff guard?
Many thanks in advance. :)
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The offer is still there to allow you to come an pick up mine and have a fiddle. They have different weights and shapes and it would help to give you some idea.
What I've found personally is that I get the best our of an LB if it has a mid-ish middle. I find that I hit the ball too high up on the blade with a lower middle so don't get the full benefit.
You should take your old bat, work out where you hit the ball most, then work out how far that is from the toe. Then add an inch. That's where you'll want your middle to be on your new LB bat.
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Hi Ben,
I am 6'5" and I recently got a H4L HellFire G2 LB, which is within your budget. In this video I explain why I changed from a SH to LB and why it helps us taller folk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLiWHQMBAo&list=UUIerErbsjvrlqWp_0TgIYjw)
Our store is in London, too, so you should pop in and see if anything we have is suitable? Failing that, I could arrange for a LB H4L G2 bat to be custom made for you in time for our visit there on Saturday! :)
Cheers,
Paul
Looking forward to seeing you playing some shots with that Paul
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Looking forward to seeing you playing some shots with that Paul
Ah, if I only I were capable of playing any shots that aren't defensive ones!! :)
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I'm 6'2 and as I get older I have found myself getting Yorked more...
I had a SHLB Laver and Wood. I didn't like the pickup. Short handle is the way for me still.
Paul's H4L looks a beauty!
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I'm a similar size mate, 6ft2 and around 12st. I use a SH and I'm fine with it.
Use a 2.9 SH Laver TR special (purchased frrom this very forum) and it's perfect, have a play with a few different sizes and see how you go...
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My second question(s) is, when ordering a custom bat, what profile/ edges/ sweet spot should I be looking for?
(NB I have looked at photos of custom bats with "big" profiles, and while they look as if they would really "hammer" the ball due to the increased weight, would they be very tiring to pick up and/or miss with, due to them weighing as much as a hammer?)
Are these things dependent on whether I am an attacking or defending batsman, the kind of shots I go for, or something else?
As a novice, perhaps it might be better to go for an "all round" profile/ edges etc?
Finally, should I get an extra grip or anti-scuff guard?
Many thanks in advance. :)
Happy to have a lengthy chat with you about all this when you come to the shop... :)