Topic: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow) (Read 8748 times)

TheBiologist · « **on:** April 18, 2014, 08:09:05 PM »

Hello everyone,

I came across this forum a few months back while looking for reviews on cricket gear and this has been a great experience following it. Anyway, I am looking buy a new bat for this season. I have NOT used a lot of quality cricket bats before, as I am primarily a bowler and didn't have the money to buy a good bat. In the past I have used a low end BAS Vampire (with a traditional profile) and occasionally a Slazenger Hyper Blade Jacques Kallis bat (one of my team mates). My last bat was a crappy SS King Richards that broke after 2 months of use. The SS bat was a bit heavy without a good ping. On hitting higher up or around the toe of the SS bat it used to cause a jarring which I really hated. And this is what I don't want in my next bat. The BAS was a bit heavy but had a good ping. The Slazenger bat had a good pickup with a decent ping, traditional profile, no jarring (anything to do with the handle ?), but was a bit heavy. So in short I am looking for something better than any of the bats I have used so far. :-)

I have a low budget (perennial graduate student). I have noticed that the harrow sized bats are relatively much cheaper than full sized bats. I am considering buying a harrow sized bat to save some money. I have never held a harrow bat in my life before. And I am thinking that I can get away with it as I am only 5'7" and have small hands. Any comment on this ?

What I need in my bat -

1) A handle that is oval at the bottom and round at the top (like the Slazenger handle)
2) Preferably a traditional non concave profile
3) Slight bow
4) Light pickup
5) Lightweight (2.6 or below)
6) No jarring in the handle
7) Good ping (needless to say)

I don't care about monstrous edges, as long as the bat has a big hitting zone!
9) Price < 120 pounds (USD 200)
10) A bat that I can possibly use for two seasons, as I will not be able to afford another bat next season.

Here are some of the questions that I have. First of all, do you recommend the use of a harrow bat ? None of the stores in my area (northern Maryland, US) carry harrow sized bats. So I can't go and check it out. And do you recommend any bat or batmaker in particular ?

Any suggestion ?

Thanks in advance!

Alvaro · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:13:14 PM »

MSR sounds a good fit.

Alvaro · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:16:07 PM »

Try EBay list no 151269351263 (though I appreciate it is a SH)

kal_m · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:54:28 PM »

Hey there,
I would recommend getting a SH around 2.7 or 2.8lbs. Get one that feels right to you.

- Kal

kal_m · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:55:54 PM »

Quote from: Alvaro on April 18, 2014, 08:13:14 PM

MSR sounds a good fit.

Are MSR bats coming with oval handle? MSR bats I have are all round handle.

Alvaro · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2014, 09:08:27 PM »

It's amazing what you can do with a bit of lecky tape...

For that budget it's where you make compromises really.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2014, 09:50:28 PM »

At 5ft 7 you should be using a SH bat, try and get something with a mid/high middle as this will aid pickup ie make it feel light in the hands. Plenty of options in 2.6 or 2.7. Look at a couple of the forum makers like red ink, Aldred, RK they will be able to make you something custom for that budget I would imagine mate. Or if you want off the shelf Vitas & Uzi hand pick there bats and offer great service so they will be able to help you mate.

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2014, 11:29:08 AM »

Due to me being 5ft 6 tall I brought what you have described with a short handle high middle from Paul Aldred. The bat is made from willow with stains and is known as butterfly the cost of the bat was �135.00 inc shipping in England.

lewis_faulds · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2014, 12:00:18 PM »

I'd recommend Paul at IJC, he's got some Small men's Spartans in.
Failing that try Vitas - they are also quality.

Uzi Sports · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2014, 12:17:08 PM »

we have GN Powebow LE in small Men and Oblivion 5 star.
We also have
Uzi Sports Black mamba in small Men or Academy size
BAS Shadow and Bow 20/20

In Men Size the lightest bat we have is 2.6

tom line · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2014, 01:43:52 PM »

If you are looking for a harrow I believe Paul @IJC had some Hammer Fyree's in harrow grade 1 for around your budget

Cedrictoad · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2014, 02:10:17 PM »

Check out Paul's video on the subject


Analysis on Harrow Cricket Bats & Comparison with SH Bats

I would say definitely consider a harrow size or an academy size.

