Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: t2ylo on March 04, 2018, 08:15:23 PM
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So today my mate popped around because he had broken his bat and needed another.
Knowing I had a small collection, he asked what I had that I'd part with for the right price.
I gave him 7 to choose from of all shapes and sizes - he insisted he needed a light one.
(You can see where this heading)
After a cuppa and a good sesh of feel/pick with and without gloves he made his choice - a 2.11 TK made county cleft (its on another thread if you wanted to see it)
He turned down really decent bats from 2.8 to 2.10 and went for the one that felt best and he only weighed them afterwards
I am confused - I've never bought into the feel and picks up lighter than its weight but he insisted that it felt the best
As an aside he paid in a combination of cash and apple juice
Two questions
1) have I been wrong all my life worrying about the weight?
2) what's the weirdest thing you have accepted as payment for your gear?
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I think this comes down to a little bit if experience. I have used bats that feel great, but are too heavy and bats that feel amazing but are so light I cant use them either.
My view is that as a batsman at some point you stumble on a weight that works for you and then you should stick close to that but find one with a pick up you like.
Sachin used very heavy bats but was given the best ones with amazing pick up.
There is nothing worse than dropping a bunch of cash on a perfectly good bat that you can't use.
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Ooooh OOOOh OOOOOhhh!! I AM TOTALLY INTO THIS!!
Do not adhere to a specific weight! None of us HAS to use a 2,8 - we should use the bat that picks up right for us.
I was in Romida yesterday, and I played with a whole bunch of bats of all different shapes and sizes. I believe that I use light bats - around 2,8. However, the best bats I picked up that day (that felt totally right in my hands) were a GN Scoop at 2.11 and a Keeley G3 at 2.10.
Both picked up just right,and if I'd had the money I would've bought both and bugger the weight!!!
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ps - I'm impressed I can get 'bugger' through the swear filter.
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ps - I'm impressed I can get 'bugger' through the swear filter.
I once accidentally got a bunch of f bombs through the swear filter ( i presumed it would have come up with a bunch of 'no swearing please' but it all went through to the keeper. Sometimes (No Swearing Please) happens . ;) :D
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The position of the middle plays a large part in my view, I think this is why all the big GN's have such high middles. But perhaps the greatest influence for me is the shape and thickness of the handle.
I bought the missus some digital scales the other week. I spent the first hour weighing all my bats, I was surprised that they were all heavier than I thought.
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There is also sometimes no substitute for a master of balance. The Keeleys I played with, all picked up well, regardless of weight
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All about feel in the hands. The scale weight is just a number. I know a good few pros who go by that.
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@Blank Bats - a good few pros, and a good few 'proppa battas'!
I hope the B20 picks up like a feather!
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@FattusCattus how could I forget. My apologies Sire.
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I'd like to say I go with pick up but not always possible...
simply go to a local batmaker and get the weigh taken off... doesn't always work but hey ho...
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For me dead weight only gets you in the right ballpark and that's about it. If you like a light pickup there's no point looking at a 2.12+ weight as it's highly unlikely any batmaker can make a bat weighing that much feel light in the hands.
Apart from that is never worth getting hung up on weight, especially passing over bats that are 1-2 ounces out of what you'd normally use as the difference in pickup is marginal and not one most club players could feel with real authority.
For me pickup and handle shape are the two most important things. I think most of the reason bats get passed around here so much is that people are buying blind most of the time. If they bought a bat from a shop after picking it up, waving it around playing shadow shots with gloves on they'd be more likely to buy bat that's a keeper.
Highlights to me why cricket retailers/shops where you can try before you buy are so important rather than stack em high sell em cheap warehouses.
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Im torn, for years I used a bat that was 2'8 and picked up like balsa wood. When it died I really wanted to like heavier bats and I've been using heavier bats for a while. I've decided if it has a heavy handle almost certainly will pick up well and I can use them. However, sometimes I struggle with cutting and pulling with the heavier bats and it is where I always scored runs. I don't think I'd get something over 2'9 if I ever feel I can justify buying another bat even though you can really feel the difference in terms of bat power.
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He turned down really decent bats from 2.8 to 2.10 and went for the one that felt best and he only weighed them afterwards
This, and many other anecdotes like this, prove my point: Dead weight is pretty useless and archaic way of standardizing a bat. People prefer the swing weight or the pick-up "feel".
Remove guess work out of bat selection: standardize "swing weight" and label bats with that (and a few other bits of info).
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All about middle position. 2lb 10 for high middle bats feel the same to me as 2lb 8 oz low middle (full profile) bats.
