Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: hazant0803 on January 30, 2025, 05:57:23 AM

Title: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: hazant0803 on January 30, 2025, 05:57:23 AM
Saw this post by kookabatcave showcasing Phoebe Litchfield’s latest bats. Based on the replica models available in stores, these would likely be around the 2lb 8oz mark. Given the shape and weight, who else would be keen to use one?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7642/ZBw7yL.png (https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7642/ZBw7yL.png)
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7062/UIEvEr.png (https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7062/UIEvEr.png)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFb_JR4yJ4-/?img_index=1 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DFb_JR4yJ4-/?img_index=1)
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jonny77 on January 30, 2025, 06:34:40 AM
Not for me, way too light.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Bungle on January 30, 2025, 08:44:32 AM
If it's a SBLH setup and 2lbs 8oz then it would probably be a bit too light honestly, looks a great profile though
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 30, 2025, 10:29:02 AM
I've been using a shorter blade/standard handle at indoor nets so far this year, loving it so far. Heavier than these but picks up really well, doesn't feel like it cramps me for room at 5'8 as much as a SH. Already converted one of the other lads who is a smidge shorter than me, one net with it and he's gone and got himself one.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jghull on January 30, 2025, 12:28:05 PM
Is there such a thing as a bat for a woman?
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 30, 2025, 01:58:18 PM
Is there such a thing as a bat for a woman?

Loads of bats now aimed at women, yes. Reduced weights, thinner handles, shorter overall lengths, etc.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: whysoserious on January 30, 2025, 10:36:11 PM
I've been using a shorter blade/standard handle at indoor nets so far this year, loving it so far. Heavier than these but picks up really well, doesn't feel like it cramps me for room at 5'8 as much as a SH. Already converted one of the other lads who is a smidge shorter than me, one net with it and he's gone and got himself one.

You’re similar height to me, id recommend trimming the handle a little bit, really sorts the balance out and the top of the handle stays out the way(non existent) on leg side shots.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 30, 2025, 10:47:00 PM
I did try a SSH, didn't get on with it particularly.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: whysoserious on January 31, 2025, 07:57:58 AM
I did try a SSH, didn't get on with it particularly.

Fair play, how short do you go with your blade?
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: gihanrat on January 31, 2025, 09:12:19 AM
I used to use a SSH bat before short blades were a thing, and remember I had a gun GM Maxi SSH which I dearly miss.

Since short blades arrived, I use a short blade, standard short handle length, so overall bat is 15mm shorter than standard, which works well for me, prob better balance than SSH as hands were a little crowded on the handle for me.

I don't know what the GEM size bats from GN are like in comparison sizewise, and also I think GM had an academy size for those transitioning from Harrow to full size in the past (and also Kookaburra have small mens size, but think the handles are v thin?), whether this is the same as the short blade SH setup.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 31, 2025, 11:36:42 AM
Fair play, how short do you go with your blade?

15-20mm. I'd tried an inch shorter blade in the past and that didn't quite feel right.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jghull on January 31, 2025, 11:50:57 AM
Loads of bats now aimed at women, yes. Reduced weights, thinner handles, shorter overall lengths, etc.

I guess this was my point - I don't think there actually is. Nor do I think women want there to be (based on the survey sample of my club and wife at least!)
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: alba caerulea on January 31, 2025, 01:24:44 PM
15-20mm. I'd tried an inch shorter blade in the past and that didn't quite feel right.

Happy with 20mm. Unhappy with an inch (25mm).

Even on the puniest of adolescent hands that size difference equates to no more than one third of a width of a pinky finger.

Marginal Gains Village Version.

Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 31, 2025, 02:14:27 PM
Happy with 20mm. Unhappy with an inch (25mm).

Even on the puniest of adolescent hands that size difference equates to no more than one third of a width of a pinky finger.

Marginal Gains Village Version.

Fully aware how insane it is to think a 5mm difference changed anything meaningful, near certainty I just like the shape of the current bats better than the inch shorter one.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 31, 2025, 02:20:11 PM
I guess this was my point - I don't think there actually is. Nor do I think women want there to be (based on the survey sample of my club and wife at least!)

GN, one of the biggest UK brands, have a women's range. Kookaburra, another enormous global brand, have a women's range. DSC, one of the big upcoming brands, have a women's range.

That's not even looking at the multitude of smaller brands (Neon, Viking, NEXX, etc) who do women's size equipment.

