Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Custom companies => B3 Cricket => Topic started by: The Doctor on June 17, 2016, 03:59:07 PM
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Hello chaps and chapesses (not sure if that is a word,or if i is spelt correctly).
We have made a few pro bats recently whom shall remain nameless, but will call them player X, player Y and player Z.
This seems o be latest trend on the pro circuit, and wanted to get your view on the shorter blade / longer handle bat. I have been thinking about blade length vs handle length for a while and the mathematical "golden rule" - and have been persuading myself that actually the standard blade length is wrong, and that actually the blade should be shorter. I won't go into my theories at risk of altering people's vote in the above poll, although maybe the mention of Pro's and golden rules might already have done so.
Look forward to seeing the results and discussing my thoughts further with you all.
Streaky
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Hi Streaky, Joe Root is using a shorter blade and it works for him.
Personally as someone who is relatively tall and who holds the bat lower down the bat handle I really struggle with a shorter blade as I fall over a bit and it feels wrong.
I have always used a short handle in matches, but like the idea of a longer blade.
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Only tried regular. I do want to try a shorter blade version. Never seem to utilize the top 2inches og the bat, why not move the meat if the balance stays the same!
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Good to see the norm being challenged.
From what I've seen with a shorter blade route only really suits a better batsman. The more average amongst us will and do get caught out trying to block a ball that stays low. Timing needs to be adjusted which should be easier for the younger and embedded in the older player (generally).
I do think though they might suit either a younger or older player. They appreciate the better pick-up compared to the weight. Both then get more 'purchase' for their shots in these big hitter times.
Myself, I'm in the middle ground who's getting older so my next bat is a long blade.
That's my theory anyway.
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AS long as the overall length of the bat is the same as a Long blade, I'd go with the shorter blade as it puts more wood in the hitting area (and I got my first 50 with a shorter blade bat), but I need the extra length on yorkers.
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AS long as the overall length of the bat is the same as a Long blade, I'd go with the shorter blade as it puts more wood in the hitting area (and I got my first 50 with a shorter blade bat), but I need the extra length on yorkers.
You guys technically have that as an option anyway in a long handle don't you?
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LB seems to work well for a lad my height - I feel like I'm falling over using anything else now. So I'd need a short blade and an XX-long handle to keep the same ratio, @thedoctor; I'll leave it with you mate! ;)
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I've tried all 3 if you include limited use of my mongoose, have scored runs with all varieties. Never liked long handle though so haven't tried that.. As I'm tall a standard length bat is only just long enough, am seriously considering trying a short blade bat with extra long handle next to make it up to a total slightly longer than normal, recently bought a bat that's about half an inch longer than standard and it feels noticeably more comfortable in the stance. So not sure what I should vote for!
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Anything but long blade. Whilst tall, I don't ground the bat in my stance, hence not an issue, and the pick up on long blades is much worse than standard, as such in theory shorter blade should be better, but in truth I don't find a massive difference.
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I originally started with a longer handle shorter blade bat was a custom UZI style and absolutely loved it. I then got another and needed the handle replacing due to a split....a standard handle was put in and it picks up like a dream and have had this combo (short blade, standard handle) ever since. Not really bothered about it not being as long in length as it feels so great and I don't believe that the extra on the toe would ever have helped me that much
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You guys technically have that as an option anyway in a long handle don't you?
Technically you do, but usually LH bats have bad weight distribution. If I was going XLH, SB, then I'd want something with more mass around the shoulders than you tend to see on LH.
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Short blade as it's easier for me to bat with also no problem digging out Yorkers
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I've used Standard blade SH's, Short Blade Long Handle SHs and a Standard Blade LH.
To be honest unless you're using something like a paddle or a mongoose the shorter blade doesn't make a huge difference (and in some cases, if you weren't told about it you wouldn't even notice).
I'd happily use pretty much anything, but when buying bats I tend to go for a standard size short handle. That's the most readily available, and is what most people therefore see as a "normal dimension bat".