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Exact opposite view of most people here. To me deadweight is significantly more important than pick up. If you bat with a heavier bat that feels right, you’ll find yourself constantly chopping on, top edging pulls and getting into all sorts of problems on horizontal bat shots where you feel rushed.
If you play against any sort of decent pace, select a deadweight and don’t move more than an ounce either way. Within that range then, yes, pick up matter a lot.
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Has to be a balance of both for me - a beautiful feeling bat that's too light or too heavy is no use, and a bat that feels wrong in the hands isn't going to start feeling right because it's the perfect weight. No point getting hung up on exact dead weight like many do though, an ounce here or there doesn't hurt.
That said, I'd far rather have a stick that's exactly the weight I like but picks up poorly than one that's the wrong weight but feels good in the hands. I've batted with some lovely bats that were several ounces outside my usual weight range and couldn't time a shot to save my life, but on the other hand I've gone out with one bang on my weight that picked up like a dog and smashed it everywhere. Even though it felt rubbish to pick up, my swing stayed the same as usual so I still timed the ball. (disclaimer: did help that it was a gun)
Always room for a bit of variation on weight, but at the end of the day if you normally use 2lb8 and you find a 2lb12 bat that picks up the same then the wood's not going to be where you need it. And never discount the fact that you might just be completely wrong about what kind of bat suits you best!
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For me, the main issue is how long one intends to bat for. Of course, buy bats that 'feel' nice - in the hands and with gloves on. But, if you are playing club cricket and batting at 5 or below, my opinion is that one should buy greater dead weight, for maximum shot value over a shorter period of time. If you bat higher and plan to stick around for 30+ overs, you should buy lighter bats, so as to carry less around. A 2lb 12 oz bat is approximately 10% heavier than a 2lb 8oz bat. This extra burden will start to slow you down over time.
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I don't think people put enough emphasis on their on game. By that I mean - think what are your best shots? what type of batsman are you? what bowling do you face? what pitches do you play on mostly? Etc...
I am an opening bat so face quicker bowling and am definitely a prominently back foot player, my best shots are easily the hook, pull and cut. So this leads to a mid-high middle very light bat with a light pick up etc...
If you are a front dogger who needs a low middle and plays on slow tracks than a 2.7/8 bat probably isnt the best option.
I see so many players at my club with simply the wrong type of bat.
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One percent of moisture equals one ounce of weight so you can't make make a light bat out of an heavy cleft
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When I first started playing I had no idea about weight, pickup, depth rations etc. I just needed a bat that I felt comfortable with, so I went to my local cricket shop All Rounder and picked up a few, spoke to the staff and eventually settled on one that I felt I could bring down quick enough, but still had some weight behind it. Turns out I favour a heavier bat at around 2'10/2'11.
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One percent of moisture equals one ounce of weight so you can't make make a light bat out of an heavy cleft
Please explain the calculation of this!!!
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Obviously, you can't take a 3 lb 2 oz bat to the middle simply because it felt great in the shop when you swung it around 5 times. A long inning would wear your arms/hands down if the bat is too heavy for you.
Having said that, the swell position will change the swing weight which will affect the timing. Knowledge of what works for your game is critical and also will take the guess work out.
I have one match bats with rolled up counter weight grip, duck bill toe, thick edges and high spine. It weight 2-11.0 and picks up a lot lighter. It is good enough for long innings, sixes, you name it. It is a perfect match bat. Without the knowledge of its swing weight, willow density, and other factors, there is no way I can replicate this bat. Ever.
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Please explain the calculation of this!!!
1mm all over a bat extra equals 1 ounce normally.
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1mm all over a bat extra equals 1 ounce normally.
1mm are you sure 🤔
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1mm are you sure 🤔
roughly yes on a average weighted cleft.
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I've always been confused about why "pick up" i.e the bat going from low to high and how it feels is what people choose a bat on. I don't want a bat that picks up well... I want a bat that "drops" down well. if I hold the bat vertical in my stance as the bowler is releasing the ball surely my ability to get the bat moving into position at the right speed is important.... hence dead weight becomes an important factor. I might have a 2'12 bat that picks up like a dream but if I'm not strong enough to get it moving quickly why does pick up improve this?
I can then see variations come into play... This winter I have had 5/6 bats come through my hands all between 2'8 and 2'10 and one thing I have learn't is that irrespective of pick up... I am more consistent with a bat closer to 2'8 than 2'10 however bats of the same weight don't all play the same... I have picked up a glorious GM from a forum member... one of the best bats I have had in my hands for ping and pick up... right weight... wrong handle... just could not time anything with it.... a semi pro at the net place I go used it... desperate to buy it off me after 6 balls....
