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[uknsaunders]

Big question is - for the weight saving and improved pickup, are you trading off responsiveness in the toe?

[rich041187]

And are they more prone to damage?

[Ryan]

That all depends on one question...are you a player that will try and smash a yorker length ball to the boundary? If so, then they're not for you.

[smilley792]

That all depends on one question...are you a player that will try and smash a yorker length ball to the boundary? If so, then they're not for you.

Would a duck bill with a limited last longer/better (on dig out s and mistimed drivers,  not purposefully driving every yorker)

[Ryan]

Ps. i usually use a 2.8/2.9oz bat but decided to go heavier this season, made myself this beast...It ended up finishing 2.13oz with the extra half grip and scuff but still picks up around 2.10oz due to the duck bill. Ended up using it last Tuesday at nets and didn't really notice the difference.

[Seniorplayer]

No I don,t believe that you are trading off responsiveness of toes as the responsiveness of bat toes  are normanly not that great also i think  most batsman would prefer weight saving and pickup every time over the responsiveness of the toe.

[Ryan]

Would a duck bill with a limited last longer/better (on dig out s and mistimed drivers,  not purposefully driving every yorker)

You can look at it two ways, a modern concaved bat Vs a duck bill toe (mxture of the two).

Modern profile - This will usually have more willow removed from the back which will extend into the toe area making it weaker.

Modern/ duck bill -  This can still can have a concaved back, however the concaving doesn't extend in to the toe, potentially making it stronger. See picture below after rough shaping.

Obviously the two examples about aren't an exact science as you can have a mixture of any profile.

[GarrettJ]

for me the toe is a dead area of the bat, only issue is the strength

I used a county reflex and county insignia for around 6 years and both were superb bats.

Think my next bat is going to be a complete monster. im going to get an oversized cleft sand it, duck bill the toe and concave the life out of it .......... basically a modern day SS Jumbo

[Ryan]

You could also increase the strength of the toe using a toe insert if needed.

I've never been worried too much about the toe splitting, but then again I've never had it happen.

[uknsaunders]

for me the toe is a dead area of the bat, only issue is the strength

I used a county reflex and county insignia for around 6 years and both were superb bats.

Think my next bat is going to be a complete monster. im going to get an oversized cleft sand it, duck bill the toe and concave the life out of it .......... basically a modern day SS Jumbo

A jumbo wasn't concaved or had a duckbill, but I know where you are coming from 

[uknsaunders]

IN some respects it is relative to the size of the edge. I'm guessing the edge profile is still 20-25mm without any concaving. 20 years ago that might of been viewed as a very big toe.

[Ryan]

IN some respects it is relative to the size of the edge. I'm guessing the edge profile is still 20-25mm without any concaving. 20 years ago that might of been viewed as a very big toe.

Obviously, but the point i was trying to make is that you could have a toe edge size of 50mm toe spine height of 50mm but wont give any added protection is the profile is concaved all the way down to the toe. Hope that makes sense.

[procricket]

We have sold over 800 duck billed profile bats last season and this and found less than 2 returns for toes.

As for the design it is all about pick up it removes the bulk down there and in truth as people alluded to you really hit the ball down at the toe and expect it to go for 4 or 6!!!!

You will find duckbills getting higher mind like the Steve Smith profile currently uses over say a Michael Clarke.

Plus you can concave a duck or leave it full most concave around 1-2mm  whilst the Clarke is left fuller.

Some semi ducks like Finch have the duck pulled down further and i read somewhere on this forum that pro players do not like a bottom heavy bat.

I can tell you some do.

The bill has been around the last few years for some part people have not noticed it but look at your old bat pictures you will see it there.

The old Hunts duckbills where of a more cut off nature like the reflex and so on the new ducks by and large are gentle.

I use them in most of my profiles i use and as others have said put in the right place give a bat a great balance.

My theory on shapes is use a bat for a season see where it breaks the most then next year get a bat where the majority of the crack is but i guess thats easier said then done because i would be using a massive 60mm edge bat inside at that.

There are not many cons to using a duckbill as you can increase the coverage of middle upwards which will also increase pick up with weight closer to your hands.

[procricket]

And where the duck has been moved up

[smilley792]

Has there been a longer duck bill than warners???