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i have used a standard length bat for the majority of my play and have always liked it. ive been tempted to get a long blade bat but never actually bought one. i think at 6ft2 it could be useful.
ive netted a couple of times with my dads long handle and can tell the difference but it just didnt quite feel right.
for most of my t20 cricket for the last few years i have used my mongoose mmi3. i dont think it makes me play any differently and too be honest i feel really comfortable using it and have thought about using it on saturdays in the league just havent had the courage yet
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Using shorter blades and works for me. Only danger is if they get too short and you start playing over Yorkers.
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Using shorter blades and works for me. Only danger is if they get too short and you start playing over Yorkers.
Don't ask for a size 4 then, Nick ;)
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I am short. 5-6''. Shorter blade bats work for me. I have used size 6 bats well (with size 3 blades). I have also used CA SSH bats (with a shorter blade). Bat speed of a size 6 bat is amazing! For SSH and SH bats, I had to get stronger. :D No problem with yorkers.
Proportionally, if you compare tall batsmen and their use of an SH bat, it makes sense for a short batsman to use a shorter bat. Tall guys like Cook, KP, Hales, use bats that look like size 5 bats compared to their long (6 foot + ) frames. Why are shorter batsman using same length bats as these tall guys? Makes no sense to me. There is too much unnecessary tradition in cricket and people dare not stand out of the crowd. Hence, same length bats even if they drag on the pitch and impede a flow of a proper drive; oversize and heavy pads instead of something lighter and more comfortable like an Aero leg guard.
CA has been making shorter blade bats for years and they are very popular. The reason is simple: they work!
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Proportionally, if you compare tall batsmen and their use of an SH bat, it makes sense for a short batsman to use a shorter bat. Tall guys like Cook, KP, Hales, use bats that look like size 5 bats compared to their long (6 foot + ) frames. Why are shorter batsman using same length bats as these tall guys? Makes no sense to me.
Exactly my thoughts - there should be an optimum length dependant on your size........
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Yes that's my reasoning at 5ft 6inches sometimes use a 2lb 4 ounce Harrow against the quicker opening bowlers.
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I'm a shade over 6ft 2 and started using a WarBird this season and after the first net didn't really notice the difference between that and my old match bat which was a standard short handle.
It's a shame i got one too heavy for me, thought I'd try a 3lb bat, but with a bit of weight reduction itll be fine.
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Just Watched A video of the GN legend which showed the weight as 2lb 8 but picked up much lighter
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I am 5ft8inches and i am open to trying out a bat with a slightly shorter blade. I would still prefer handle length to be same as short handle.
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I've always been tempted to try a shorter blade/longer handle combo, might do it on my next bat.
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I'm open to trying a a shorter blade, but just don't like the thought of having a longer handle I would much prefer a standard length handle instead of feeling less confident with my hands being all over the place with the varying lengths
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I am 5 foot 8 inches tall and I pulled the trigger on a 1/2 inch shorter blade and Super Short handle bat this time (Laver n Wood). The bat is almost an inch shorter than standard SH bat. But in return I get an amazing amazing pick up with a mid-low sweet spot and faster bat speed. The spine peaks at 70mm with 35mm edges so it has the power when I middle it. The other thing I noticed, it's improved my balance because I am using such a light weight bat. A couple of yorkers have got me but if I make a conscious decision to keep the bat down, I can defend against the yorkers. I have also started holding the bat a little higher with my bottom hand positioning.
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I am 5 foot 8 inches tall and I pulled the trigger on a 1/2 inch shorter blade and Super Short handle bat this time (Laver n Wood). The bat is almost an inch shorter than standard SH bat. But in return I get an amazing amazing pick up with a mid-low sweet spot and faster bat speed. The spine peaks at 70mm with 35mm edges so it has the power when I middle it. The other thing I noticed, it's improved my balance because I am using such a light weight bat. A couple of yorkers have got me but if I make a conscious decision to keep the bat down, I can defend against the yorkers. I have also started holding the bat a little higher with my bottom hand positioning.
