Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: alee on November 05, 2014, 07:07:06 AM

Title: Square Toe
Post by: alee on November 05, 2014, 07:07:06 AM
Hi Guys,

So i have noticed quite a few range of brands in 2015 (For instance, Puma, Slazenger) have square toe cricket bats. What do you think about it?
Is the blade of the bat a bit low due to the square toe or is it the same?  How does the toe feel?
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 05, 2014, 07:12:33 AM
To me,,it feels better, the bat sits at the crease better?
Not sure that makes sense,, but until you tap one down on the grass, it's hard to explain.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Seniorplayer on November 05, 2014, 11:02:09 AM
The theory behind the square toe is that it gives a superior stance position which helps with controlling the shot also there is no wood wastage as with round toes it should help  prevent chipping of the bat toe particularly if the batsman is a crease tapper.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: tim2000s on November 05, 2014, 12:09:34 PM
Depends how you stand in your stance.  Is your start bat up,  then it makes little difference.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: brokenbat on November 05, 2014, 02:14:45 PM
how does it lead to superior stance ?
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on November 05, 2014, 02:26:02 PM
how does it lead to superior stance ?
Because a new bat makes everything better! Duh  ;)
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: kal_m on November 05, 2014, 04:14:05 PM
Have never used a square toe but wouldn't grounding the bat be as issue??
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 05, 2014, 04:28:16 PM
Yeah, was for me on my Affinity Toro
Just took off the corners slightly with a sander, sorted
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Aldred Cricket Bats on November 05, 2014, 04:53:33 PM
The theory behind the square toe is that it gives a superior stance position which helps with controlling the shot also there is no wood wastage as with round toes it should help  prevent chipping of the bat toe particularly if the batsman is a crease tapper.


have found a lot of bats coming to me for repair because the corner of the square toe has cracked. I always felt it would be a weak point as any sharp corner is vulnerable to being blown by a cricket ball but wasn't sure but seems to be proving that in what I get in repair wise. as far as stance is concerned, not for me im afraid I don't see as a square toe would have made any of the world greats any better than they were, as with anything else its a gimmick and a trend. the thing it does to is make your bat look wider which may make you feel more confident. Down side to a square toe apart from it breaking? running your bat in I have seen numerous people using them go (No Swearing Please) over apex as the corner digs into the ground not pleasant at all I can tell you. I have actually squared ours up just a little bit to compromise for people but still round it off at the corners to take away the sharp corner and enable you to run your bat in without the fear of catastrophe   
old toe
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/Aldredcricket/d93a1851-8bd6-4d56-8444-9fb51ad25326_zpse575f6fe.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/Aldredcricket/media/d93a1851-8bd6-4d56-8444-9fb51ad25326_zpse575f6fe.jpg.html)

new toe
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/Aldredcricket/82477f7f-7e9d-44ba-9d43-0911409eb12e_zps48e48a77.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/Aldredcricket/media/82477f7f-7e9d-44ba-9d43-0911409eb12e_zps48e48a77.jpg.html)
 
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 05, 2014, 05:10:23 PM
If i pop up, I will show you my toro,Paul ,the toes about 40mm, so there's a lot of wood down there.
Any less, and I guarantee the bat would be knackered by now
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 05, 2014, 08:02:14 PM
Didn't KS say it made the bat feel wider?

Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Aldred Cricket Bats on November 05, 2014, 08:12:52 PM
certainly did. its all about what feels right. but also if you put too much emphasis on those sorts of issues you are relying on superstition to succeed as opposed to practicing your skills to achieve the job. theres no short cut to success you have to work hard to achieve the tools you use are just an aid to your progression. That's why we took that idea on board from the best I cant argue but I still think a perfectly square toe has its issues so I made the compromise. I am always taking advice on board especially from the top guys as I can take in what I think works for me and spit out what I think doesn't at this moment in time but even those ideas I keep in the back of my mind you never know when they may just pop up to help at some point   
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Aldred Cricket Bats on November 05, 2014, 08:13:52 PM
If i pop up, I will show you my toro,Paul ,the toes about 40mm, so there's a lot of wood down there.
Any less, and I guarantee the bat would be knackered by now

40mm at the toe? does that not make it a touch bottom heavy.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 05, 2014, 08:22:28 PM
I read that Greg Chappell used to deliberately break the handles of his bats, Paul.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Aldred Cricket Bats on November 05, 2014, 08:52:38 PM
really! probably to give him more flexibility in the handle I would say. I know bats have gone back to old bat makers as the customer felt it was dead and the bat maker would stick the handle in the vice twist it and bend it and then give it them back and they would think it was the best thing ever. people get impatient pros hit cricket balls every day so handles loosen quickly club players don't hit the same amount of balls hence the process takes longer. something like that with greg chappell is purely a personal thing.   
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: InternalTraining on November 05, 2014, 09:07:27 PM
I don't know about stance  (because I hold my back high like Graham Gooch) but I know that there couple of areas where the square toe has helped me:

1. Flicking half volleys and yorkers from my feet to the leg side. My round toe bats would generally get feathered with this kind of shots and this pattern has appeared consistently in all my bats except for the square toe bat.

2. Hitting straight from the low end of the bat has resulted in some nice rebound and this was surprising as the bat has a aggressive duck-bill shape.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Seniorplayer on November 05, 2014, 09:11:22 PM
Just read this
Square toes are designed to increase the hitting surface  whilst lowering the centre of gravity of the bat to provides a greater swing and weight distribution of power.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: InternalTraining on November 05, 2014, 09:11:43 PM
This could very well be his preference. From what I've heard, professionals prefer a stiffer handles because they want to develop a sense of impact of the ball and the distance the ball traveling. Professional golfers also use stiffer shafts compared to amateurs who like flexible shafts.


