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[Northern monkey]

I personally think,,that to some extent,,,bats will return to a more traditional shape,,ie no stupid edges,,,which to me,,as far as fads go,,,,is ridiculous ...

To embrace new technology and design thinking etc is one thing,,,but a cricket bat is restricted by the laws that have applied for many years...

If I'm honest,,,I can't hit the ball further with my Affinity spectre,,than I could 25 yrs ago with my DF magnum or GN dynadrive..
I still think a properly pressed and shaped bat,,at a weight we can comfortably play shots with,,,,is where it's at?

Maybe I'm just getting old?,,,,,but then, I was my clubs leading run scorer,this season,,so what do I know!ha

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Stevo I agree the golfers and tennis players aren't using wooden drivers or tennis players aren't using wooden rackets. The main difference is that we are only allowed to use wood. There's only so many ways you can adapt the wood. The only other thing is the handle and at first class level we can't use man made materials we are restricted by the laws to what we can use. So whilst we are held to working within the parameters of the laws the only things we can work on really are shape and pressing and new formats of handle within the letter of the law. How many top players do you see using the long handled short blade bats or even double sided bats. One or two gave them a go but in return for lots of money.

[Steveo1000]

Good point about the materials re golf and tennis.
I guess my point is that people are often too quick to dismiss modern design and become nostalgic about tradition when everything points to modern design being better. When I see a bloke who is paid to play the game use a bat that is an exact replica of one used 20 or 30 years I may change my mind.

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

It's just that I haven't seen anyone hit it any further than botham Richards hick moody gilchrist etc with huge bats recently

[Steveo1000]

Totally agree, but they were exceptional cricketers.
The big modern bats allow more players to hit it a similar distance to those guys than in the past. Now, strength and conditioning of today's cricketer plays a big part in the hitting of a ball a long way, I just believe that the design of those bats has far more to do with it. 

[FattusCattus]

I personally think,,that to some extent,,,bats will return to a more traditional shape,,ie no stupid edges,,,which to me,,as far as fads go,,,,is ridiculous ...

To embrace new technology and design thinking etc is one thing,,,but a cricket bat is restricted by the laws that have applied for many years...

If I'm honest,,,I can't hit the ball further with my Affinity spectre,,than I could 25 yrs ago with my DF magnum or GN dynadrive..
I still think a properly pressed and shaped bat,,at a weight we can comfortably play shots with,,,,is where it's at?

Maybe I'm just getting old?,,,,,but then, I was my clubs leading run scorer,this season,,so what do I know!ha

I agree - after all, years ago people were hitting it miles with V12s, Jumbos and Magnums. Just get a bit of meat behind the middle!

[WalkingWicket37]

Totally agree, but they were exceptional cricketers.
The big modern bats allow more players to hit it a similar distance to those guys than in the past. Now, strength and conditioning of today's cricketer plays a big part in the hitting of a ball a long way, I just believe that the design of those bats has far more to do with it.

I'm going to say it before someone else does - the reason these guys can hit the ball so we'll is because it's what they do for a living, and as you said they have strength and conditioning work to aid this.

What part of the bat do they use. The middle
How big is the middle: the height if the spine, which is dictated by the cleft
Are clefts any bigger than they used to be: discounting oversized ones, no
So could these blokes hit it as far with a traditional bat: Yes
Why do they have big edges then: marketing

Your average Joe doesn't middle everything, so having more wood on the edge would boost his confidence. Also note we on this forum have far more knowledge than the guy who buys a bat because he wasn't a a red one etc.

In short I'm saying big edges are a fad, and the pros use them because they get free kit. Big edges are aimed at village players who enjoy a game of cricket once a week, but because that's what the public want the pro's have to endorse such products.
If KP used a bat with next to no edge and a huge, non concaved spine I know what all the colts would suddenly be using.

[jamesisapayne]

What a load of rubbish Cameron, I middle everything! 

[WalkingWicket37]

What a load of rubbish Cameron, I middle everything! 

I said your average Joe doesn't middle everything, I never mentioned James' batting ability 

[trypewriter]

I think a lot of it comes down to the choice available nowadays with the plethora of designs available. Back in the day even if you went for what would now be the bespoke option from one of the big names the options that you got were pretty basic - handle length and what weight, though you did get personalised stickers. There was none of this 'where would you like the middle?' malarkey. You got what you were given. OK the brands had their flagship designs and shapes, but I would imagine that if you went to Duncan Fearnley and asked them to produce you a Magnum in the SS Jumbo shape they would have told you to go to SS.

Ah, life was simpler then! 

[awp]

It's just that I haven't seen anyone hit it any further than botham Richards hick moody gilchrist etc with huge bats recently

Paul, that's very true.  I was talking with a mate during the lunch break during the waca test just gone.  We've both been to atleast 1 day of the perth test ever since we were 5 or 6, we're both 40 now..... the 3 hardest hit shots ive ever seen were struck by; viv, robin smith and andrew symonds.  Interestingly 2 of those were 4's and symonds orthodox off drive (shield match) was fielded by a mid off 2/3 the way to the fence, the fielder then ran off the ground with broken fingers,  serious striker symonds.  So obviously ive seen balls go further, but not as far as I can remember were any actually travelling as fast as the 3 I mention above.

However, what does strike me as evidence of the superiority of the 'modern bat' is that mishits now clear the ropes.  How many times now do you see blokes clear the ropes and when the camera goes back to the batsman, he's inspecting the toe of his bat in disgust!  Also seems some not overly large blokes that dont really hit it that well clear the pickets easily (bailey).

[mo_town]

This is quickly beginning to be my favorite thread on the forum! Paul's posts are a delight to read!! It has already tempted me into getting myself an Aldred Butterfly this season. I am someone who normally sticks to having one bat in the season so you can imagine how good the posts here are!!

Paul - Just wondering, is it possible to get a Butterfly with a customized specs?

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Mo town what are you thinking exactly just mail me and I will try and give you some answers

[MD2812]

I would imagine it's good for custom bat makers that they are restricted to wood.

If they could use man made materials then bats would be made by GM, GN, Kook, Nike Reebok.

With wood even the top bat makers are restricted to the quality of the cleft and the skill of the bat maker.

If they could make them out of carbon fibre would brands such as Aldred, H4L, Bulldog etc be able to start up/exist?

[mo_town]

Mo town what are you thinking exactly just mail me and I will try and give you some answers

Sure will do Paul. Thanks.