Would love to see a few photos of the bat
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I am 5 foot 8 inches tall and I pulled the trigger on a 1/2 inch shorter blade and Super Short handle bat this time (Laver n Wood). The bat is almost an inch shorter than standard SH bat. But in return I get an amazing amazing pick up with a mid-low sweet spot and faster bat speed. The spine peaks at 70mm with 35mm edges so it has the power when I middle it. The other thing I noticed, it's improved my balance because I am using such a light weight bat. A couple of yorkers have got me but if I make a conscious decision to keep the bat down, I can defend against the yorkers. I have also started holding the bat a little higher with my bottom hand positioning.
All my bats are those spec and have been for a while for the reasons you have stated the one difference is though being shorter than 5-8 Yorkers are easier to play with an high back lift
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I am 5 foot 8 inches tall and I pulled the trigger on a 1/2 inch shorter blade and Super Short handle bat this time (Laver n Wood). The bat is almost an inch shorter than standard SH bat. But in return I get an amazing amazing pick up with a mid-low sweet spot and faster bat speed. The spine peaks at 70mm with 35mm edges so it has the power when I middle it. The other thing I noticed, it's improved my balance because I am using such a light weight bat. A couple of yorkers have got me but if I make a conscious decision to keep the bat down, I can defend against the yorkers. I have also started holding the bat a little higher with my bottom hand positioning.
This sounds interesting, might have to get something made up like this, never use the top inch of the handle so might as well get rid.
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Either a s.h with an inch cut off the top of the handle or a c.a s.h with 0.5 inch cut off the top of the handle . I'm 6ft2. Each to their own , huh ? When I was 16yo I was given a cracking bat , but it was an academy size (was fully grown/same height) . I used it for 2 seasons and it was fine . My next bat was a s.h and it felt weird for a few months....like trying to bat with a long broom. Goes to show what you can get used to and that 'normal' means little , comfortable and effective mean a great deal though.
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I've just started the discussions with David at B3 as I want to try a shorter blade, but I have little idea what this means in reality and what handle to go for.
I'm 170cm (5'7") tall and grip the bat halfway up a SH normally, and need to rely on bat speed more, plus I sometimes catch the bat on the ground when driving. I think a normal SH is still required plus it will help with pick up, so I'm plumping most likely for Harrow length blade.
Long answer to a short question - shorter blade but normal SH I think.
Do we always need to take the length off of the toe though? Appreciate pick up may be different, but has anyone taken it off of the shoulders?
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Streaky, I'm 6 3'ish. I'll be honest, I've never 'owned' anything other than a 'SH' bat, since moving to men's sized equipment in the late 90's.
I'm very much a 'feel' cricketer, with both batting and bowling. Bat dead weight doesn't play a huge impact so long as the pick up feels right (used 2'8 three seasons ago, currently using just on 2'12.5).
I got my height about the same time i started playing mens cricket at 14/15yrs and everyone suggested i should move to a LB. Heading that direction, i just couldn't get a long blade that 'felt' right.
I haven't encounter many Short Blade-long handles and the couple that i have, were lower middle bats which i wouldn't have liked were they SH anyway.
Having had a look at my bat after my last innings (my OCD makes me clean all cherries off before each day of cricket), i think less than 10% of marks were in the bottom third of the playing surface, so i guess it makes more sense to having a shorter blade.
Having said that, i did jam out a yorker right on the toe.
In my 30's, unlikely to see me change now.
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I am 5'10'' and I have always used SH and have been scoring lot of runs. Recently I tried the newbery kudos which is about an inch shorter blade and the corresponding inch longer handle
I found that with the shorter blade bat, if I held at same distance from shoulder as a standard bat i.e. an inch from shoulder of the bat, it has great pickup but I was getting bowled by yorkers as I had to bend to put the bat fully down which also caused me to fall off. So I tried holding the bat higher up so that when I tap the bat, my stance remains the same with the short blade as regular SH. This helped me dig out yorkers without falling off but I don't feel I am in control of my shots as when I held it lower down. Also holding it higher on the handle made the pickup feel heavier than when holding it lower down.
Long story short, short blade didnt work out for me, so will stick with SH in future.
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Sorry to revive an older thread.
What are the 'default' blade and handle lengths for the (SH) bat options in the poll?
