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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: adb club cricketer on February 28, 2018, 06:39:00 PM

Title: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: adb club cricketer on February 28, 2018, 06:39:00 PM
I love oval/semi-oval handle bats to the level that I can get on with an average pinging bat with oval handle but not a professional pinging bat with a round handle.  Curious to see what the majority prefers. Also post a comment on why you prefer round/oval, if any.

To clarify, the oval/round shape under discussion is only for bottom part of the handle. The top part is always round. Some folks seem to think oval means oval all the handle which is not the case.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on February 28, 2018, 06:46:04 PM
I have no preference seeing as I'm a bowler who can't bat...  :(
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Gurujames on February 28, 2018, 06:50:16 PM
I prefer as oval a bottom hand as possible but I have found that it has made no difference in my batting scores, it's more of a comfort thing for me,
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: FattusCattus on February 28, 2018, 07:06:15 PM
I much prefer Oval - and I’m a proper batsman!

A nice Hunts handle suits me.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Yorkershire on February 28, 2018, 07:07:58 PM
I prefer as oval a bottom hand as possible but I have found that it has made no difference in my batting scores, it's more of a comfort thing for me,

This.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: JB on February 28, 2018, 07:09:28 PM
Best handle I’ve had is an Affinity that Marcus made with a quite rectangular handle. Fit in my bottom hand perfectly
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: JK Lewis on February 28, 2018, 07:13:27 PM
Best handle I’ve had is an Affinity that Marcus made with a quite rectangular handle. Fit in my bottom hand perfectly

Are you a Lego figure?  :)
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: KW9221 on February 28, 2018, 07:23:39 PM
I have no preference seeing as I'm a bowler who can't bat...  :(
How many bats do you have?

I prefer Oval.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on February 28, 2018, 07:25:04 PM
How many bats do you have?

Too many...
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: edge on February 28, 2018, 07:29:22 PM
Proper oval only, none of this semi-oval nonsense ;)

To clarify, the oval/round shape under discussion is only for bottom part of the handle. The top part is always round. Some folks seem to think oval means oval all the handle which is not the case.
It's unusual admittedly but I've got several bats with handles that have an oval shape all the way up, I like the handles on them very much!
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: JB on February 28, 2018, 07:31:59 PM
Are you a Lego figure?  :)

You must be columbo!!
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Umi on February 28, 2018, 08:10:19 PM
I prefer medium thickness semi oval handle that tapers to a round handle up top. My confidence drops when playing with a skinny round handle
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Seniorplayer on February 28, 2018, 08:26:05 PM
Round as dispite what the coaches tell us I  like to give the ball a bottom hand thump.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: jamesisapayne on February 28, 2018, 08:27:50 PM
Round as dispite what the coaches tell us I  like to give the ball a bottom hand thump.

Nothing wrong with that at all, if it's there give it some Welly!
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: InternalTraining on February 28, 2018, 08:28:32 PM
GN-AUS Kranzbuhler handle or Tim Keeley oval handle.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: ppccopener on February 28, 2018, 08:40:16 PM
Without wishing to generalise different players on the forum, round at the bottom is a hackers preference, oval at the bottom helps keep the hands in line to play straight.

Warsop make the best handles by miles I can't figure why they don't get more of a mention on the forum. Some of the bats break into a thousand pieces but you will still be holding  a beautifully shaped large oval handle.  :)
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: edge on February 28, 2018, 08:42:15 PM
Without wishing to generalise different players on the forum, round at the bottom is a hackers preference, oval at the bottom helps keep the hands in line to play straight.

Warsop make the best handles by miles I can't figure why they don't get more of a mention on the forum. Some of the bats break into a thousand pieces but you will still be holding  a beautifully shaped large oval handle.  :)
Not always to be fair, I can't stand round handles and I'm bottom handed as they come!
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Seniorplayer on February 28, 2018, 09:56:17 PM
Without wishing to generalise different players on the forum, round at the bottom is a hackers preference, oval at the bottom helps keep the hands in line to play straight.

Warsop make the best handles by miles I can't figure why they don't get more of a mention on the forum. Some of the bats break into a thousand pieces but you will still be holding  a beautifully shaped large oval handle.  :)
Regardless of handle shape
As long  as you keep your hand vees level on the handle  you can play straight.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: leatherseat on February 28, 2018, 10:04:29 PM
I prefer an oval handle - seems to allow my thumb and forefinger (well, fingers) grip to 'sit' better. More important for me is the thickness of the handle, irrespective of shape, for comfort and getting the right feel.
So many very thin handles around at the moment - losing weight in the bat - part of a trend towards enabling bigger blades for seemingly low(ish) weight, perhaps? How effective are they, though?
I think the idea that a thicker and therefore stiffer handle is more effective at transferring energy to the ball (ie allowing it to be hit further/harder), makes a lot of sense. Paul Aldred espouses this, eloquently, in some of his Youtube videos.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: adb club cricketer on March 01, 2018, 03:21:52 AM
Regardless of handle shape
As long  as you keep your hand vees level on the handle  you can play straight.

