Topic: what do you look for in a bat and why ???? (Read 7531 times)

Simmy · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2012, 10:24:47 PM »

cost/edges/ping

Jenko · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2012, 10:32:17 PM »

Anything Canadian willow

On a more serious note, traditional shape, pickup very important, couldn't care about looks as long as they perform

joeljonno · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2012, 10:32:55 PM »

I find it's mostly down to how it feels in the hand. Pick up and balance mainly then handle shape. It's surprising how much weight you can get in a bat without it feeling 'heavy'. After that, it's the sound of the blade, the reputation of the bat company and information given from the seller (supposing they are knowledgeable). I am not too worried about the shape or number of grains too much and the stickers can be removed if I don't like them.

Number4 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 02, 2012, 10:59:32 PM »

I think we are fooling ourselves a little here.. I reckon 90% of bats sold on this forum are bought on looks...

How many sale threads are there when someone says "ooooh looks a beauty" and then bang it's sold...

No-one here is buying bats off the forum on pickup and feel and balance... I'd say more looks, edges & profile first and then hope it picks up great

Chad · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2012, 12:17:25 AM »

I think I have a few things I look for, in this particular order:

English willow

Size - As long as the bat is the same length as a regular short handle

Profile & concaving - Middle cannot be too high. I look for anything from low to mid, occasionally mid-high, and no concaving is preferred. If there is any concaving, it has to be only very slight

Handle shape - Must be oval. I think this might just be from reading about oval handles. I'm sure that if I didn't read about them and the benefits, I reckon I would be perfectly happy to use a round handle. Also, the handle has to be relatively thick! I don't like handles too thin.

Weight - I used to look for bats around 2.7-2.10, with 2.10 being really heavy, although I now generally look at slightly heavier bats now, but will be happy for anything between 2.8 to 2.14, with 2.11-2.12 being the ideal weight. Funny thing is none of the bats I would consider being my match bat fall in this ideal weight range at the moment! The 2.14 I use actually feels alright for me to use, if anything, it feels just a tad heavy. Bat speed isn't quite up to what it used to be when I used a 2.8, but it actually limits my shots to the ones I'm good at, and I can actually pull the ball now. Cutting is not easy with a heavy bat for me though!

Looks - Too grainy can put me off, and too much heartwood can too, although I did just buy a Talisman with 18 grains and more than half heartwood

Generally, I look for all sapwood and anywhere between 7-12 grains, with 8-10 being the ideal range. Would happily buy bats with 4 grains if I really liked the profile!

Pricing - Has to be a good deal, or a fair pricing at least. Mind you, I used to get all my bats at RRP at my closest cricket retail store... An Adidas Incurza club for �200 when it came out...

Good bat, but not a good or fair pricing for it!

Stickers - Despite this being the last thing I look at, this can put me off if I'm honest!

Those are all the things I generally look for when I'm buying bats. If I'm going for bats crafted to your specs, then I'm slightly different, but generally along the same lines as this list! I can be a pain in the ass to work with!

thecord · « **Reply #20 on:** December 03, 2012, 12:19:53 AM »

Quote from: Number4 on December 02, 2012, 10:59:32 PM

I think we are fooling ourselves a little here.. I reckon 90% of bats sold on this forum are bought on looks...

How many sale threads are there when someone says "ooooh looks a beauty" and then bang it's sold...

No-one here is buying bats off the forum on pickup and feel and balance... I'd say more looks, edges & profile first and then hope it picks up great

What percentage of forum users bats are actually bought through the forum though? I bet a good proportion are still picked up first

Number4 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2012, 12:25:05 AM »

Quote from: thecord on December 03, 2012, 12:19:53 AM

What percentage of forum users bats are actually bought through the forum though? I bet a good proportion are still picked up first

I'd say a high percentage are bought either through the forum or from an online store or, as the form name suggests, are ordered custom made

joeljonno · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2012, 12:44:17 AM »

Quote from: Number4 on December 03, 2012, 12:25:05 AM

I'd say a high percentage are bought either through the forum or from an online store or, as the form name suggests, are ordered custom made

That may be true, but if you see how many are being sold either new or barely used, the bats bought online end up not feeling right in the hand and sold on. They may be bought on looks, but if they're not comfortable to bat with then they are not what they're looking for in a bat.

tugga · « **Reply #23 on:** December 03, 2012, 12:48:59 AM »

Something that isn't mentioned too much, but a bat that does not take my wallet and blow it to smithereens.

But yeah, a bat that feels alright, that I swing about, play all my normal shots with. Normally has to have a well defined oval handle, mid-middle, perhaps a little bit higher.

Number4 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2012, 01:06:59 AM »

Quote from: HeworthCC on December 03, 2012, 12:44:17 AM

That may be true, but if you see how many are being sold either new or barely used, the bats bought online end up not feeling right in the hand and sold on. They may be bought on looks, but if they're not comfortable to bat with then they are not what they're looking for in a bat.

Exactly... Pickup and feel is very important but what I am saying is that the looks seem to take over our brain and make us buy on impulse

Aswani Cricket · « **Reply #25 on:** December 03, 2012, 01:21:58 AM »

Quote from: Number4 on December 03, 2012, 12:25:05 AM

I'd say a high percentage are bought either through the forum or from an online store or, as the form name suggests, are ordered custom made

I'd have to agree with Number4 here. I would be interested to see how many members who identify pickup and feel as one of their top priorities in a bat, have bought a bat online in the last 6 months, without picking it up and feeling it first. You have to be honest now

Number4 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 03, 2012, 01:46:58 AM »

Quote from: aswanicricket on December 03, 2012, 01:21:58 AM

I'd have to agree with Number4 here. I would be interested to see how many members who identify pickup and feel as one of their top priorities in a bat, have bought a bat online in the last 6 months, without picking it up and feeling it first. You have to be honest now

Guilty as charged

Jenko · « **Reply #27 on:** December 03, 2012, 05:44:13 AM »

My last two purchases have been online, both instances I have bought bats unseen, after giving my specs for weight, shape, pickup I always say I don't care what it looks like as long as it goes. The one bat I have bought for looks is the laver signature which I won't use anyway

tim2000s · « **Reply #28 on:** December 03, 2012, 06:44:00 AM »

And how many have either sent back or sold on those bats because they don't like the balance? Guilty as charged...

FvanN · « **Reply #29 on:** December 03, 2012, 07:39:57 AM »

Until I joind the CBF i never looked for anything, I just found a bat on line I thought would do the job and bought it in the weight I wanted. Since joining the forum I seem to be looking into every aspect of the bat, grains, edge size, handle shape....but it seemed to have no effect on my batting so might have to go route 1 again..

Author Topic: what do you look for in a bat and why ???? (Read 7531 times)

Simmy

Re: what do you look for in a bat and why ????

Jenko

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joeljonno

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Number4

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Chad

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thecord

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Number4

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joeljonno

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tugga

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Number4

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Aswani Cricket

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Number4

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Jenko

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tim2000s

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FvanN

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