- Regular SH
- Short Blade Longer Handle
- Longer Blade Short Handle
- Super Short Blade Long Handle (Not sure if this is even an option)?
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When referring to a short blade, how much shorter is this than a standard SH and what roughly is the impact on given weight?
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When referring to a short blade, how much shorter is this than a standard SH and what roughly is the impact on given weight?
0.5 inch and 3/4 oz (dependent on shape).
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What is a standard SH blade and handle length @The Doctor ?
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What is a standard SH blade and handle length @The Doctor ?
Standard blade length is 555mm isn't it? Going with what GM say anyway!
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So 21.5 inches would be a regular SH blade length? So I assume 21 inches would be short blade?
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So 21.5 inches would be a regular SH blade length? So I assume 21 inches would be short blade?
540 I believe is the Mana "shorter blade" shape!
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Standard blade length is 555mm isn't it? Going with what GM say anyway!
picking hairs but it is 552mm
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I think the Joker style set up was the best - I believe it was full SH length but with a 25mm shorter blade.
I'd love another one of those!
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Hello chaps and chapesses (not sure if that is a word,or if i is spelt correctly).
We have made a few pro bats recently whom shall remain nameless, but will call them player X, player Y and player Z.
This seems o be latest trend on the pro circuit, and wanted to get your view on the shorter blade / longer handle bat. I have been thinking about blade length vs handle length for a while and the mathematical "golden rule" - and have been persuading myself that actually the standard blade length is wrong, and that actually the blade should be shorter. I won't go into my theories at risk of altering people's vote in the above poll, although maybe the mention of Pro's and golden rules might already have done so.
Look forward to seeing the results and discussing my thoughts further with you all.
Streaky
Streaky, I'm 6'3 and want to try a longer bat than standard SH, does the 'golden rule' mean I should try a LH rather than LB, or as have some suggested is it harder to get the balance right on an LH?
I tend to prefer a high middle bat if that makes a difference?
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Streaky, I'm 6'3 and want to try a longer bat than standard SH, does the 'golden rule' mean I should try a LH rather than LB, or as have some suggested is it harder to get the balance right on an LH?
I tend to prefer a high middle bat if that makes a difference?
A lot depends on how you hold the bat - or more specifically where you reference your grip.
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With an SH I hold at the top, with left hand against the knob, would probably do the same with longer bat.
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Streaky, I'm 6'3 and want to try a longer bat than standard SH, does the 'golden rule' mean I should try a LH rather than LB, or as have some suggested is it harder to get the balance right on an LH?
I tend to prefer a high middle bat if that makes a difference?
I'm in the same boat height wise and have thought about an unusual combo - inch shorter blade, inch and a half longer handle to come out 1/2 longer in total. Did the sums and that's pretty close to the golden ratio 👍
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I'm in the same boat height wise and have thought about an unusual combo - inch shorter blade, inch and a half longer handle to come out 1/2 longer in total. Did the sums and that's pretty close to the golden ratio 👍
I wonder how the golden ratio works with us humans. Are we in perfect balance or do we need an out of balance bat to counter that?
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With an SH I hold at the top, with left hand against the knob, would probably do the same with longer bat.
You would get away with having a longer handle then (as apposed to a Longer blade) as this would add less weight - we could also look at a shorter blade option with a longer handle as suggested below as this would reduce the overall weight but hopefully keep a similar pick up.
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These are my 'shorter blade' bats alongside my NV. The red ink is about 15mm shorter, the other, a Bulldog, about 50mm shorter. Don't really have any strong opinions either way, just thought I'd share a photo.
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah231/gurujames1/IMG_0154_zpsvluzt0ur.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/gurujames1/media/IMG_0154_zpsvluzt0ur.jpg.html)
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I believe that @petehosk like to use an LB, where as @tim2000s prefers LH, is that correct, and keen to understand people's view on the differences between the two in terms of balance and does it depend on the middle position?
Tim is your xp80 and LH or SH?
