Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: thegowerwaft on February 26, 2023, 02:19:26 PM
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The Fat Cricketer has shared some pics on Twitter. The one he has seen is 2.12.9. Interesting comment in the thread from GN about Brook adding grips to the top of the handle for balance.
https://twitter.com/DatFatCricketer/status/1629429366114467841?t=X56BQejEOsCtjj5McM8YXg&s=19
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Cut grips noticeably changing the balance is a lot of rubbish, purely mental. Does help locating your top hand if you grip from the top of the handle though.
Cut grips will add something like a half ounce though so interesting that Brook is using a 2-11ish bat.
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I thought it might be referencing lead tape like Kalis used to put on his bat. I remember there being a lot of debate about 10 years ago on the forum about whether it worked or not. Lots thought it was a placebo effect. Rears its head every now and again.
Adding - H4L used this to great effect on the Warbird.
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The Fat Cricketer is @Simmy for those that don’t know…
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I've added lead tape before.. maybe placebo according to some
but I've definitely felt a difference...
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Adding tape to the top of the handle definitely makes a difference, especially if you feel like you need that extra bit of counterbalance it does actually help.
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I fully believe that people who do it for a counterbalance think it feels better. Pretty convinced that the physics don't actually add up though.
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I fully believe that people who do it for a counterbalance think it feels better. Pretty convinced that the physics don't actually add up though.
Agreed, you're still placing more weight on one side of the imaginary pivot point.
I like them as i think it feels better against the top hand and feel, but never felt it made my bats pickup any different.
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Yeah, funnily enough I searched this on the forum the other day. There are a few good threads on it.
The top of the handle is too close to the fulcrum for cut grips to work effectively IMO, but someone on here did mention about golf lead tape, and even, what I was looking at doing, which was drilling a hole in the top of the handle and pouring in lead.
A lot of faff. But nice to know you can.
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The problem is that (as Kulli says) unless your pickup is very strange indeed you're still picking up and swinging the whole bat, including whatever additional weight you might have added to it. The extra grips/whatever else can only make the pickup heavier.
It does give you a good point to moor your top hand against at the end of the handle, similar to a baseball bat, which is why it's most popular with taller players.
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The top of the bat handle is so close to the pivot point that you would need to tape a breeze block to it to counter balance the weight at the toe of the bat.
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The counter balance works for me.
People who have used my bats in the nets and in games say they like it.
When I move my bats on it is only tape so it can be removed. Only one person has done that so far.
Try it, maybe it works for you.
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The counter balance works for me.
People who have used my bats in the nets and in games say they like it.
When I move my bats on it is only tape so it can be removed. Only one person has done that so far.
Try it, maybe it works for you.
They like the feel of it, or they actually think it ‘counter balances’ the bat?
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The problem is that (as Kulli says) unless your pickup is very strange indeed you're still picking up and swinging the whole bat, including whatever additional weight you might have added to it. The extra grips/whatever else can only make the pickup heavier.
It does give you a good point to moor your top hand against at the end of the handle, similar to a baseball bat, which is why it's most popular with taller players.
Second this 👍
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I like the feel of a built up handle end, helps you locate your top hand against it, but I don't think it changes pickup at all beyond a placebo effect.
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I just think it makes the bat feel heavier, I have tried it on the past.
Ultimately if you pick the bat up and de weight the bat properly, any counter balance is totally unnecessary.
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Yeah, funnily enough I searched this on the forum the other day. There are a few good threads on it.
The top of the handle is too close to the fulcrum for cut grips to work effectively IMO, but someone on here did mention about golf lead tape, and even, what I was looking at doing, which was drilling a hole in the top of the handle and pouring in lead.
A lot of faff. But nice to know you can.
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=41454.msg658458#msg658458 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=41454.msg658458#msg658458)
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They like the feel of it, or they actually think it ‘counter balances’ the bat?
Both. They can even use a short blade bat that now has a total weight of 3lbs quite comfortably.
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Both. They can even use a short blade bat that now has a total weight of 3lbs quite comfortably.
for a long period of time?
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for a long period of time?
Yes. In the end it's up to others if they want to judge without trying it or try it for themselves.
If you want to try it I'll be happy to help.
