Ok.. so i'm on my own.. used the gloves for the last 3 matches and in the nets over the last month or so and they do really grip well with the aero bat grip which they were designed to do.. must admit some of the stitching has come loose on the sides of one glove where the suede like glove is attached to the padding and on the inside of one thumb, which required patient and painful repairing with needle/thread. Yes.. they look alien and i've received a fair amount of stick from team mates and opposition but if you like the tennis/hockey type aero grip, i'd definitely recommend them. Whether the 'boxing glove' shape and contour of the gloves actually reduce the need of forearm muscles over a longer innings at the crease, i'd be inclined to agree but it's my opinion only.