Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: mo_town on February 09, 2016, 02:48:34 PM
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Hello,
I am pondering on a bat for 2016 and I have the option of getting a Long Blade and also a Long Handle bat. I am 6'3" and I normally end up damaging the toe of my bats so I think that a longer bat will probably help avoid that. My thoughts:
1.LB might not have a good pick up as compared to an SH or LH of the same weight.
2.Where I grip the bat will be affected on a LH bat which might affect my chances of middling the ball.
3.Will there be a significant difference in a LB/LH as compared to an SH?
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@tim2000s is one of the best to ask as he uses lh and lb
personally I'm 6ft4 and use long blade. I switched a few years ago and will never look back as they just seem to put the middle where I need it and stop me falling over as much
I use 1"-1 1/2" long blades
with regards to pick up if the maker is skilled enough they pick up just fine as I've never had a problem with pick up on my long blades
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If you have a choice between the two, then I would personably suggest the Long Blade.
LB bats pick up very well, so you shouldn't have any concerns there. The major plus point is that the extra length to the blade really does make a difference and means you don't have to bend down as much as you would with a short blade. It gives you more of an upright stance.
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I have a long blade Woodstock and there is only half a centimetre difference in the blade length to my other bats I'm 6ft 4 and would of liked to see what a long blade and long handle was for size and pickup
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used longer bats for two decades, and I'd say always go for the long blade option if its open to you.
Long handle bats tend to pick up chunky, long blade are easier for the batmaker to balance. Plus, in my experience, there is too much of a temptation to grip down the handle nowadays - so a long handle is exactly the same as a short!
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I'm making a long blade, long handle at the moment. General rule I think is that long blades feel better than long handles.
Getting one custom made to specs may help so you can select the pick up etc but it's worth getting your hands on some just so you get an idea of feel.
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Long blade for me !...am 6ft 4" and never found long handles gave me sufficient control of the bat
went and saw Roger Solitaire in Worcester and he made me a g1 with a one inch longer blade,and its the best thing I`ve ever had..also for remarkable value!
Unless you go and see one of the top retailers on here,I recommend you go and see a bat maker from one of the smaller Co`s on here who`ll custom make something that`ll suit,hopefully within budget
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Thanks Guys! That was certainly helpful. Looks like I will be getting my first LB :).
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@tim2000s is one of the best to ask as he uses lh and lb
personally I'm 6ft4 and use long blade. I switched a few years ago and will never look back as they just seem to put the middle where I need it and stop me falling over as much
I use 1"-1 1/2" long blades
with regards to pick up if the maker is skilled enough they pick up just fine as I've never had a problem with pick up on my long blades
Thanks for the tag, been a bit busy so only just caught up.
I've both LHLB and LB, and have come to the conclusion that LB is better for me. I'm also 6'4" and find that the LBs are better balanced than my one LHLB, to such an extent that I'll probably cut the end off the LHLB. What I would say is that I tend to grip at the top of the handle rather than the bottom, as I have fairly large hands, so I notice the more cumbersome balance on the LHLB.
Recommendation is therefore LB.
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Picking up on an old thread.
I am 6ft, and this year I experimented with a long handle from a club mate. It was such a good experience that I am thinking of investing in a long handle for myself. However, I noticed on this thread that most people recommend long blade over long handle.
Kind of split now, as to what to order??
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Long blade any day as it doesn't need you to change your technique with regards to where you hold the bat. Also the pick is much better as others have noted.
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Long blade any day as it doesn't need you to change your technique with regards to where you hold the bat. Also the pick is much better as others have noted.
Mate, should I order the same weight as my SH bat or a slightly heavier bat?
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Mate, should I order the same weight as my SH bat or a slightly heavier bat?
I would order same weight or slightly less but not more than my SH bat. But it depends on what your allowance on weight really is.
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Long blade any day as it doesn't need you to change your technique with regards to where you hold the bat. Also the pick is much better as others have noted.
No technique change is required for a long handle bat either (just measure from the top instead of bottom). These days shorter blade / longer handle bats are trending and I think it’s because of the faster bat speed you can get from that setup. You’d effectively be picking the same combination (shorter blade) by opting for long handle instead of long blade. If you’ve trying the long handle set up, then don’t change it, imo. It’s all very personal though.
