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[Psi]

Thanks. Do you run the tape vertically on the bit you want to be oval and then wrap it round with more tape?

[Seniorplayer]

Wrap medical tape the smooth one is best where you grip the bat horizontally till it feels right.

[strang]

My new bat has an oval handle and I'm finding it straight away helped me line up drives better, seems to help align a straight follow through. With time I recon it might help have an intuitive feel for where your face is directed. Or could be placebo.

[Yorkershire]

Thanks to the forum I have now started taking the binding off most of my bat handles and shaping using a combination of a rasp/sand paper and using zinc oxide tape instead.

I had a go at making a round handle oval and the tape worked well!

[Psi]

Here is an interesting Youtube about Kohli using oval handles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2U4DQi29rE

Which of course makes it doubly annoying that my `Kohli-shaped' MRF sourced direct from India came with a small round handle. I guess these MRFs are made by SS or Sondhi and they supply round handles for their domestic market.

I have successfully built up the handle from small round to large oval by putting some sheep wool (from the chemist) on the back of the handle, wrapped in surgical tape, plus some strips of cut up bat grip on the back of the handle and then binding with surgical tape, plus triple grip. It is very comfortable now and works well in the nets - we'll see if the grip lasts in match situations.

[Psi]

... You do have to understand a bit of Hindi (I think...) to get it all, but it's interspersed with enough English phrases to gather that Kohli uses a (small) fully oval handle and his bat weight is around 1150grammes (2lb 8.5oz). He also gives the bat weights for some other players like Chris Gayle, Rahul, etc...

[Komdotkom]

I've recently got an Aldred Gold Sovereign which has a very thick oval bottom hand that tapers to a semi oval top hand. When compared to other bats it looks bizarre because the handle is much thicker than the splice (with binding and grip).
I was quite sceptical, but it feels great in the hands and picks up really well for a 2lb10 bat.

[strang]

Anyone do this to their handles?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StIvyvJsVNk

[Psi]

Yes I've tried it. Seems to work well. I made it even thicker by laying a bit of sheep's wool plus some strips of old grip under the strapping tape and it seems to work very well.

[leatherseat]

Almost all Asian batting superstars of the past and current time play with a round handle. It really can't be "poorer for playing cricket". I doubt even if Don Bradman used oval handles.

I am not sure if Bradman used oval handles, but someone will be able to report back having looked at one or two of his bats in Museums. Oval handles are not a modern invention. I have my father's Gradidge from the early 1940's and that has a (thin by modern standards) semi - oval handle. My GN100 scoop circa 1980 also has a semi-oval handle.

Who can give us an eyewitness account to confirm the shape of one of Bradman's handles?

[stevat]

Got a Kook Gold Crown in the 90's when I was a bairn that had a semi-oval handle (bottom hand only) and absolutely loved it - haven't changed my opinion on what feels best since.  Is a purely personal thing though, I imagine if you're cross-dominant, thus bat with your naturally stronger hand at the top of the handle, it makes less difference having an oval handle, but for me (a right-handed right-hander) it definitely stops me choking the handle and playing with a heavy bottom hand.

[Chompy9760]

Who can give us an eyewitness account to confirm the shape of one of Bradman's handles?

3 months ago I visited the Bradman museum at Adelaide oval, which has quite a bit of his gear.  Didn't take any notice of handle shape at the time, but might be going that way in a few weeks and could have a look.

It's a little hard to tell from pictures, but looking through the "The Bradman Albums", I don't see any evidence that points to his handles being anything but round.  If anything they taper to to be thicker at the top

Round handles, light bats, rounded toes, thin edges, convex faces with about 5-6 grains - it's a miracle he made any runs at all