Print

[Joe]

I heard a lot of pro's do this. Why? Surely that can be no benefit at all, removing the twine from the handle...

[Colesy]

I think it gives more flex in the handle which some people prefer. Others, like de Villiers prefer a stiffer shaft (set up for someone) so he only has two springs as opposed to the normal 3.

[jw17]

Moment to laugh at 'stiffer shaft'. Thank you.

[Joe]

From the moment I first saw de Villiers I knew he would like a nice stiff shaft

[uknsaunders]

Twine is supposed to strengthen and stiffen the handle/splice area. Don't they normally do it to make the handle more whippy?

[Blazer]

To make it whippy, Mike hussey does it to his bat, so does Michael Clarke . I cannot back it up as I heard it from commentary and from a video of players bats. KP, Hayden, Hussey's bats were shown in that video.

[Ryan]

I think it gives more flex in the handle which some people prefer. Others, like de Villiers prefer a stiffer shaft (set up for someone) so he only has two springs as opposed to the normal 3.

hahaha so many jokes not enough time 

[bigboy]

makes the handle a bit thinner too.

[Ryan]

I prefer more girth tbh cant do with a skinny handel. Just doesnt feel right.

[thebigginge]

In all my time here I know of only 2 players that asked for it, by the time they reached there next order they had ditched it!

[uknsaunders]

might sound stupid but has anyone every asked for the twine to be put on twice - very stiff handle I guess.

[Simmy]

rob was telling us some pro's want it taken off and then just use electrical tape on the handle sounds strange

[uknsaunders]

makes sense if they want a very thin handle, the insulating tape could help to stiffen it without the girth.

[Red Ink Cricket]

be interesting to see what difference it actually makes. i must admit ive never noticed/paid attention to the stiffness of the handle with 2 or 3 rubbers in it etc. is it that noticeable? then again i do have 2 and a half grips on the bat so may not notice the difference

[langer17]

Hussey does it to make the handle as thin as possible because he has little hands.

http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/husseys-cricket-bat/x25iz02