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[mr_wickets]

I like a good amount. Gives you a bit of confidence.

I was once told, many moons ago, that a bat with a lot of grains is more likely to break than one with fewer. The one with more will perform better early on and the fewer grains will take a while to open up.

[Kulli]

Measure 'ping'?

I reckon, because woods natural, we are never gonna truly be able to accurately measure it. It's a feel thing anyway, , way too much mysticism about ping.

Now , how can performance be measured?? Again, is it possible? Or purely personal?

I wonder, if years ago, top class tennis pros had the same questions regarding tennis racquets ?

I thought 'ping' was perfrormance related?

I meant purely measuring the rebound from a bat, either overall or in a set area and quantifying it so they can be compared.

I like a good amount. Gives you a bit of confidence.

I was once told, many moons ago, that a bat with a lot of grains is more likely to break than one with fewer. The one with more will perform better early on and the fewer grains will take a while to open up.

Our old pro used to describe grainy bats as 'a blaster not a laster'.

[trypewriter]

I'm in the 'less is more' club - 5-10 is fine for me

[mo_town]

Does less grains mean that the bat is more 'punchy'? somehow, I get the impression that less grains means harder wood..is that a correct assumption?

[horseman]

I just like the grains to run straight through the toe. Confidence/placebo trick.

[Manormanic]

Its is not as straightforward as saying I want X number of grains though, is it?  I mean, there are other issues, such as preferences regarding heartwood, weight/pick up and all the other variables.  In an ideal world I go for grainy bats - don't mind the odd blemish or wonky grains, I just like that the ones with closer grains go better earlier in the piece, which fits in with my going through three, four sticks a year!

[SOULMAN1012]

So it seems the general consensus is that grains do not make a real difference to us when we but a bat then,


What I have taken from the 20 odd replies is-

Straight threw toe is important

About 7 seems to be the minimum exceptable amount

[simonmay5]

I not that fussy about grains as long as the bat performs but if picking just on grains I think its important to get the grain right though the Centre off the toe and I think around 8 to 12 nice even spaced grains and as straight as possible   

[smilley792]

I like grains. The more the merrier

[SOULMAN1012]

I like grains. The more the merrier

Would you buy a bat with say 14 straight even grains with good pick up over say 7 straight even grains with excellent pick up?

I'm trying to see the overall importance of grains to the average buyer.

[Northern monkey]

Hmmm good question
Do we get to bounce a ball on it?

Or are you saying,buying just from pics etc

[ManHOOS]

I will go with ping of the willow, if the bat is responding excellent i will buy it regardless of how many grains it has 

[smilley792]

Would you buy a bat with say 14 straight even grains with good pick up over say 7 straight even grains with excellent pick up?

I'm trying to see the overall importance of grains to the average buyer.

My bats weigh 3lb plus, and I like them to pick up 3lb plus. So the "pick up" feel may be slightly different between us,

Im drawn in by grains first, as the bats I have with more grains seem to perform better IMO then the ones with less.

One of my b3 3stripe has 10grains, the other has 24!! They both weigh 3.3, the 10 grain picks up slightly better, but the 24grain one goes further when I middle it.
My team mates(the few that can use heavy bats) agree that the 24grain one is in a different league to the 10 grain one.

Yet both are g1 willow, pressed, shaped, finished and knocked in by the same people?



On not so much a level playing field, my 14grains g3 aldred, is far superior in terms of ping and feel to the low end gms, and ss I have in my collection(and I think there g2 too) that have 7or less grains. But that just could be down to Paul's bat making skills.


So because of the above, I am drawn to grainy grain grain bats,

[ProCricketer1982]

My brief to rob is simple.. The shape and profile I need and a performance bat.. Don't care what it looks like tbh

[Chad]

Grains always catch my eye, it's not the most important thing, but I do like about 10. The thing that is more eye catching is the profile, I prefer one with a small amount of concaving, and a good and even willow distribution along the length of the blade and a decent sized edge. Grains aren't always important, but if I'm paying for a top end bat, I expect a good number, but not too many! (8-12)