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Ollie Popes GM is shorter blade isn’t it?
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I'm 5ft9. Always used SH standard blade bats. Bought a bat some years ago from SS and didn't realise it was long blade and after a while realised it was long blade. Balance was excellent and it helped me with my balance at the crease and keeping me upright in my stance which helped alot. Definitely go for long blade instead of Long handle
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Long handle for me - one of my favourite bats is even a short blade extra long handle. Finding a LB that's balanced nicely is a pain in my experience, and they usually don't swing as well. LH bats should be easier to find a nicely balanced example as the hatmaker isn't having to do anything much different. That said, pick up is much more about the individual bat than the handle length.
As for where you hold it - you only need to change anything for a LH if you hold it down by the shoulders, and if that's the case I'd suggest keeping a SH and sorting your grip out would be a better change. Quite a personal thing to be fair, but if buying blind I'd go LH every day.
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I’m 6’2 and I also use a shorter blade GM with a longer handle :)
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Thanks folks, for all your expert input. Nobody seems to have a long blade where I live, so really nothing to compare to.
Personally, I had good stroke play with the LH when I tried it for few games so would go with LH. And as one of the members pointed out I will keep the same weight as my SH bat.
Cheers
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6ft 4 and have two short blades. Ones a Cor3 Goose and the other is a B3 Trott that I had modified to be an inch shorter in the blade. Previously used a LB, a good bat but just felt like I was wasting wood. And by reducing blade length you get a bigger toe and shoulders for the same weight bat so less chance of breakages. Ohh and always sets you up for some good abuse at the crease too.
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I'm 6'5" and I use a SH. It is fine. But I do have a couple of LH bats that I use in the nets. Doesn't seem to make much difference at all. LH is slightly more comfortable in the hands but it doesn't seem to make me any better or worse at getting down to yorkers and low balls. I also had a LB Morrant last season but it was unbalanced and felt heavy in the hands. So, to be honest I'm not sure these things make much difference, even for really tall players. Lots of tall pros use SH. What did Pietersen use? Anyone know?
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Long handle for me - one of my favourite bats is even a short blade extra long handle. Finding a LB that's balanced nicely is a pain in my experience, and they usually don't swing as well. LH bats should be easier to find a nicely balanced example as the hatmaker isn't having to do anything much different. That said, pick up is much more about the individual bat than the handle length.
As for where you hold it - you only need to change anything for a LH if you hold it down by the shoulders, and if that's the case I'd suggest keeping a SH and sorting your grip out would be a better change. Quite a personal thing to be fair, but if buying blind I'd go LH every day.
Pretty much nailed it.
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I'm 6'5" and I use a SH. It is fine. But I do have a couple of LH bats that I use in the nets. Doesn't seem to make much difference at all. LH is slightly more comfortable in the hands but it doesn't seem to make me any better or worse at getting down to yorkers and low balls. I also had a LB Morrant last season but it was unbalanced and felt heavy in the hands. So, to be honest I'm not sure these things make much difference, even for really tall players. Lots of tall pros use SH. What did Pietersen use? Anyone know?
Pietersen used a standard SH throughout his career I believe.
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I’m back on this topic again :D
I’m 6’2 and have used a standard SH millichamp & hall C100 all season, with reasonable results. Mainly because I invested in some good coaching over the winter, I managed my best ever 1st XI run haul.
However, most of this was as a result of gritty survival rather than stroke making, and I was struggling to find the middle of my bat. It’s a lovely, lovely bat but the middle was too high for me, even on bouncy midsummer decks.
I thought about buying a lower middle bat but I think the real issue is that the bat just isn’t long enough for me, so my “natural” bat swing is making contact lower down the bat, towards the toe.
My bats are usually 2’8 and I don’t really want to spread that weight over a longer blade. Therefore, I’m thinking about going LH instead.
If I got a batmaker to add a long handle to one of my existing my SH bats, would that completely ruin the balance?
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I had a bat made witha shorter handle and a longer blade a while ago... but have now moved back to standard sh.