Whether women really want this equipment available is a question I can't answer, but I cannot imagine GN have launched a women's range without some pretty serious research suggesting there was a market for it.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jonny77 on January 31, 2025, 03:02:17 PM
Happy with 20mm. Unhappy with an inch (25mm).


Open goal here @FattusCattus
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on January 31, 2025, 03:05:07 PM
Happy with 20mm. Unhappy with an inch (25mm).


Open goal here @FattusCattus

Still unconvinced an extra 5mm would be noticed 😂
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Chad on January 31, 2025, 03:32:08 PM
Happy with 20mm. Unhappy with an inch (25mm).

Even on the puniest of adolescent hands that size difference equates to no more than one third of a width of a pinky finger.

Marginal Gains Village Version.


I get that it's marginal, but you've gotta have a cut off at some point where it just doesn't feel right for you
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: InternalTraining on January 31, 2025, 05:31:51 PM
I own 6-3 bats (size 6 bat with size 3 blade) in 2lb-8oz weight and they send the ball to the rope. It is all about balance and the press.

Reason I stopped using those bats is because they are just too nice!  :D I am not kidding.

My current bat weight is 2lb-11oz or slightly under.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: gihanrat on January 31, 2025, 10:00:12 PM
I own 6-3 bats (size 6 bat with size 3 blade) in 2lb-8oz weight and they send the ball to the rope. It is all about balance and the press.

Reason I stopped using those bats is because they are just too nice!  :D I am not kidding.

My current bat weight is 2lb-11oz or slightly under.

Interesting - do you have any pics of these mystical 6-3 bats? Would be nice to see how they look, including side profile if 2lb 8oz for a size 3 bladed bat!
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: InternalTraining on January 31, 2025, 10:36:46 PM
^

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=46757.msg753523#msg753523 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=46757.msg753523#msg753523)
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: InternalTraining on January 31, 2025, 10:40:45 PM
@gihanrat

Here is another one: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50588.msg804524#msg804524 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50588.msg804524#msg804524)

Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: brokenbat on February 01, 2025, 10:12:26 PM
Since when did 2lb 7 become a "woman's" bat?
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Chad on February 03, 2025, 07:01:54 PM
I guess this was my point - I don't think there actually is. Nor do I think women want there to be (based on the survey sample of my club and wife at least!)


🤨🤨🤨 What do you mean? As in the female cricketers you've spoken don't want a standardised option to suit their needs? (ie. Pads, gloves and bats ranges to be catered towards them?)




Since when did 2lb 7 become a "woman's" bat?


Who's mentioned that? I think a fairly well known batmaker (at least on here) once stated that 2.10 was basically womens weights to someone 😅
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Matty59 on February 03, 2025, 09:29:37 PM
On blade length… I’m only comfortable up to 2.9 SH, but love SB/LH up to 2.11. Managed to pick up a few silly SH bats in 2.11s which I feared were unusable for me, but after a bit of trial and error I’ve found 8-10mm off the toe makes a big difference to pick up and still feels great in the hands (5ft 9 in and getting on a bit). Still get the benefit of a massive bat and surprisingly the slightly lower middle as a result of shortening the blade doesn’t seem to have any noticeable impact. Anything over 10mm taken off feels uncomfortable, but I suspect that’s just personal preference 👍🏻
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jghull on February 04, 2025, 09:00:58 AM

🤨🤨🤨 What do you mean? As in the female cricketers you've spoken don't want a standardised option to suit their needs? (ie. Pads, gloves and bats ranges to be catered towards them?)


They don't want to be patronised with "pink it and shrink it." I think footwear and clothing were mentioned as needing a female fit (I think football boots are going through something similar), but bats are just a spec. It either fits them or it doesn't. They didn't feel like it needed colours traditionally associated with females to make it "for them." (This became apparent when buying a kit bag for those new to the game)
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: Jimbo on February 04, 2025, 10:36:42 AM
They don't want to be patronised with "pink it and shrink it." I think footwear and clothing were mentioned as needing a female fit (I think football boots are going through something similar), but bats are just a spec. It either fits them or it doesn't. They didn't feel like it needed colours traditionally associated with females to make it "for them." (This became apparent when buying a kit bag for those new to the game)

So the objection is to the use of "female" colour schemes, not the production of women's size equipment. A five minute Google found at least 3 options for women's size kit in neutral colour schemes.

Kit bag, I'm not sure I understand why you couldn't just use/buy a men's kit bag, works fine for the u15 girls I coach at my club.
Title: Re: Womens bats the way to go?
Post by: jghull on February 04, 2025, 11:10:59 AM
I dont know what women's size equipment is. But this off-topic, standing down now!