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[leatherseat]

I came across this clip, (below) from Gunn and Moore regarding bat selection. I was surprised to hear that the handle can make a difference of up to 3oz in a bat's dead weight.
http://www.gm-cricket.com/gmcricket-tv/choosing-a-bat.aspx

I'd be interested to know if this relates to the materials that make up the handle (eg more rubber for springing, and proportionately less cane, gives greater weight), or are better materials lighter (are there grades of cane within a handle (something else for us to throw into our bat selection pot...). Or, is the weight difference likely to be purely down to the handle thickness?

What goes to make a better quality handle?
Do bat makers strive to use different handle thicknesses/ shapes (ie oval/ round) to the same blade to give choice to the consumer, or is there a typical handle size, which one or two makers may veer away from?
I'd be interested to know how bat-makers choose / specify the handles they use. I understand few bat-makers make their own handles, but buy them in from elsewhere, is this right?

Views/ information/ opinions welcomed.

Thanks,

David

[Seniorplayer]

With regard to handles as far as I am aware there's  just four companies that make there own handles

[Wickets-then-runs]

rubber or cork may make a minute amount of difference but from what I hear, cane, like willow varies a lot in density from piece to piece and that is where the variation weight comes from...
This is something I would like to ask Streaky; how do B3 allow for the natural variation in the handles when making a bat? I know they weigh each cleft but do they weigh each handle and make allowances for this as well?

[procricket]

rubber or cork may make a minute amount of difference but from what I hear, cane, like willow varies a lot in density from piece to piece and that is where the variation weight comes from...
This is something I would like to ask Streaky; how do B3 allow for the natural variation in the handles when making a bat? I know they weigh each cleft but do they weigh each handle and make allowances for this as well?

I can answer this for him yes we weight every handle and pick the handle for the desired weight it is calculated and picked before the bat is made that is the length we go to.

Biggest natural varient i have come across in a handle is 2oz from same vender the same batch (ie same length and girth of start of handle)

[mp07]

so does it mean certain handle have more moisture or density than others?  or certain type of cane?

[leatherseat]

Thanks procricketB3, that is quite a difference (presumably not typical, but I guess that a 1oz difference in handle weight is not uncommon). Do you use a single handle type in all your bats, or do you use different handle types in different grade bats?

David