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[InternalTraining]

What is the benefit of having a rounded bat face instead of flat? I like flat face as it is easier to guide a ball in any direction I want. With a rounded face, unless the ball is middled, it can skid off to an angle. Thoughts?

[Gurujames]

personally I prefer a rounded face and guiding the ball has not been a problem. I think the main reason for flat faces is that they appear wider and this gives the batsmen confidence. I may be wrong though.

[Buzz]

I have yet to notice a difference having used a number of different shaped rolled faces.

I have also noticed that if I miss a straight ball with an F2 faced bat, I am just as likely to get bowled if I miss a straight ball with an F7 face!

Personally I prefer the "look" of the 4.5 - and I think it is really up to the user. The flat face and phat edges can appeal.

As for hitting the ball/guiding the ball. If you think about a golf club - these are usually flat faced and, speaking from experience, I am equally adept at hitting a duck hook, a huge slice or a skyer with one of those...

[edge]

I find that a rounder face is more forgiving for big shots - if you hit one off-centre the ball is closer to hitting bat at a perpendicular angle if you see what I mean, gives you a better contact than a flat face when you haven't quite got it in the middle. Less likely to slice the ball, so you're hitting it cleaner. Also easier to guide the ball  as you don't need to change your shots so much to send it a different direction. Tiny differences though, I prefer a rounder face in my experience but my current favourite bat is flat faced.

[Chad]

I think it's just mostly a preference on looks than anything else. I do agree about the shot direction advantage that the F2 offers, but the F7 allows for the ball to glide off the face when it's not hit quite centred, so you may get a boundary instead of a single at times. You could argue and argue all about it, but in the end, a bat that you are confident in is the most important. If you like a particular camber on the face of your bat, then go for it!

On the technical side, F7 offers a lighter bat, as there's less volume off centre but the same amount down the centre of the bat. Would recommend anyone who is a touch player or uses a 2.7 and below to go for a rounded face. For me, personally, I don't care so much anymore, but I think I'm more inclined to go with 4.5. I just try to hit the ball and look for runs. If it goes into a gap, it's a bonus to me! I would love to be able to say I always think about where I place the ball, but it's definitely not the case!

Initially, I didn't like the twist I got on flat faced bats, but I think that was most prominent when the edges were thin. Now I don't mind it so much, not sure if it's because I'm missing more balls or I'm middling more!

[InternalTraining]

This is about my Amplus. It has a camber of about 4/4.5 mm. In terms of performance, this bat is as close to the best I have ever owned ( my CA Sm-18 is still better ). I just don't feel very confident with the rounded/cambered face. Maybe over time, my feelings will dissipate.

Having said all that, Other than my Lavers, these are the two brands I would buy again if I had to.