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[Joe]

Now, we all agree that bats with big edges that are concaved give a wider middle, whereas bats that have no concaving and small edges have a more concentrated middle.


But observe:




This shows that by a lot of concaving both bats have the same area (and spine height), but due to the bigger edges of the concaved shape the middle is spread out more.


Surely this means that heavily concaved bats with big edges (e.g. the Ultra) are much better than unconcaved bats with small edges?


All opinions/crushing blows to my theories welcome.

[Ryan]

I think Norbs covered this a few months ago...where did you find those diagrams joe?

[Watsontotty]

Joe im not sure i agree with your theory and it can depend on a lot of other things like pressing etc etc, ive not found heavily concaved bats to be better than bats with less concaving.

[Richard @ CricTech]

Hi Joe,

It's a very interesting point. Lets say for arguments sake that more wood = better. Hit bang out of the middle both these bats would be equally good. I think the red shading showing middle intensity is a bit misleading. If you hit the ball half way from dead center to the edge then the non-concaved bat would give you a greater density of wood, and here's the thing, people do.

This is an overlay of 14 different batsmen's impact results for the front foot drive.



and this is the backfoot



you can see there's a trend to hit towards the outside edge on the front foot and the inside edge on the backfoot. This animation of the two may be a bit clearer.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151172970874816&set=vb.178138555552482&type=2

You've also got to consider that the bigger the edge, the bigger the chance that you will nick off but psychologically those big edges do make you feel like you have a huge bat in your hand, even if it is only 2.8

[tim2000s]

What your middle intensity diagrams fail to show is the depth of the middle across the face of the bat. While both bats would have a central peak that is identical (assuming that you have identical spine heights), as the middle moves away from this point you'll find that the middle intensity drops more quickly on the concaved bat. The result is that you'll actually end up with more edge than middle...





Please see this from Andy: http://www.whichcricketbat.com/cricket-bat/cricket-bats-edges-concaving-myths-smoke-and-mirrors

[Ryan]

Cheers Tim, that's what I was getting at. A good read from Norbs!

[Joe]

I think Norbs covered this a few months ago...where did you find those diagrams joe?

I made the diagrams myself - Tim, I see your point but if the accepted thing is that bigger edged bats spread the middle out more thewn surely they are better?

[GarrettJ]

what about a concaved bat with a thin edge ........ like the old MH Distinction ... mine just seemed to be one big middle no matter where i hit the ball (apart from the toe) partly due to the massive spine running all the way down it.

edge was a thick as a 1p coin, spine like nothing i have seen before, covered more than two stumps when taking guard

[Ryan]

Maybe due to the pressing?

[GarrettJ]

Maybe due to the pressing?

fletcher that bat you sent me is feeling really good, will possibly be taking it out to battle on sunday .... weather permitting and if i can get a few nets in before to be sure it is up to facing a new ball

[Ryan]

Cheers mate, it did knock up nice that one...hope it serves you well! 

[tim2000s]

what about a concaved bat with a thin edge ........ like the old MH Distinction ... mine just seemed to be one big middle no matter where i hit the ball (apart from the toe) partly due to the massive spine running all the way down it

But that's because you are using a lot of wood and have a lot of wood throughout the length of the bat...

I made the diagrams myself - Tim, I see your point but if the accepted thing is that bigger edged bats spread the middle out more thewn surely they are better?

It depends on whether you hit the middle regularly. If you use a bat with concaving you have a less intense middle distributed more widely. As he says in his blog, you are supposed to be hitting the middle. What you are missing is that when you spread out the middle you reduce the amount of willow behind it and therefore the force that you can transfer to the ball is reduced, so while the middle is wider it is less powerful...

[RossViper]

I think its all rubbish.... bat shape effects the feel/balance/look of the bat, not really if the middle is good, if you want a bigger middle you need a wider bat - wood and pressing begin equal, the "middle" is more to do with centre and nodes of percussion. - if what Norbs was saying was correct then every the GN Scoop would be a plank - there not are they? ;-) 

Just my 10 cents, don't want to step on anyone's toes!

[tim2000s]

No they aren't but I don't think they feel like a bat with a spine to use...

[Joe]

But that's because you are using a lot of wood and have a lot of wood throughout the length of the bat...

It depends on whether you hit the middle regularly. If you use a bat with concaving you have a less intense middle distributed more widely. As he says in his blog, you are supposed to be hitting the middle. What you are missing is that when you spread out the middle you reduce the amount of willow behind it and therefore the force that you can transfer to the ball is reduced, so while the middle is wider it is less powerful...

But surely if the spine height is the same then the actual middle, the one middle point, is as intense?