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[jamesisapayne]

I was thinking about this earlier - what is the most important thing when choosing a bat?

I don't play on top class wickets, but at the same time I don't play on crap wickets either, so I was wondering if using a light bat with more speed through the ball would have any bearing on the amount of runs I score against a heavier bat that would cut down on the shots i could play but would hit the ball further, plus make me tired quicker.

I've got a 2.7 Slazenger V100 and a 2.14 M&H. I like driving and both cutting and pulling but the v100 allows me to play all shots whereas the I can only play drive shots with the M&H or pulls to slow bowlers. Anything else and I'm too late on the ball. plus i get tired quickly using a heavier bat.

Will I be able to hit the ball as far with the v100 due to the bat speed?

Thanks, James

[DiscoStu]

I was thinking similar. As always it is important to find a bat that suits you so would say the M&H is not great for you due to the issues you mentioned. As for hitting the ball further with increased bat speed, I think the kinetic energy equation works here. To get a precise answer you need to find out how much faster you swing with the lighter bat.

[jamesisapayne]

Thanks Stu, It's a noticeable difference, I'm just worried about

In theory it should be fine, players used to use bats even lighter yet they still scored just as many runs on uncovered wickets.

Whenever I watch professionals, their speed through the ball is very fast, and I'm sure most of them aren't huge using bats, just relying on timing and hitting it out of the middle - the only concern I have is that they aren't playing on the same sort of outfield as I do

[procricket]

A Pakistan pro I know a guy with a first class average of excess of 40 in first class cricket uses 2-7 he uses 2-12 here he says because the wickets are slow he just hits through the ball and due to his high bat speed anyway just smashes it.

His theory is he uses heavier bats to clear the infield even if he doesn't middle it.

My theory is he can use any weight he wants as his bat speed and hand eye is quicker and better than most so it is less down to the weight.

I have used heavier bats and struggled so I use my normal weight 2-7/8 depends on pick up and although I know when I middle one on a slow outfield and slow wicket it might not always reach the fence..

Most league cricket you have to hit the ball at 90 mph in first class cricket you have to only time it

That's why indoor nets if there very true can be misleading

[Chad]

Just use what you are comfortable with. A bat should never limit the shots you can play, which is why I went down two ounces from 2.13 to 2.11 to allow myself more time to cut the ball and pull the ball too. If I was playing on a fast track against decent pace, I would probably use a 2.9 bat.

I don't think that you will be able to hit the ball as far with the 2.7 bat, but I do think that you will be able to manoeuvre the ball with more ease and have a wider range of shots.

[procricket]

I disagree chad I think I can hit the ball as far anybody it the skill of the maker and so,e times my drying process that lets me get a bat at that weight as big as somebody with a bat at 2-12

[Maverick79]

Until the winter I used bats around 2.11-2.12 after adding a second grip. I picked up a 2.8 in the for sale section on here and the difference was huge. Whilst I thought I was timing the ball with the heavier bats, it wasn't until I used a lighter bat that my consistency improved significantly and I was actually timing the ball regularly.

I also think the lighter weight helped my movement and range of shots as I found I was getting into position a fraction earlier. Hence I've changed all my bats to 2.8-2.9 with a single grip and use zinc oxide tape to modify the handle shape slightly where I need to as opposed to 2 grips.

[Chad]

I disagree chad I think I can hit the ball as far anybody it the skill of the maker and so,e times my drying process that lets me get a bat at that weight as big as somebody with a bat at 2-12

That's true too, but that's you taking into account other factors. IMO, if you had two bats, around 7 ounces different in mass, then you will be able to hit the ball further with the heavier bat. The bat speed would slow down, yes, but assuming you are strong enough to use that heavier bat, then it shouldn't drop too drastically. Assuming you get two identical clefts, both dried to the same moisture content, the only factor which will affect the result is the player's strength and skill.

[Maverick79]

If you had 2 bats, say one at 2.7 with a lot of concaving and smaller edges and one at 2.12 with bigger edges and less concaving, if both had the same spine height and you hit the ball out the middle of the blade would the results would not be too dis-similar due to having near the same volume of wood behind the sweet spot?

[Chad]

If you had 2 bats, say one at 2.7 with a lot of concaving and smaller edges and one at 2.12 with bigger edges and less concaving, if both had the same spine height and you hit the ball out the middle of the blade would the results would not be too dis-similar due to having near the same volume of wood behind the sweet spot?

But you have to consider the fact that when you make contact with a ball, the contact isn't a pin point, it is actually a circle, as shown on hotspot. In that circle, you would have a larger mass of wood behind the ball in the heavier bat with less concaving compared to the lighter bat with more concaving.

[Maverick79]

I agree but would the potential higher bat speed of a lighter bat even it out?

[Chad]

I agree but would the potential higher bat speed of a lighter bat even it out?

It depends how much faster I think, it may even it out, but there are some shots which people have a much faster batspeed with that others, at least that's from what I have seen! Thing is, you get more momentum through the swing with a heavier bat, so that may be the key difference between the two. Try not to think too deep into it, and experiment and see what works for you. What works for some doesn't always work for others!

[jamesisapayne]

I agree but would the potential higher bat speed of a lighter bat even it out?

That's what I'm wondering. Although I think it's also possible for a bat to be too light - forcing your bottom hand to generate the power and make the player start losing shape/playing across the line.

[uknsaunders]

I think the big limiting factor is the wicket. Bat speed looks great indoors when the ball is coming on, but get outside on a slow seamer with the 60 year old trundling it down and a big bat is needed to clear the field. At that point timing becomes difficult and the more mass equals a better chance of clearing the field. Consider this, if bat speed was king we'd all use 2'4oz bats, but even bat speed can't make up for a big bat.

[jamesisapayne]

Point well made Nick, I suppose netting at the county ground in Somerset is not ideal preparation!