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I used cut up grips at the top of my bat handle, but never felt it let me use a heavier bat, just feels better as a fairly tall SH user.
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I used cut up grips at the top of my bat handle, but never felt it let me use a heavier bat, just feels better as a fairly tall SH user.
I used to cut up grips too. I've experimented over the years and this is my current solution. Where abouts are you based as you're more than welcome to try my bats.
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Oslo :D
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I like the feel of a big knob at the end of my handle. It gives something for your hands to push up against when you are looking to use your blade extremely vigorously.
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Have seen the counterbalance used by many other pros including ABD, so must be something, e.g., from quick google search
https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/ipl/indian-legend-genius-ab-de-villiers-should-open-the-batting-in-ipl-20210429 (https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/ipl/indian-legend-genius-ab-de-villiers-should-open-the-batting-in-ipl-20210429)
I have tried it but didn't like the feel of it - maybe the improved balance counterbalanced the psychological effect of increased weight :D
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Joe Root admitted he just copied Jacques Kallis because he was a fan of him, sneaking suspicion quite a few of them do it as much for superstition as anything.
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The placebo effect can be very strong haha
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I'm sure it works the other way too. If you don't think it will work, then it won't.
Was it Henry Ford that said something along the lines of, "Whether you think you (it) can or can't, you're right".
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Why not buy a cricket bat that suits you, I'm sure you wouldn't need to add all this.
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Why not buy a cricket bat that suits you, I'm sure you wouldn't need to add all this.
Not many bat models come with that extra girth on the knob :D
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Gap in the market clearly 😅
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I've seen kookaburras with knobs.
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Ooh err missus.
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Oslo :D
There's a chance my next project is in Bergen. A little closer.
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There's a chance my next project is in Bergen. A little closer.
A mere 7 hours drive, pop over on evening :D
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2.20 of pure bat bliss...
https://twitter.com/graynics/status/1641827291356340225?t=61MqVjHIpRhO5_WznBStPw&s=19
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I like the bat and the video, but those stickers are WAY overdone! Guess they will look right at home in the IPL though :)
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Interesting that the handle looks like it had 5 springs, rather than the more usual 3, I guess he likes a handle with a bit of whip?
Does it make the handle weaker? Would be good to hear from makers on the forum about views on this and what you tend to use in your handles?
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It is to help reduce shoulder breaks.
Not sure it will make a difference on the stiffness in the handle
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It is to help reduce shoulder breaks.
Not sure it will make a difference on the stiffness in the handle
Thanks Buzz, just to clarify, are you saying that 5 springs brings a greater risk of shoulder breaks (or the other way round?)
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Think he's saying they feel it may reduce shoulder breaks. However, I've seen many a CA with shoulder cracks and 5 rubbers. Suppose it depends on the quality of handles overall really. I'm sure GNs are good quality obviously.
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Ok, but surely if 5 springs was thought to reduce risk of shoulder breaks then more manufacturers would have them rather than 3?
Or is the cost to produce a 5 spring handle materially higher? Or is there another reason for not going with 5?
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If all manufacturers did the same or had the same thoughts about batmaking, it would be boring as hell. Would save me a tonne of money and space as I'd have less variety to want to buy 😂
I believe they initially introduced it in the Cobra for the Aus range. The thinking behind it was that if you have a low middle, and kept the shoulders and handle thick, you'd need a little more flex in the handle to have a little more give to prevent it from feeling too clunky, and to help prevent breakages.
Reasons why others won't have adopted is probably manufacturing costs, hassle, possibly weight due to more glue and inserts, they don't have the capability to make them consistently, they don't believe there's any benefit, etc etc.
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Cheers @Chad that explains it well and makes a lot of sense.
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If all manufacturers did the same or had the same thoughts about batmaking, it would be boring as hell. Would save me a tonne of money and space as I'd have less variety to want to buy 😂
I believe they initially introduced it in the Cobra for the Aus range. The thinking behind it was that if you have a low middle, and kept the shoulders and handle thick, you'd need a little more flex in the handle to have a little more give to prevent it from feeling too clunky, and to help prevent breakages.
Reasons why others won't have adopted is probably manufacturing costs, hassle, possibly weight due to more glue and inserts, they don't have the capability to make them consistently, they don't believe there's any benefit, etc etc.
Makes sense