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[ProWannabe88]

Ok, so I've been netting for a while now during pre season and have been batting fairly well for my usual standards lol. Concentration is improving and I've felt pretty damn good tbh, up until about 3 weeks ago.... I started using a heavier bat, and after a few steady sessions and 2 weeks of sore forearms it cam to tonights net and rather than take my match bat (2lb9.5 oz) and my Swell (2lb12.7 oz) I just took the swell. I went in, expecting a net where i would struggle a little and maybe just practice clean hitting instead of a normal innings as this is what the swell was intended for... T20 use I found myself feeling balanced and timing shots far greater than I normally do. Footwork was much less exaggerated with the heavier bat but I didn't struggle at all, in fact having a heavier piece of willow in my hands felt better. I could feel the transition in my shots and found myself playing strokes rather than actually trying to hit the ball hard. It was quite an odd feeling tbh.

I have no forearm aches and batted really well, probably better and more solid than I've been all winter. Am I just being daft here and suffering from a bit of bigger bat syndrome?? Or has anyone found jumping in weights to be like this?? Because I could feel the weight I didn't really try and force a shot, nor did I look to do anything expansive.... Is this through a lack of confidence with the weight?? Or simply a fluke that using a heavier bat has helped some flaws in my technique?? I really don't know. Pulling and cutting felt good so the short ball wasn't a problem, granted the first one was a rush but after that I picked the rest up fine.

I'm only a small guy and usually heavy bats are a big turn off for me but after tonight I really don't know what to do... I know a net isn't exactly a match innings or a long stretch of batting so maybe a lengthier session may help me to decide, as it stands I am torn. My match bat is my absolute pride and Joy, the best bat I've ever had, but after tonight, after using my swell it just seems a little.... How do I put this.... Floaty and I feel I have less control of it in the hands.

I think I may have shot myself in the foot tonight.

Anyway sorry to ramble on, its just driving me crazy that's all.

Please let me know if you've had this before and have any advice etc.

[tushar sehgal]

I could be worng but with heavier bats, atleast for me, i am more focused because i know i really really need to watch the length and line...with heavy bats most times i am looking for short balls but with a very small front foot movement committed before the delivery is released...it works for me.

its just that you know you have lift a heavier weight and unless you are trying to play silly shots you will find to play better as the ball comes to you rather than you go out of your way to hit the ball..play the ball later...thats atleast me,,,also i find there is only so much of a jump in weight that works after that point it becomes too much,,,for me i play standard with 2.10 but can use up to 2.13,,,anything lighter than 2.10 i find myself swinging too hard and mistiming everything...

[Talisman]

I think it would a little simplistic to say heavy bats play better and make you swing slower. What the difference might be is simply an improvement in timing tonight compared to previous efforts. If you have been using it recently then it might just have clicked. I'd advise against switching between 2 bats that are different, you will find you hit harder when you're in sync with your match bat whatever its weight.

So if you are finding the heavier bat to your liking then stick with it. The benefits are it will produce more power, it will rotate less and give a solidity in the feel. The downside is the slower shot selection, increase in effort required and fatigue.

[ProWannabe88]

Well I'm going to see what happens outdoors with longer batting practise. Just in a rut now as I felt great in that short net period

[tim2000s]

Having done this experiment at the batoffs from about 2lb 6oz to about 3lb, I'd suggest that there is a sweet spot in weight which will suit you.

For me, bats below a standard 2lb 9oz swing weight are generally too light and I find myself playing through shots far too quickly. Anything over 2lb12oz swing weight and I am just too late. When I say swing weight, I am interpreting lighter low middled bats as having a heavier swing weight as they slow my shots due to inertia.

What you may have found is simply that you are capable of batting with a wider range of weights than you realised and that your optimum weight is just a tad heavier than you had considered. WHat you may also find is that after 2 hours with a heavier bat, your arms are numb and your timing is gone, but you'll never determine that in a 20 minute net session...

[Simmy]

just gonna say liam going from 2.10 up to 2.12+ did loads for my game i used to be very very early on most shots now with a heavier bat my timing is much much better

thats why i loved the solitaire was the first heavy bat i used

[Johnny]

I normally use 2lb 8oz-2lb 10oz but for the Batoff I tested the heavier bats, as we needed an extra person.

I found that I felt more compact, and was less expansive with my shots, but then on a bowling machine I had a good idea where the ball was going. Also, it gave my tennis elbow some jip afterwards.

Batted with a slightly heavier bat at nets on Tuesday and found that in the slot, it felt good, but anything I had to reach for slightly I was late on - maybe I shouldn't be reaching for those deliveries anyway though...

Will definitely be returning to a lighter bat, as my elbow can't cope with bats over 2lb 10oz, but I understand what you mean. If you can cope with the extra weight from a fatigue point of vire, maybe a switch is a good idea

[Joe]

When I use heavier bats I find I leave balls rather than slashing at them loosely. I play more solid and with less flair.

[Pitbull]

(This is slightly off the point but its worth a try)

If you're worried about the fatigue side of it at my training for the last few weeks we have had pairs in each net, each batsman faces 3 balls then runs a 1 then after 5 minutes after 3 balls you run a 3 then after another a 5/10 minutes we start running 5 after the 3 balls that you've faced. Really makes you concentrate and its more of a game like situation and its just a way of getting used to being tired when batting, really enjoyed it so far definitely has its benefits

[richthekeeper]

i've also noticed that netting with my 3lb long handle gives me a noticably more solid connection with the ball than my normal 2'9 SH. however as an opener i do feel this would compromise my ability to play the short ball.

i think a slightly heavier bat helps me to come down straight and not hit the ball too hard, but i'm yet to find the perfect equilibrium.

[Simmy]

tbh my wrists was hurting a little bit after netting for a solid 30 mins with heavy bats

[jamesisapayne]

I was thinking about this very subject last night and I'm going to keep my 2.12 nitro and use it this year. Even though it's noticeably heavier than my 2.7 slazenger I feel much more solid and with a tendency to play through the shot too quickly (bottom hand syndrome!) I feel a heavier bat will help time the ball better and I won't feel like I have to play shots too strongly.

[jamesisapayne]

tbh my wrists was hurting a little bit after netting for a solid 30 mins with heavy bats

you mean your wrist doesn't take a pounding for 30 minutes normally!!

Netting is so much more full on than batting in the middle it's no surprise!