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[dhackett89]

I've seen on here mention of a few guys on here using long blade and long handled bats. I'm 6ft 3 and have always used a short handle, added to this I for some reason have to hold the very bottom of the handle. Recently I have been trying to correct a fault of my head falling over towards the off side.

To counteract this I now stand much taller at the crease I have tried holding the bat higher up the handle and can't seem to get used to it. I'm thinking about switching to a long blade to see if it makes a marginal difference in enabling me to stand a touch taller at the crease in greater comfort. Have any of the other taller members of the forum had similar experiences?

[fatbats]

Helps stand taller and get middle in bat in right place plus easier to dig out Yorkers I use long blade bats and am 6ft4

[Chad]

I think Paul from IJC swapped from a LH or LB bat to a SH bat, and found it much better for him. Probably see if you can borrow someones to try out in the nets, so you can see if it will help you at all. Sounds like it could help with your stance.

[gdb19]

I'm 6'3 too and really wish I'd bought a long blade bat, I'd give it a go if I were you - I'd think it would only be good for you.

I really struggle with yorker length balls mainly due to high back lift, playing cross line and also being a poor batsman but I reckon a long blade would help.

[tim2000s]

Using a Long Blade will definitely help with you digging out yorkers, but comes with a slightly different balance from what you've been used to. If you are getting a long blade, try to spend time with the podshaver directly as it's made, as most probably haven't made that many, so balancing it to a way that you like may be tricky.

[Manormanic]

I changed in my early 20s and it made a big difference to me - before I scored reasonably well but had a loose defence and was susceptible to anything that moved away from the bat because I tended to fall toward it.  After, I found that I had much better control on the off side without losing anything.  The only thing that is tricky is getting the weight of bat right - I find that long blades pick up lighter for the same weight than shotr handled bats, whereas long handles tend to pick up slightly heavier...

[dhackett89]

cheers for all the advice guys, I think anything that might improve my balance at the crease is worth a go particularly as my side got promoted last year so bowlers are more likely to be able to jam in decent yorkers and nip the ball around a bit more. Where would you recommend getting  a decent lb from. I'm based in Stafforshire, nearest batmaker probably Aldred or Hawk I think.

[fatbats]

I've got a lb from Aldred and its a good one

Prob best to try and pick one up cheap or lend one to see if you can adjust to it shame mine would be too heavy haha

[calvin1mac]

It's certainly worth trying a long blade. Ive had a couple now, but the only thing I would say is pick one up first to see if you like the feel. I'm 6ft 2 so i guess I'm on the border between a normal and long blade. The last bat I had made is 1/2 an inch longer, pretty much done for the reasons you said.
A couple of other things you could try which won't cost you anything is standing with a wider base in your stance.
Players like Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Smith who are both 6ft 5+ have a wide stance. The other thing you could try is to touch your bat in-between your feet rather than behind your back foot. Both these changes might help to correct the head position. Ultimately what ever feels comfortable so that your eyes are level when the ball is released.

I coached a guy with a similar problem to this last year but he wasn't very tall so it was more a lazy stance causing him to fall over than because he was tall, but it helped massively with his shots on the on side.