I find that i can maintain the Vees better  with oval than round.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: adb club cricketer on March 01, 2018, 03:26:34 AM
I prefer an oval handle - seems to allow my thumb and forefinger (well, fingers) grip to 'sit' better. More important for me is the thickness of the handle. So many very thin handles around at the moment - losing weight in the bat - part of a trend towards enabling bigger blades for seemingly low(ish) weight, perhaps? How effective are they, though?
I think the idea that a thicker and therefore stiffer handle is more effective at transferring energy to the ball (ie allowing it to be hit further/harder), makes a lot of sense. Paul Aldred espouses this, eloquently, in some of his Youtube videos.
Agree, too many thin handles at the moment. I would rather have the edge/spine reduced a couple mm and have a nice medium thickness atleast handle.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Seniorplayer on March 01, 2018, 09:59:59 AM
Agree, too many thin handles at the moment. I would rather have the edge/spine reduced a couple mm and have a nice medium thickness atleast handle.

I think there's a market for  bats with thin handles as not everyone can control a a bat with a medium or thick handles but thin handles do not  assist pickup.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Neon Cricket on March 01, 2018, 10:09:51 AM
The current thin handle fad is purely a weight saving measure IMO. The difference in weight between a thick oval and thin round handle is actually fairly significant, enough to make a difference on the scales!

Thinner handle = lower weight. When you're buying blind off the internet it's only the weight that's judged (regardless of whether that extra OZ improves the pick-up ten-fold or not!). As a firm believer in a nice thick oval handle, it's one of my pet frustrations as you can probably tell :) A heavier bat doesn't necessary mean a heavier pick-up!
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: procricket on March 01, 2018, 10:13:12 AM
Thin handles I find are easier to manoeuvre the ball.

Best oval handle I have seen is the Jonathan Trott set which is similar to the big screaming cat handles.

I guess I like all types I guess you only know is when I pick the bat up if it feels right it feels right.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: mo_town on March 01, 2018, 10:14:03 AM
Having played with round handle bats since childhood in India, I wasnt even aware that there was another shape available till I came to UK :))...

I think it is more about comfort than anything else...I have seen people play beautiful straight shots with complete control using a round handle. I personally tried an oval handle with a GM Halo, wasnt really able to get along and changed back to round handle. The disadvantage of preferring a round handle is that one cant buy some really lovely bats up for sale on the forum because of handle shape.

Maybe I should buy a cheap bat off ebay with an oval handle and give it another go.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Buzz on March 01, 2018, 11:15:45 AM
It is really easy to make an oval handle round by unwinding the binding and sanding the handle and re binding it...
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Canners on March 01, 2018, 11:21:09 AM
Very sharp oval at the bottom- not massive and tapering so slightly thinner at the top

That’s my preference and will be getting a couple reshaped soon
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: Kulli on March 01, 2018, 11:49:43 AM
The current thin handle fad is purely a weight saving measure IMO. The difference in weight between a thick oval and thin round handle is actually fairly significant, enough to make a difference on the scales!

Thinner handle = lower weight. When you're buying blind off the internet it's only the weight that's judged (regardless of whether that extra OZ improves the pick-up ten-fold or not!). As a firm believer in a nice thick oval handle, it's one of my pet frustrations as you can probably tell :) A heavier bat doesn't necessary mean a heavier pick-up!
not always I agree with him hbit I’m in the Aldred camp here. Good solid handle is worth an extra few Oz over having a kids handle just to make the scale weight more impressive.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: pablomarmite on March 01, 2018, 12:17:15 PM
I prefer oval handle too. When my h4l fifty50 handle snapped I got handle replaced by a local bat repairer. I got this custom shaped. Problem was this did add weight onto bat (2ozs) and affected the pick up, for me anyway. So has kinda backfired bat with a middle  I love but just now not doing it for me and sitting in garage unused.
Title: Re: Bat handle shape preference
Post by: joymarvin on March 01, 2018, 09:46:52 PM
I am comfortable with heavy thick round and oval handle so gives a good feel in pickup.