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[FvanN]

Anybody got any experience moving from a 2.8 to 2.11 bat?

I ask because I picked up up a really nice 2.11 from Asad last month and felt great in the shop and while knocking her in but netting yesterday was a bit of a struggle. Bat speed was very slow and I could not time anything. 

Anybody successfully moved from a light to heavy bat and how did you manage the transition?

Thanks

[smilley792]

Get an even bigger bat!

There are a few 3lb butterflies on msr eBay account, or even a heavy training bat at like 3.6.


Do your first 5mins off every net with the heavier. Bat, then switch to the 2.11. Eventually. The 2.11 will feel right, and lighter than you remember it.
Plus  apparently a heavy training bat helps improve your drive??

[FvanN]

Get an even bigger bat!

There are a few 3lb butterflies on msr eBay account, or even a heavy training bat at like 3.6.


Do your first 5mins off every net with the heavier. Bat, then switch to the 2.11. Eventually. The 2.11 will feel right, and lighter than you remember it.
Plus  apparently a heavy training bat helps improve your drive??

Problem is I have a very pingy 2.8lb CA with a modified grip which has brought the weight up to just over 2.10 and as a result feels very well balanced. Which was the reason for going for a 2.11. So don't really want to have to get another bat.

[CrickFreak]

Problem is I have a very pingy 2.8lb CA with a modified grip which has brought the weight up to just over 2.10 and as a result feels very well balanced. Which was the reason for going for a 2.11. So don't really want to have to get another bat.

I think for any human, it is hard to tell a difference of 1-3 oz by just picking the bat.
The reason your 2lb 10oz CA feels lighter is because of the shape. Compare your new bat with CA and see where the chunk of wood is.
I suspect your new bat has more wood near the toe making the pickup heavier. You will have to shave off some wood from areas where it makes the bat feel heavier.
Before you do that, start with extra grip, lead tape on the handle etc. to see if the pick up improves.

When I buy a bat, I always pick it up with gloves on. Bats feel much lighter in bare hands.

[Jaffa]

Problem is I have a very pingy 2.8lb CA with a modified grip which has brought the weight up to just over 2.10 and as a result feels very well balanced. Which was the reason for going for a 2.11. So don't really want to have to get another bat.

Where the middle is could explain a lot but I think the CA could be playing mind games with you. Even though they are mostly Academy size (mine is despite SH on the handle) they do look big, especially for their weight. So even though their middles maybe similar on your two bats you cannot directly compare them.

[Cedrictoad]

I think for any human, it is hard to tell a difference of 1-3 oz by just picking the bat.
The reason your 2lb 10oz CA feels lighter is because of the shape. Compare your new bat with CA and see where the chunk of wood is.
I suspect your new bat has more wood near the toe making the pickup heavier. You will have to shave off some wood from areas where it makes the bat feel heavier.
Before you do that, start with extra grip, lead tape on the handle etc. to see if the pick up improves.

When I buy a bat, I always pick it up with gloves on. Bats feel much lighter in bare hands.

definitely +1 on the gloves on tip... I recently bought a bat which is too heavy for me based on the classic wave it around the shop routine without gloves... I wonder how many bats get sold/swapped on this forum because of that fatal error?

[Seniorplayer]

Removing 3 ounces of wood is the equivalent of cutting 2 inches of the bottom of your bat.

[FvanN]

Removing 3 ounces of wood is the equivalent of cutting 2 inches of the bottom of your bat.

Haha won't be cutting my baby up. 

Might mod the handle and remove some of the stickers and if the toe guard starts to peel that to will be pulled off. Apart from that I guess more net time and a few more weight reps in the gym.

[Northern monkey]

I took 3 ounce of my old laver, ,it had stood unused for two seasons after ordering it, due to being way too heavy for me at 2.12

I just thought sod it one day, it cost me a fortune,and it's just sat there, might as well take it to work and start sanding weight off the back,(it had stupid edges,and a massive spine)
I just kept sanding, then trying pick up, until it felt right
First seasons use with it, I averaged 48, over 600 runs scored, , Job done

You may be able to hit the gym a bit, ,but, a decent bat maker will be able to reduce the weight a little off the bat

Grips and lead tape? Hmmm

[FvanN]

I took 3 ounce of my old laver, ,it had stood unused for two seasons after ordering it, due to being way too heavy for me at 2.12

I just thought sod it one day, it cost me a fortune,and it's just sat there, might as well take it to work and start sanding weight off the back,(it had stupid edges,and a massive spine)
I just kept sanding, then trying pick up, until it felt right
First seasons use with it, I averaged 48, over 600 runs scored, , Job done

You may be able to hit the gym a bit, ,but, a decent bat maker will be able to reduce the weight a little off the bat

Grips and lead tape? Hmmm

Did you sand it by hand or did you use a hand held sander? 

[Northern monkey]

I work for a furniture manufacturer, ,we have several different commercial sanders
The one I used is a large circular type
I just kept taking a mm at a time, ,didn't weigh it or anything, ,just checking the pick up after every sand
I've tried with hand sanders,but it takes ages and is not as precise

A bat maker will use tools to concave it to remove weight, ,which might work?but I just don't understand big spines and huge edges on a bat
If its been pressed well and got a decent middle ,it's worth trying to take a little weight off

Personally, I think the extra grips and lead tape,is in the same camp as bat flicking.
But there are people out there who swear by it

[kal_m]

I am used to using 2.10 or 2.11 bats but last year I bought a bat (crazy good ping) that was 2.14 and thought it might be too heavy for me. When I did some shadow practice with my gloves on,it didn't feel that bat. In fact I was very comfortable. Also I went 3 down most of the matches when slower bowlers were operating so it gave me time to adjust and good for me I scored some runs.

So I believe it's just our mindset. I always tell my friends when purchasing a bat not to ask for the weight but just pick it up. If it feels good then it's the right one. Doesn't matter if it's 3-4 oz above or below your preference.

[praguetaz]

Surely the type of batsman you are and favoured shots you play makes a difference too..

Before I had a weighing machine.. I went on pick up and feel too but with my heavier bats of 2.11 and 2.13 I was definitely slower trying to play some of my cuts etc and my timing was off...

On the other hand I never persevered with the heavier bats for very long as wanted to use my match bats in my limited net time...

[Chad]

I am used to using 2.10 or 2.11 bats but last year I bought a bat (crazy good ping) that was 2.14 and thought it might be too heavy for me. When I did some shadow practice with my gloves on,it didn't feel that bat. In fact I was very comfortable. Also I went 3 down most of the matches when slower bowlers were operating so it gave me time to adjust and good for me I scored some runs.

So I believe it's just our mindset. I always tell my friends when purchasing a bat not to ask for the weight but just pick it up. If it feels good then it's the right one. Doesn't matter if it's 3-4 oz above or below your preference.

Disagree, dead weight makes a difference. I would only recommend 2 ounces max heavier than your 'ideal' weight. You get a little late on cuts and pulls, and generally speaking, once you play someone a little nippier than most, you will be wishing you didn't go for that bat which was 3-4 ounces heavier.

Does the BAS have a toe guard, Frank? If so, take it off and it should remove about 0.3-0.5 ounces away from the toe, which will really aid in pick up. Also, what kind of a grip set up do you have?

[FvanN]

Currently have a snake/half moon grip which I have never used before and quite like. The photo shows I have about 1.5 inches excess on the handle which gets in the way so think cutting an inch off and strapping a bit of lead tape to the end would help and should give me a nice end to the handle like Mr Kallis used to have can also pull the toe guard and lower stickers off the back.