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[alee]

Hi Guys,

So i have noticed quite a few range of brands in 2015 (For instance, Puma, Slazenger) have square toe cricket bats. What do you think about it?
Is the blade of the bat a bit low due to the square toe or is it the same?  How does the toe feel?

[Northern monkey]

To me,,it feels better, the bat sits at the crease better?
Not sure that makes sense,, but until you tap one down on the grass, it's hard to explain.

[Seniorplayer]

The theory behind the square toe is that it gives a superior stance position which helps with controlling the shot also there is no wood wastage as with round toes it should help  prevent chipping of the bat toe particularly if the batsman is a crease tapper.

[tim2000s]

Depends how you stand in your stance.  Is your start bat up,  then it makes little difference.

[brokenbat]

how does it lead to superior stance ?

[WalkingWicket37]

how does it lead to superior stance ?

Because a new bat makes everything better! Duh 

[kal_m]

Have never used a square toe but wouldn't grounding the bat be as issue??

[Northern monkey]

Yeah, was for me on my Affinity Toro
Just took off the corners slightly with a sander, sorted

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

The theory behind the square toe is that it gives a superior stance position which helps with controlling the shot also there is no wood wastage as with round toes it should help  prevent chipping of the bat toe particularly if the batsman is a crease tapper.

have found a lot of bats coming to me for repair because the corner of the square toe has cracked. I always felt it would be a weak point as any sharp corner is vulnerable to being blown by a cricket ball but wasn't sure but seems to be proving that in what I get in repair wise. as far as stance is concerned, not for me im afraid I don't see as a square toe would have made any of the world greats any better than they were, as with anything else its a gimmick and a trend. the thing it does to is make your bat look wider which may make you feel more confident. Down side to a square toe apart from it breaking? running your bat in I have seen numerous people using them go (No Swearing Please) over apex as the corner digs into the ground not pleasant at all I can tell you. I have actually squared ours up just a little bit to compromise for people but still round it off at the corners to take away the sharp corner and enable you to run your bat in without the fear of catastrophe   
old toe


new toe

 

[Northern monkey]

If i pop up, I will show you my toro,Paul ,the toes about 40mm, so there's a lot of wood down there.
Any less, and I guarantee the bat would be knackered by now

[Bats_Entertainment]

Didn't KS say it made the bat feel wider?

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

certainly did. its all about what feels right. but also if you put too much emphasis on those sorts of issues you are relying on superstition to succeed as opposed to practicing your skills to achieve the job. theres no short cut to success you have to work hard to achieve the tools you use are just an aid to your progression. That's why we took that idea on board from the best I cant argue but I still think a perfectly square toe has its issues so I made the compromise. I am always taking advice on board especially from the top guys as I can take in what I think works for me and spit out what I think doesn't at this moment in time but even those ideas I keep in the back of my mind you never know when they may just pop up to help at some point   

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

If i pop up, I will show you my toro,Paul ,the toes about 40mm, so there's a lot of wood down there.
Any less, and I guarantee the bat would be knackered by now

40mm at the toe? does that not make it a touch bottom heavy.

[Bats_Entertainment]

I read that Greg Chappell used to deliberately break the handles of his bats, Paul.

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

really! probably to give him more flexibility in the handle I would say. I know bats have gone back to old bat makers as the customer felt it was dead and the bat maker would stick the handle in the vice twist it and bend it and then give it them back and they would think it was the best thing ever. people get impatient pros hit cricket balls every day so handles loosen quickly club players don't hit the same amount of balls hence the process takes longer. something like that with greg chappell is purely a personal thing.