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[Red Ink Cricket]

I had a wander around my local jjb and sports direct at the weekend to see what they had in stock  and pick up some bargains.  although nothing decent was in there i was surprised to see they had a handfull of models in the same weight. it got me thinking as to how bat makers decide what weights to produce and why in these 2 shops all the bats in there were of a very similar weight. what weight bats do you guys use?  whilst i understand pick up is more important than weight, not everyone has the luxury of picking up and trying every bat they buy so you must have an idea of rough weight ranges used. not too fussed on the weight with a your grip set up just how you would receive a bat. be interesting to see if any trends appear. thanks guys

i tend to aim for 2lb 10

[Simmy]

i use

2.9 - if they are specialy quick
2.12 - normal

[Red Ink Cricket]

i must admit ive never varied the weight of a bat depending on the pace of the bowler. it makes sense i guess but just like to keep things consistant

[Simmy]

the 2.12 picks up light and the 2.9 slightly heavy so the diffrence is not that grate but obv with it being lighter can move it faster.

i just used a solid 2.12-2.13 but on the od time i got bounced and couldnt get onto the short ball fast enough and got top edges etc. so towards end of season i got a 2.9. only used it in two games tho. but going to net with it

[Red Ink Cricket]

dont play on enough decent decks to worry about being bounced out. get the odd guy with a little bit of pace who gets it chest height but nothing head height.

[97 n.o.]

I useed a 2lb 15oz bat last season, but found i was a fraction late for some of the faster bowlers and kept defending the ball straight down when on the back foot, endangering my feet and the stumps!

Swapping for a 2lb 12oz this year.

[Number4]

3lb to 3lb 5oz.. Find I time my shots much better with a heavier bat... Tried a light bat but just didn't work for me

[Simmy]

i found that to mate. i was to early on everything got a heavier bat helped a bit but am still hiting everything in air lol

so didnt really matter lol

[Number4]

i found that to mate. i was to early on everything got a heavier bat helped a bit but am still hiting everything in air lol

so didnt really matter lol

Only one answer to that Simmy...get a bigger bat...lol

[Simmy]

mate i had the biggest bat ever lol but sold it!

i dont mind hitting in air go big or go home

[Manormanic]

I've always been around the 3lb mark.  Even playing on a quick home deck against quicker bowlers I'm happier to sacrifice that tiny fragment of reaction speed for the knowldge that I have control over the blade - with the lighter weights of bat I tended to find that I lost them at the top of the backlift, which meant that I brought the bat down crooked.  This *may* all be psychological mind you...

[Buzz]

I use a bat that is around 2.lbs8-9 naked and will then be about 2lbs 11 when dressed - I like a bat with a thick handle and have a 1 and a half double thickness grips on the bat. Given the impact that this has on the balance of the bat, when they are made I tell the batmaker this is what I like so they can account for it.

Balance is key here though as my SAF bat is nearer 2.13 dressed, but I don't notice the difference to my usual weight of bat.
If I am buying a bat in a shop I will always check it's feel with a pair of batting gloves on as I think that a bat will pick up differently when you are wearing gloves to when you are not. This may be imagined, but you wear gloves when batting so it isn't totally nuts!

[Manormanic]

If I am buying a bat in a shop I will always check it's feel with a pair of batting gloves on as I think that a bat will pick up differently when you are wearing gloves to when you are not. This may be imagined, but you wear gloves when batting so it isn't totally nuts!

Would have assumed that everyone did this, no?

[tim2000s]

I use a bat that is around 2.lbs8-9 naked and will then be about 2lbs 11 when dressed - I like a bat with a thick handle and have a 1 and a half double thickness grips on the bat. Given the impact that this has on the balance of the bat, when they are made I tell the batmaker this is what I like so they can account for it.

I too prefer somewhere around 2lb10 dressed. I find that I swing the bat too hard when it is lighter...

[uknsaunders]

Bat weight does matter. I use this example:-

If you lift weights in the gym, then often you can cope with 20,30,40 kgs quite easily. It tends to be the next 5kgs up tends to be hard. Same with bat weights, most people can cope with 2'7-2'10 naturally. Unless you are a physically strong person, weights above that can cause your batting to become "adjusted", ie. lifting that final 5kgs becomes a struggle. Good pickup/grip confuration can sneak the odd oz or so but your batting technique pays in the end. Either you can't adjust to the moving ball quickly enough or you shorten your back swing to lift on the follow through. The latter happens when I get tired or have to slog.

I've had a 3'4oz bat that picked up like a 3lb bat, but I still had shoulder/wrist aches after each knock - likewise I've had a 2'7 that I couldn't time, too  light I suppose. I like a little weight in the bat for the downswing and bat speed, but a good pickup. I'm happy in the 2'8-2'11 range depending on pickup, at the moment I have a GM Icon at 2'9 that picks up like a 2'7, so I'm happy.