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[Liam-SCCC]

So, last season I used my Talisman up to mid August when the handle snapped and it went off to mike. I then got my Ayrtek Elite and certainly got the quality I paid for. Also going for a lighter bat I found it easy to cut and play drives off the back foot. Although having a lighter bat meant concaving.

I then got the bulldog, which is similar profile to the Talisman but weighs a lot less.

The weights are

Ayrtek: No Grip: 2lbs 8oz Grip: 2lbs 10oz
Bulldog: No Grip 2lbs 7oz Grip: 2lbs 9oz
Talisman: No Grip 2lbs 10oz Grip 2lbs 12oz

The new handle in the Talisman a lot thicker than the round one that was in it before and the ones in my other bats.

This does kind of affect the feel of the bat but I can just about cope with it.

Now the pick up, the Talisman picks up well, but compared to the other 2 it feels like a railway sleeper. The Ayrtek feels like a plastic bat after picking up the Talisman and the Bulldog fits in the middle with a very light pick up and but the lower middle making it heavier feel than the Ayrtek.

Basically, what I'm saying, I think, is that I have 3 bats all with different pick up, feel and profiles.

No idea what I'm going to use over the summer. The Ayrtek is pressed to perfection and is just starting to come good, also feels great in the hands. The Talisman is played in, but no idea how a ball will feel off it with the new thicker handle. The Bulldog, well I reckon that will stay with me whatever as a bashing bat for 2020!

Not sure if there really was a point to this topic or whether I just needed a ramble. How much do you guys care about switching bats around during the season with different feels?

[Cover_Drive]

Yes, handle certainly affects the feel of the bat. The heavier the handle is better bat will pick up as more mass is in your hands and vice versa.

This season I'm trying to stick with one bat and use that throughout season. I remember when I had used my Screaming Cat for a month before switching onto GM Flare it felt extremely awkward and Flare was feeling crap as well because I was used to Screaming Cat and it was going extremely well.

So my thought is that use one bat and stick to it throughout the season that way you'll also know your bat inside out and chances for you to succeed are likely going to be high because you won't be switching bats back and forth.

Hope it made sense

[Liam-SCCC]

Thanks CD, I imagine this would be a problem for you with the amount of bats you own!

I reckon it would have to be the ayrtek for league games and bulldog for everything else as they feel exactly the same, do I sell the Talisman on though?

By the way, anyone that uses a half grip under a whole grip, try the bottom section of a GM shock grip cut off under a single chevron, it will blow your mind!

[Talisman]

The handle that replaced the original is bigger and also heavier, but the bigger the handle the better the balance. I also find the more oval the handle the less rotation and more power transferred to the ball. It is a personal choice, I used a Sachin style lump 10 years ago with the small round handle and got used to it but would much rather choose a new bat with a big oval as it benefits my game. Don't worry about the dead weight, I met with a Bath player last summer after he wad released by Somerset and he said he wanted every bat at 2.8 like his GN's which were in fact 2.12 and hadn't a clue as to bat weights as he loved a 2.15 sample better than an actual 2.8. See which feels best in your hands and use it, you should get good money for the Talisman if its not the best as it "pings"...

[Liam-SCCC]

I guess I've just grown accustomed to the thinner handle that I can then add to with half grips. I will give the Talisman a fair going over in nets, also letting my new gloves break in, to see how it feels

[praguetaz]

Thanks CD, I imagine this would be a problem for you with the amount of bats you own!

I reckon it would have to be the ayrtek for league games and bulldog for everything else as they feel exactly the same, do I sell the Talisman on though?

By the way, anyone that uses a half grip under a whole grip, try the bottom section of a GM shock grip cut off under a single chevron, it will blow your mind!

That might be the answer for me too.. I use a GM shock-absorpa under my aero grips but sometimes wonder if the handle is too thick... i'll try cutting the grip in half to see the difference.. thanks Liam...

[Cover_Drive]

Thanks CD, I imagine this would be a problem for you with the amount of bats you own!

I reckon it would have to be the ayrtek for league games and bulldog for everything else as they feel exactly the same, do I sell the Talisman on though?

By the way, anyone that uses a half grip under a whole grip, try the bottom section of a GM shock grip cut off under a single chevron, it will blow your mind!

No worries.

Certainly is which is not good thing

I have it feel very good but I'm an idiot really. I'll tell you, I have Icon LE and Flare LE both have exact same handle but on Icon I have half shock absorba and double thickness chevron on top while Flare I have double thickness Chevron and Salix style grip (half chevron and half spiral). Sounds silly but is doing trick for me.

Sometimes I use GM Shock Absorba underneath and another on top doing this makes bottom part thicker

[gdb19]

Thanks CD, I imagine this would be a problem for you with the amount of bats you own!

I reckon it would have to be the ayrtek for league games and bulldog for everything else as they feel exactly the same, do I sell the Talisman on though?

By the way, anyone that uses a half grip under a whole grip, try the bottom section of a GM shock grip cut off under a single chevron, it will blow your mind!

That sounds really good, I'll have to try that. Just need to experiment and work out the best grip to go over the top. Currently got a chevron and octopus on my two bats but might try the GM control grip or the kookaburra one that has different top and bottom hand patterns. Also quite like the look of one of the grips bulldog posted on here a week or so ago (the on second from right with spirals at the bottom).