Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: mohawks94 on May 28, 2020, 05:49:12 PM

Title: Making a handle thicker
Post by: mohawks94 on May 28, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
Wondering what people use to do this? I've just used kinesiology tape on one of my bats as I felt the handle was a bit thin for my hands.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: brokenbat on May 28, 2020, 05:54:28 PM
Have used tape, as well as extra twine (pain in the butt doing it by hand though)
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: adb club cricketer on May 28, 2020, 06:16:42 PM
Medical tape doesn't add much thickness, adding twine that too a thicker twine is a decent option. It will take a while to do it but it does help. For one of my bats that had ridiculously thin handle, I added twine and then added medical tape on top.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: Jlscarroll17 on May 28, 2020, 06:31:42 PM
Fabric strapping is what I have always used and it’s very cheap to purchase
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: SD on May 28, 2020, 06:55:40 PM
I use 3 grips on my bats - the first two will be chevron had they provide a solid base, then an octopus grip on top
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: Jaffa on May 28, 2020, 07:10:40 PM
Wondering what people use to do this? I've just used kinesiology tape on one of my bats as I felt the handle was a bit thin for my hands.

I use the same tape. I add it lengthways and stretch it out to oval out the handle.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: bigblue365 on May 28, 2020, 07:40:15 PM
Tennis overgrip
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: Ajdal on May 28, 2020, 07:42:21 PM
Tennis overgrip

I second that. Best way I have found to make the handles thick without adding much weight at all(0.3 oz approx)
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: edge on May 28, 2020, 07:53:28 PM
Very hard to overcome a handle that's too thin. The only thing I've ever found satisfactory is remove the twine and rebind with much thicker stuff, by the time you've added enough thickness with tape you've added a load of weight and the feel of the handle just isn't the same when you've added a thick soft layer under the grip.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: Kulli on May 28, 2020, 07:58:07 PM
Very hard to overcome a handle that's too thin. The only thing I've ever found satisfactory is remove the twine and rebind with much thicker stuff, by the time you've added enough thickness with tape you've added a load of weight and the feel of the handle just isn't the same when you've added a thick soft layer under the grip.
I prefer the spongey feel, have on occasion thinned a handle and then built it up the same size with tape  :o
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: mohawks94 on May 28, 2020, 09:09:29 PM
I had it double gripped when I used it this week, but just didn't feel right. Now a single wrapped over layer on tape over the entire handle, feels a bit chunkier so I'm pretty happy.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: adb club cricketer on May 29, 2020, 12:27:07 AM
It makes no difference. The same thickness Zinc Oxide tape and binding weigh the same amount and if they are the same thickness then they are the same thickness :) The advantage of the tape is it is easier for most people to do and you can keep checking as you add each layer. 1/2 overlap as you wrap is a good way to effectively get two layers on at a time

Definitely, if tape gets same thickness as binding, I would prefer it as it is much easier to put tape than binding. Maybe it is the specific tape I used that was not thick enough..
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: buddyb on May 29, 2020, 07:19:41 AM
Plaster tape (the type of plaster you use for a cast) to build up the shape you want. Once it's set wrap in the fabric plaster tape. That's what we use to use on pros bat's.

If you just use fabric tapes it will be too spongey and get bottom handed. You want to get it so it feels like a natural shape and solid as part of the handle.
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: Buzz on May 29, 2020, 07:27:00 AM
@buddyb to confirm you effectively cast the handles? Do you wet the tape first with water or do you use glue?

Plaster casting bat handles is going to be the new forum trend, I can see it now 😂
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: leatherseat on May 29, 2020, 07:39:07 AM
I have to build up all my handles to some extent. I have been using a non-slip, lightweight rubber mat (eg Rolson). Costs about £5 for a square metre and can be cut to size, double-wrapped etc. I typically add several mm of width and depth to my handle and increase the oval shape towards the bottom, it rarely adds more than 0.1 oz.
It makes a slightly softer/ spongier feel, but that can be adjusted.

David
 
Title: Re: Making a handle thicker
Post by: buddyb on May 29, 2020, 08:12:54 PM
@buddyb to confirm you effectively cast the handles? Do you wet the tape first with water or do you use glue?

Plaster casting bat handles is going to be the new forum trend, I can see it now 😂

@Buzz yep with water. Literally as if you are making a cast normally. You can use watered down pva. Only need to go down length ways over the binding in sections to build up a more overall shape. Let dry and wrap. Job done

Something for all the badgers to do during lockdown 😂