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[mini998]

Maybe I'm thinking too much in to this but I realized I tend to bat better without my helmet. 

Also I get exhausted quickly with my Gray Nicolls predator helmet . I picked it up from Sports Direct for 25 quid and its not as light as the expensive ones . I really do not want to get in to the habit of batting without a helmet on nets because I wan't to emulate the match conditions when I practice on nets.

Have you experience this yourselves? should I go for a lighter helmet?

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Nickauger]

Get in the gym and build up your neck muscles if you're getting tired wearing a helmet!

[Spanky]

Don't really see how your helmet can be making you exhausted. Usually people complain about the effect it has on their vision due to the grill.

Only issue I get is on hot days when your head starts to overheat.

When you say exhausted, in what way do you mean?

[mini998]

I feel like I'm in a shell and lack confidence.

Feels exhausted mainly because I can hear my breathing loud when I wear the helmet. Feels good when I take it off.

I know it sounds weird.

[Nickauger]

Need a psych mate, not a new helmet

[PedalsMcgrew]

Try borrowing a decent helmet from a teammate.....then you'll know!

A good helmet is a very important piece of kit. Finding the right one can take a while. As a matter of interest what weight bat are you using as that would probably have more effect on your stamina than anything else....?

[Spanky]

Would advise wearing it as much as you can so you become accustomed to it.

[mini998]

Try borrowing a decent helmet from a teammate.....then you'll know!

A good helmet is a very important piece of kit. Finding the right one can take a while. As a matter of interest what weight bat are you using as that would probably have more effect on your stamina than anything else....?

Well I was batting with bit heavier bats lately (2 '10 - 2 '11 but bottom heavy) . Was using 2'10 with medium middle bats last season.

So you might have a point there .

And I am doing light weight training to improve muscle strength for heavier bats these days but I think my arms aren't strong enough for them bats yet.

I also do bat drills with two bats to build up muscle strength.

[PedalsMcgrew]

If you've moved to a heavier bat with a lower middle then that will be having some effect. I don't know how physically fit you are but I imagine this is more likely to be the problem then your lid.....although those Predator lids aren't the best....

You might well be able to waft the stick around and play all your shots but over the course of a net/innings it's destroying your stamina. You know what that means don't you? NEW BAT!!! Yeeeaaaahhhh!!!! Get in! 

[mini998]

Nooooooooo ,No more bats !!!!!

Ha ha maybe this is an excuse to get a lighter GM Epic.

[GarrettJ]

Next time there is a double bill of IPL put on your full kit including helmet, turn the heating on full blast and do 5 press ups at the end of each over

3 hours at the crease should be a little easier after that

Or you could work on your general stamina and take your helmet off st the end of every over

[lethalshrapnel]

I don't use a lid either. For the longest time my head was too massive for the helmets available. But I've been thinking about transitioning. Just don't want to shell out top dollar if I don't end up using it is all. Hmmm...Thing is I don't really pull or hook. Except when the ball is old and sitting up to be hit. I'm more a solid backfoot defence/sway and duck type batsman. I guess that helps. Never been hit on the head so far.

What level do you play at? The level that I play I don't think there will be serious damage even if I get hit. The quicks are probably around 65...

[joeylough]

It is surprising what a top edge into the face can do.

[mini998]

It is surprising what a top edge into the face can do.

This is the main reason I want to wear a helmet in matches .
Just don't worth the risk.

[golden duck]

One of my mates got a top edge on a leg spinner - right into the eye.

Hospital and Stiches later he now wears a helmet!

Since that time I have forced myself to wear a helmet as well. (ayrtek - very recommended!!).  I wore it around the house a while just to get used to moving, grabbing things etc, then this year I have not batted (nets) without it.  now I can't imagine not using it, as it has given me more confidence to go after things (for better or worse) both front and back foot.

Re stamina - I found that I get hot under all lids.  I'm not the most healthy person and am working on general fittness as well as 'cricket' fitness.  As others say, take off your lid at the end of an over and get fresh air - helps alot and is not something that you get time for in nets.  Even this year when I am generally more healthy than last year - batting in nets leaves me more knackered than last year out in the middle.


Granted some might say that's because I probably never batted in a match as long as I have in nets!!