Print

[Muffin]

Hi all,

This season I treated myself to a new bat. Was very happy with my choice; bat had 5 hours with the mallet had a sumptuous ping with the ball was coming off like a train.

A couple of months ago in the nets I tried to absolutely melt a ball, wincing in anticipation of the shock as I toed it  . To my surprise, I felt nothing.

I checked the bat over and there was no apparent damage, however, the bat has felt dead ever since and hasn't had the same tennis ball ping as it first did  I've consulted with others who have said that the bat still goes and that I'm just working myself up over it. However its a fairly meaty bat and as such it may appear that it stills goes as you can give the ball a good whack. I know that it doesn't feel the same.

I found this excerpt from James Laver saying that sometimes "not bringing the handle binding down low enough to hold the shoulders together or the rubbers in the handle go too far down into the handle splice thus causing too much movement" can make the bat lose power. Also, he comments that "sometimes the handle becomes very flexible and has the feel of a broken handle but no fracture can be seen. This is due to the rubbers within the construction of the handle coming unstuck". ( http://www.middlepeg.com/cricketbatcare.htm - about halfway down the page)

The handle is the only thing I can see being the problem, however I don't know whether to send the bat back or not as I can't check for sure. How common are these problems with the handle?

Thanks

[patriotscreen]

Could be paranoia, the only way you will really find out is by getting it rehandled. What bat is it out of interest?

[Muffin]

It's a Vantage Lithium grade 2 (still with 8 grains!) - managed to pick it up for 100 quid in the clearance   

[Muffin]

Also, following on from your point, I think it could well be paranoia. Probably poor form and lack of timing that has seen the ping evade me.

[Vulcan Cricket]

Only one way to find out get the twine of and look.