I love the look of a low swell duck bill type bat... one of the best bats I have is like that... and I love it.... but I know in my heart of hearts if I want to try and build an innings I need a more traditional shape, a neutral pick up at a weight of 2'8/9..... when I'm going in for a bash to see what comes off I take the other profile.. I know when I hit it that it will stay hit but I also know I can play better cricket with the other bat.
At the end of the day its all about confidence and one thing I have learnt that gives me confidence is a bat that has a dead weight of 2'8/9.
if pick up gives you confidence... then thats fine by me.
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All about middle position. 2lb 10 for high middle bats feel the same to me as 2lb 8 oz low middle (full profile) bats.
But wouldn't one still be heavier? As it is 2 lb 10?
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I don’t think your right but not getting in a key board battle Iam sure Ryan did a post years ago
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I don’t think your right but not getting in a key board battle Iam sure Ryan did a post years ago
Streaky did some comaprsions and that's what it worked out on some shapes. Always shape dependant it equates. to .10 of density in his workings.
I had a bat reworked once and had 5mm of the edge and spine and all over it worked at around 5 ounce.
Not worries Deano all good here, no Keyboard warrior here pal.
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For what it worth i feel weight and feel are mainly body and muscle i have scored 100 with a 3lb plus bat and a 2lb 5oz,
I guess i change depend on whats what.
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For me dead weight only gets you in the right ballpark and that's about it. If you like a light pickup there's no point looking at a 2.12+ weight as it's highly unlikely any batmaker can make a bat weighing that much feel light in the hands.
Apart from that is never worth getting hung up on weight, especially passing over bats that are 1-2 ounces out of what you'd normally use as the difference in pickup is marginal and not one most club players could feel with real authority.
For me pickup and handle shape are the two most important things. I think most of the reason bats get passed around here so much is that people are buying blind most of the time. If they bought a bat from a shop after picking it up, waving it around playing shadow shots with gloves on they'd be more likely to buy bat that's a keeper.
Highlights to me why cricket retailers/shops where you can try before you buy are so important rather than stack em high sell em cheap warehouses.
This is a good summary for me. I would add that I can bat with a significantly heavier bat for straight bat shots. However, once I have to play a cross bat shot, the dead weight becomes more of an issue for me and I am very aware of it. Against quick bowling I feel noticeably slower, which is not a good thing! We typically have an ideal bat weight (or range of an oz or two) in mind from our experience with a previous favourite bat. We want something that picks up and feels similar to a tried and tested formula that works.
One other point I'd make is that the weight of a bat will change during the course of a year - in drier conditions (perhaps a dry hot spell in the summer, or stored in a warm, centrally heated house in the winter), the wood will be a little drier and therefore will be a little lighter. the same bat during a damp, warm May or June will be a little heavier as it absorbs moisture.
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For what it worth i feel weight and feel are mainly body and muscle i have scored 100 with a 3lb plus bat and a 2lb 5oz,
I guess i change depend on whats what.
With my batting I sometimes feel I wouldn't score 100 if I was using a wooden tennis racket.
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A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to distinguish between a few ounces in dead bat weight, and certainly wouldn’t have weighed bats etc
But now with knackered wrists,elbows etc, I can pretty much guess a bat weight
Had a net a few weeks ago with a stunning Aussie gn bat,that was 3 oz heavier than I normally use.
I was suffering for two weeks afterwards
Going off feel is fine, depends how long your batting with it and if you want your normal range of shots etc
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Really interesting read. Huge range of thoughts.
The only thing I think we agree on - I’m the only person paid in Apple Juice for his bat
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Really interesting read. Huge range of thoughts.
The only thing I think we agree on - I’m the only person paid in Apple Juice for his bat
I paid someone who fixed my diswasher and fridge freezer with a cricket helmet
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I paid someone who fixed my diswasher and fridge freezer with a cricket helmet
I paid someone who brokered the deal to sell my car with a kit bag :)
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I swapped a new cycling jersey for some pads once.
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Obviously, you can't take a 3 lb 2 oz bat to the middle simply because it felt great in the shop when you swung it around 5 times. A long inning would wear your arms/hands down if the bat is too heavy for you.
This to me is an often overlooked point. A bat may pick up lighter than its deadweight and therefore feel lighter than it is and enable you to time your shots properly but if you aren't physically strong enough to manoeuvre the actual weight of the bat then you won't be able to play a long innings with it.