I read that Greg Chappell used to deliberately break the handles of his bats, Paul.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 05, 2014, 09:25:31 PM
Just read this
Square toes are designed to increase the hitting surface  whilst lowering the centre of gravity of the bat to provides a greater swing and weight distribution of power.

Would agree totally


40mm at the toe? does that not make it a touch bottom heavy.

A touch,,,, but not as much as you would think
Bats got a shorter blade/longer handle,,so picks up very very nice
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: alee on November 05, 2014, 10:42:17 PM
How is the ping at the toe? I am assuming it would be the same if the blade length and handle have the same dimensions of a normal short handle bat
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: mp07 on November 06, 2014, 02:17:43 AM
there is no ping at the toe  :)
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 06, 2014, 01:49:48 PM
something like that with greg chappell is purely a personal thing.

That was my point, really. Just because KS likes a square toe doesn't mean that's how a toe should be.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on November 06, 2014, 01:57:35 PM
I don't know about stance  (because I hold my back high like Graham Gooch)



Everyone does at point of delivery nowadays?
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: InternalTraining on November 06, 2014, 02:47:11 PM
What I meant is that I never tap my bat or even keep it low when getting ready for the delivery. It is always high.



Everyone does at point of delivery nowadays?
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: brokenbat on November 06, 2014, 02:47:43 PM
as long as the toe is TAPERED, it will feel equally good in the stance (as the toe will be flush against the ground).
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Gurujames on November 06, 2014, 04:33:36 PM
I have a grade 1 MSR, given to me as a gift. It has a square toe. I can say it does not alter my stance and I can see that it could increase the likelihood of cracking. However, although the spine would indicate a mid middle, it does in fact have ping at the toe. the spine does go all the way down though.
On another point. I saw a lovely 2.7 Sabre at Somerset count sports, it has been there a while. If the/a point of applying linseed oil is to seal in the moisture, do bats that have been hanging around in warm shops suffer from a loss of /moisturesoftness?
Why don't bat manufacturers apply linseed oil before they send out bats, the cost must be minimal and it prevents the over enthusiastic new owner trying it out before it is ready. I know a few people who think oiling is an option.
Finally, I have never cracked a bat at the toe, who else has been taught to put the bat down on a Yorker and not to try to drive it through mid off.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: procricket on November 06, 2014, 08:19:33 PM
Makes no difference

I use a square toe because Arron Finch and Michael Clarke do plain and simple.


I now like them the DW1 also has a square toe because i like it. Personal preference i like them if your thinking they alter things i think your thinking too much.

We do oil our bats.

I also have a non square toe makes no difference i just prefer square toe
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Shortpitch on November 06, 2014, 08:48:03 PM
I remember an article in the Cricbuzz or Cricinfo during last season IPL, that there were couple of runouts which were decided because of the toe of the bat which was not square and is rounded a bit and the round bat edge made up to the line of the crease and after that incident most of the players requested square toes rather than rounded toes and since SS is the biggest supplier of the bats in IPL obliged the players request, now makes all their range of bats with square toes. I know i need to get the proof for this and I am searching these 2 websites and upload the link as soon as I find it. Again i didn't see this run outs myself so i couldn't say the its completely true rather its a possibility.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: procricket on November 06, 2014, 08:51:04 PM
It is harder to run a square toe bat that is for sure.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Shortpitch on November 06, 2014, 08:53:28 PM
It is harder to run a square toe bat that is for sure.

Agree with you Dave on that, again it was a article I read either way i am not a fan of a square toe and i haven't and wouldn't want a bat with it.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 07, 2014, 09:12:04 AM
How is the ping at the toe? I am assuming it would be the same if the blade length and handle have the same dimensions of a normal short handle bat

There's a bit of meat on my toro toe, so the ball comes off there quite well.
But it's still not a proper useable area of the bat.

Again,,the toe on my bats,both tapered and square, which when tapping down at the crease, means it sits perfectly.
It is purely personal, it's not gonna help me play shots different or help me hit the ball further.

But
I like it,     Just like people like oval handles, two grips whatever
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Kulli on November 07, 2014, 10:04:34 AM
Still not sure I understand the physics of how adding a cm or two to the edge of the toe suddenly turning you bats into a toe pinging six hitting monster!
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Nmcgee on November 07, 2014, 10:36:10 AM
It doesn't mate. It's all fluff.
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 07, 2014, 11:42:29 AM
No physics
Just a personal preference
Simples:-)
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: tushar sehgal on November 07, 2014, 12:35:35 PM
More wood in the toe means better it should, in theory, feel when you hit ball with it. Would it be like playing a shot from the middle? no, would it be better than playing a shot from toe of a bat with thinner toe? yes, would your hands hurt? always.

L&W Legacy is a good example, ball did go further but it still jarred my hands like any other bat.

(http://www.laverwood.co.nz/images/resized/bats/legacy/leg_front.jpg)
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: Northern monkey on November 07, 2014, 12:38:46 PM
Spot on sir
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: tim2000s on November 07, 2014, 03:03:59 PM
More wood in the toe means better it should, in theory, feel when you hit ball with it. Would it be like playing a shot from the middle? no, would it be better than playing a shot from toe of a bat with thinner toe? yes, would your hands hurt? always.

L&W Legacy is a good example, ball did go further but it still jarred my hands like any other bat.

That's because the jarring has nothing to do with the amount of mass and everything to do with vibrational nodes!
Title: Re: Square Toe
Post by: tushar sehgal on November 07, 2014, 03:07:10 PM
That's because the jarring has nothing to do with the amount of mass and everything to do with vibrational nodes!

Agreed, I was just trying to make a point that more wood in the toe will have an effect on striking the ball that's all.