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I use long blade at 6ft4 and will never go back to sh
I found long handles picked up wrong for me as I don't like weight further from my hands
I found long blade perfect as raised middle on bat and helped with stance
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I use long blade at 6ft4 and will never go back to sh
I found long blades picked up wrong for me as I don't like weight further from my hands
I found long blade perfect as raised middle on bat and helped with stance
You might want to look at this post oh Hairy one! Do you mean long blade worked and long handle didn;t?
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You might want to look at this post oh Hairy one! Do you mean long blade worked and long handle didn;t?
Doh
What would I do without you sir
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I use long blade at 6ft4 and will never go back to sh
I found long handles picked up wrong for me as I don't like weight further from my hands
I found long blade perfect as raised middle on bat and helped with stance
This is a post from someone with a Prince Albert - ie, they are uncomfortable with the extra weight at the end of the shaft and work better with the batting equivalent of a cock-ring, ie the weight nearer the top of their weapon.
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This is a post from someone with a Prince Albert - ie, they are uncomfortable with the extra weight at the end of the shaft and work better with the batting equivalent of a cock-ring, ie the weight nearer the top of their weapon.
I'm lost for words
#classicbruce
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You know I speak the truth.
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I believe that @petehosk like to use an LB, where as @tim2000s prefers LH, is that correct, and keen to understand people's view on the differences between the two in terms of balance and does it depend on the middle position?
Tim is your xp80 and LH or SH?
No, I'm an LB user. My XP80 is LB.
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I guess it mostly depends if you hold the handle in relation to the top of the handle or the shoulders.
My grips in relation to the shoulders so I found LH no use at all whereas I didn't really notice a difference with a LB.
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I guess it mostly depends if you hold the handle in relation to the top of the handle or the shoulders.
Same with me, I hold in relation to shoulder of bat, any other way (holding higher or lower to compensate for shorter/longer blade) just didnt feel right..So anything other than regular SH hasn't worked for me...
However, those who hold in relation to top of handle will find the short blade perfectly fine I would think..
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bet it was designed by a genius
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key is shoulders and toe ratio...
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key is shoulders and toe ratio...
Is that 2 shoulders :1 Toe Dave? Just kidding. Do you mean height?
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Is that 2 shoulders :1 Toe Dave? Just kidding. Do you mean height?
Come on Marc you done enough videos to understand what i mean.
As a bat designer of a few pro players bats both via copying and adapting models which is pretty much what every body does.
Trott bat was the source and the rest came from a idea of equilateral
Or basically balance of wood and precived middle meeting the actual middle.
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Resurrecting this rather than starting a new topic, but what was the consensus? I'm short, 5'10", but am all torso and thus have short legs for my frame, all those sorts of things must come into consideration. I've used a GM short blade that flies and seems to work for me because of my height, still hold the bat near the shoulder and effectively waste the additional bit of handle, apart from its impact upon balance. Never been yorked, but still manage to find other inglorious ways of getting out. On the face of it, I've a full SH bat as well which I also love, is honestly quite difficult to notice the difference.
Do fancy a Neon or Mana, but was just wondering if a players height should factor into this, and also what you guys are working with these days?
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Player's height, playing style, stance i.e. stand up or crouched etc all factor into it, thus there is no one size fit even for two similarly built players. Myself 5-10, been using SH all along, tried SB and it didn't work out at all, tried LH and it just didn't feel right. Recently tried LB for fun, and it felt perfect, also scored tons of runs with it (my upright stance must have favored LB despite me being only 5-10).
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Remember reading about how Mike Hussey went bat up, against all Australian tradition, as he kept falling over in his stance with a SH. He's our height, 5-10, as well but all legs and upright like you. Was looking to see what other players do or look for. Or could do what seems to be the norm here and risk divorce by buying one of each and trying them out.
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Yes, in one of the interviews, Mark Waugh said he used LB as he had an upright stance. That actually made me want to try out the LB for fun to see how it goes. Until you try out, you never know what works best for you. Best to pick up something cheap for such experiments and go for a good one once you know what works.
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Sounds like a plan. Will start the search. Also, this interest was piqued by an interview I saw with Rory Burns about his kit. In which he states he has a shorter blade Zelos on account of his height, or lack thereof. Know a shorter blade Zelos doesn't exist, but definitely got me thinking about all this again.