TheBiologist · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2014, 07:26:08 PM »

Quote from: Alvaro on April 18, 2014, 08:16:07 PM

Try EBay list no 151269351263 (though I appreciate it is a SH)

Thank you Alvaro for the suggestion. But I am not planning on getting a round handled bat unless I absolutely can't find one with my specs.

Quote from: SOULMAN1012 on April 18, 2014, 09:50:28 PM

At 5ft 7 you should be using a SH bat, try and get something with a mid/high middle as this will aid pickup ie make it feel light in the hands. Plenty of options in 2.6 or 2.7. Look at a couple of the forum makers like red ink, Aldred, RK they will be able to make you something custom for that budget I would imagine mate. Or if you want off the shelf Vitas & Uzi hand pick there bats and offer great service so they will be able to help you mate.

Thank you SOULMAN1012! I will send messages to them to find out if they have something that fits my bill. But aren't the custom made full sized short handle bats more expensive than harrow/academy/small mens size bats ? Correct me if I am wrong.

Quote from: Cedrictoad on April 19, 2014, 02:10:17 PM

Check out Paul's video on the subject

Analysis on Harrow Cricket Bats & Comparison with SH Bats

I would say definitely consider a harrow size or an academy size.

Paul's video is what really got me thinking about a getting a bat that is not full sized. My thinking is that I can get the same quality wood as a full sized bat at a much lower price, at the cost of a slightly smaller size. And academy size is the something in between harrow or full sized short handle right ? And academy size is the same as super short handle. Correct me if I am wrong, you guys know a lot more than you do!

Quote from: Seniorplayer on April 19, 2014, 11:29:08 AM

Due to me being 5ft 6 tall I brought what you have described with a short handle high middle from Paul Aldred. The bat is made from willow with stains and is known as butterfly the cost of the bat was �135.00 inc shipping in England.

Interesting. I had never heard of a butterfly cleft before. How much did the bat weight ? Can you please post a few pics of your bat, or the link to a thread where you have already posted them. :-)

Quote from: Uzi Sports on April 19, 2014, 12:17:08 PM

we have GN Powebow LE in small Men and Oblivion 5 star.
We also have
Uzi Sports Black mamba in small Men or Academy size
BAS Shadow and Bow 20/20

In Men Size the lightest bat we have is 2.6

Asad, just sent you a PM. Thanks!

Quote from: tom line on April 19, 2014, 01:43:52 PM

If you are looking for a harrow I believe Paul @IJC had some Hammer Fyree's in harrow grade 1 for around your budget

Quote from: lewis_faulds on April 19, 2014, 12:00:18 PM

I'd recommend Paul at IJC, he's got some Small men's Spartans in.
Failing that try Vitas - they are also quality.

I will send a message to Paul to find out if he has anything. The small mens size is the same as academy size right ?

And out of curiosity, why don't we see the traditional non concave cricket bats as much from off the shelf companies ?

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 19, 2014, 08:14:58 PM »

Not at all mate, I'm sure they will have something to suit you budget, may not have 12+ straight grains but those 3 produce good bats mate so you will be fine.

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2014, 10:24:38 AM »

The weight of the Aldred bat I have is 2lb 7ounces. Just to clarify for you the willow is called butterfly due to a stain on the wood which forms the the shape of the butterfly wings, wing, or body.

Author Topic: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow) (Read 8748 times)

TheBiologist

Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Alvaro

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Alvaro

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

kal_m

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

kal_m

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Alvaro

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

SOULMAN1012

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Seniorplayer

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

lewis_faulds

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Uzi Sports

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

tom line

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Cedrictoad

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

TheBiologist

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

SOULMAN1012

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)

Seniorplayer

Re: Can you suggest a lightweight cricket bat (size Harrow)