Might be worth getting something custom... maybe a slightly longer handle with a slightly longer blade...
If you are near one of the sponsors get measured up and get something that works for you...
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For me, I'd always suggest a longer handle than longer blade personally. Most batmakers I've spoken to are of the same view, as they're easier to balance.
In terms of adding a longer handle, i don't think it would affect it too much personally. Just make sure whoever's fitting it uses a good quality handle.
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I’m back on this topic again :D
I’m 6’2 and have used a standard SH millichamp & hall C100 all season, with reasonable results. Mainly because I invested in some good coaching over the winter, I managed my best ever 1st XI run haul.
However, most of this was as a result of gritty survival rather than stroke making, and I was struggling to find the middle of my bat. It’s a lovely, lovely bat but the middle was too high for me, even on bouncy midsummer decks.
I thought about buying a lower middle bat but I think the real issue is that the bat just isn’t long enough for me, so my “natural” bat swing is making contact lower down the bat, towards the toe.
My bats are usually 2’8 and I don’t really want to spread that weight over a longer blade. Therefore, I’m thinking about going LH instead.
If I got a batmaker to add a long handle to one of my existing my SH bats, would that completely ruin the balance?
Do you have a tendency to choke the handle? I started to gauge my grip from the top of the handle ever since SBLH became a thing. If you tend to choke the handle, then I believe LB would be what is normally suggested, but as folks say, harder to balance
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If struggling to find middle then buying lower middle won’t really help as I had same problem
I tried long handle but just didn’t feel righ as felt I was not as in control of bat so I use 1-1 1/2” long blades as puts middle right where I need it
Had brilliant ones from H4L which I currently use but also a great bas long blade which was a feather from uzi sports.
If makers balance poor yes it puts people off but no one has said any of mine have been poorly balanced.
Try to pick up a cheap one of each if you can or go to a maker to swing a few is my advice
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For me, I'd always suggest a longer handle than longer blade personally. Most batmakers I've spoken to are of the same view, as they're easier to balance.
In terms of adding a longer handle, i don't think it would affect it too much personally. Just make sure whoever's fitting it uses a good quality handle.
Just curious, why is it harder to balance a LB as compared to SH? Also, hypothetically speaking, if someone was able to make a well balanced LB, would that be the better choice or an LH?
Also, if someone was to get the handle replaced on their SH with an LH, would that mess up with the bat's balance?
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Just curious, why is it harder to balance a LB as compared to SH? Also, hypothetically speaking, if someone was able to make a well balanced LB, would that be the better choice or an LH?
Also, if someone was to get the handle replaced on their SH with an LH, would that mess up with the bat's balance?
No idea for sure, but I'm guessing cause having a slightly longer handle adds less weight than a longer blade, so you have more work to do to balance the bat, while maintaining an attractive profile that makes sense.
In terms of which is a better choice, I think it's very much dependent on the batsman - been doing a little bit of reading up on different people's thoughts, and LB is encouraged for folks taller than 6'2 who choke the handle, and LH for those who don't have that issue. I'd imagine it's a bit like SBLH vs SH, most would probably get on fine with a LBSH, and some with a StdBLH.
And for the last one, depends on how the bat was balanced at first. The overall length would be longer, so the bat should pick up heavier than it did before.
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Just curious, why is it harder to balance a LB as compared to SH? Also, hypothetically speaking, if someone was able to make a well balanced LB, would that be the better choice or an LH?
Also, if someone was to get the handle replaced on their SH with an LH, would that mess up with the bat's balance?
There's more wood obviously in a long blade over a std blade but the same handle, so just needs a bit more consideration I suppose. Like anything in that respect though, if you make a low middle which is just a lump at the bottom with nothing in the splice, handle etc, then it's probably not going to feel great. Its not that they can't be well balanced, I've made a few and they've felt nice and had no complaints.
For me though, I'd just prefer a long handle everytime. Especially if you're working to getting a finished weight of 2lb 8oz and still want a girthy bat.
Replacing a SH with a LH wouldn't mess up the balance necessarily. I doubt most people would be able to tell the difference imo