Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Cover_Drive on January 14, 2011, 06:43:38 AM
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I have few bats which are oval handle and few which are round handle so a question I wanted to ask was that what difference does it make? Which one is better to have? Is one better than the other?
Or its just personal preference?
Cheers
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The theory is that an oval handle will keep you aligned better, rather than you slogging the ball across the line you are playing. Again in theory, wristy players prefer a round handle so that they are able to flick the ball around.
All in theory, and at a level of skill above mine!
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i think also oval handle is meant to stop the handle twisting in your hands
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yeah agree with both of those. really does help you play straighter in my opinion. although at the end of the day it really does come down to personal preference.
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It does, but an oval handle does help us 'happy slappers' play a little straighter.
Millichamp have made the best ovals I have grabbed.
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Agree with Brucie. M&H handles are very nice, up there with Hunts County.
I like oval handles but can use a round handle if it's fairly thick.
I heard somewhere Tresco tried a triangle shaped handle once....
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I think it is completely down to personal preference, it may have technical benefits but a person must choose a handle that feel right.
I find round handles the best, I have to have a GM shock absorber grip though! I have tried round handles with half grip on the bottom hand and that does feel right, nor does as oval with 1 grip.
It has to be a round handle with GM grip! Don't feel comfortable with anything else!
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Thick oval handle is the best in my opinion. With round handles I can't be sure of the face of the bat. Not sure if that makes sense
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The benefit of an oval handle is it stops the bat spinning in the hands when you play a shot, eg. maximising your use of the face of the bat.
Handle shape is one the key issues in having the right bat for you in my eyes. Most of the larger brands these days have round handles as most parts on the bat are machined and the handle is often done on a lathe. Whereas the smaller brands will often have an oval handle as they are hand made, and the batmaker would recommend this.
On the subject of bat handles, why is a triple sprung handle the preferred choice for brands these days? I interested in trying a double sprung bat in the future so might enquire about this on my next bat. I know they are different through one allowing more flex etc, but just wondered why its only a majority that do it now...
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My personal preference is the one on my Hunts, bottom half is oval and top half is round. Best of both worlds if you ask me!
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Similar to Slazengers of a few years ago
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Similar to Slazengers of a few years ago
Are Slazengers still in the business of bat making? They must be pretty close to putting an end to bat manufacturing. Haven't anyone lately using a new Slaz bat.
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Yes still going strong. Indian made by Sondhi I think. Some of the high end bats are occasionally amazing value in Sports Direct sales. I have a V1000 g1+ which is knocking up really well in the nets. Considering using it as my match bat next year.
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... But the handle is quite thin. Small oval at the bottom.
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(https://i.imgflip.com/uuuoi.jpg)
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:o :o :o
True
I did not check the date and was surprised that after owning thousands of bats why @Cover_Drive was asking now about handle shapes
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I think oval handle reduces twisting which also imparts more power for off Center shots. This also mean that you don’t need monster edges. Also a thicker oval handle reduces tight bottom hand grip which in theory makes you avoid swish across the line too often (remember Adam Gilchrist - he used extreme oval handle and squash ball in his bottom hand). Other than that, it is always down to preference and these aren’t hard and fast rules. Virat Kohli used to use round handles but he switched to tapered oval handles around 2014-2015 and he is still one of the most wristy players going around. On the negative side, since you are using more of first two fingers on your bottom hand with the oval handle, a long innings always leaves these two fingers and the webbing between them of my bottom hand a bit sore and tired. I guess it can always be improved by practicing with grip exercisers.
Tendulkar never used an oval handle and his strokes were very well defined and straight whereas Mohammad Azaruddin used to get bats made by JM (extreme oval) and he was as wristy as it gets. In nutshell, use what makes you score big and feels natural.
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:o :o :o
True
I did not check the date and was surprised that after owning thousands of bats why @Cover_Drive was asking now about handle shapes
Lol, 2011. I have gotten grey hair by now.
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I think oval handle reduces twisting which also imparts more power for off Center shots. This also mean that you don’t need monster edges. Also a thicker oval handle reduces tight bottom hand grip which in theory makes you avoid swish across the line too often (remember Adam Gilchrist - he used extreme oval handle and squash ball in his bottom hand). Other than that, it is always down to preference and these aren’t hard and fast rules. Virat Kohli used to use round handles but he switched to tapered oval handles around 2014-2015 and he is still one of the most wristy players going around. On the negative side, since you are using more of first two fingers on your bottom hand with the oval handle, a long innings always leaves these two fingers and the webbing between them of my bottom hand a bit sore and tired. I guess it can always be improved by practicing with grip exercisers.
Tendulkar never used an oval handle and his strokes were very well defined and straight whereas Mohammad Azaruddin used to get bats made by JM (extreme oval) and he was as wristy as it gets. In nutshell, use what makes you score big and feels natural.
Personally, I abhor oval and semi oval handles.
My problem is with the explanation behind the oval handle, which seems more of an oxymoron, where we are told that a semi oval or an oval handle reduces the slip and twisting and turning of the handle in hands. And hence when you play a straight drive, you get a more firmer grip and more power behind your shot.
Here is my logic,
First, if the bat slips in your hands? well, excuse my French but you are wuss. Don't play cricket with such weak muscles and such low energy levels where you can't hold the bat with a firm enough grip.
Second. you DO NEED to open the bat's face to play shot like a square cut, for example, and the round handle helps maneuver the bat A LOT easier than an oval, semi oval or a square or a pentagon or a hexagon shape. You see what I mean?
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All sorts of wrong - the main reasoning behind an oval handle is because it fits the combination of proper cricket technique and the shape of the human hand better. And I'd expect anyone who opens the face to square cut to get caught between point and gully a lot!
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First, if the bat slips in your hands? well, excuse my French but you are wuss. Don't play cricket with such weak muscles and such low energy levels where you can't hold the bat with a firm enough grip.
There's some nonsense gets spouted on here!
Have you ever watched a slow motion replay of a pro playing a shot? Their bats constantly twist in their hands when they hit the ball, I guess they should all give up playing cricket because they're not able to defy the laws of physics...
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All sorts of wrong - the main reasoning behind an oval handle is because it fits the combination of proper cricket technique and the shape of the human hand better. And I'd expect anyone who opens the face to square cut to get caught between point and gully a lot!
Bradman and Sobers played with round handles. Many, many Asian greats also played with a round handle.
It could be a personal choice and I don't oppose to whoever likes them but IMO, oval or semi oval handle means zilch.
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I reckon oval is easier for an amateur or beginner to control and stop the right hand taking over and causing a cross bat shot. But if you are a wristy player making lots of pull and cut shots you might prefer round handle.
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or just pick a bat up if ir feels right use it?
i prefer the feel of a more oval shaped handle than round but that doesn't mean i cant play all the shots i need to, all this about being able to play certain shots better or worse because of handle shape is quite frankly a load of rubbish, it all boils down to how the bat feels in your hand, just use whatever you prefer and get on with it
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Yes, true I'm sure to a large extent. I didn't mean to say that only beginners like oval handles... Think about golf. Exactly the same issues apply about not letting the right hand take over during the swing (causes a curved 'hook' shot, but they don't make oval club handles (at least they didn't when I last bought a set)) .
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Yes, true I'm sure to a large extent. I didn't mean to say that only beginners like oval handles... Think about golf. Exactly the same issues apply about not letting the right hand take over during the swing (causes a curved 'hook' shot, but they don't make oval club handles (at least they didn't when I last bought a set)) .
That's actually an interesting thought. Why aren't the golf club handles not oval or semi oval? Don't they provide "stability", "slip control:, "twist control", "firm grip" etc?