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[uknsaunders]

Some interesting points being made on the short ball thread about light bats helping bat speed and playing the short ball. Does anybody have any experiences where going up several oz in weight helped there game or likewise dropping a few oz helped also?

[Northern monkey]

I've never seen anyone bat better or easier with a heavier bat
Seen plenty try and bat with a bat way too heavy for them

To me, it's the option to play more shots and later, that a lighter bat brings.
If you are in a position to time the ball, because the bats light enough for you to react, then it doesn't matter if there isn't loads of meat in the bat.

I remember years ago, watching people trying to bat with jumbos etc and never really connecting properly.

Nowadays kids want big meaty edged bats, that I've yet to see anyone use effectively.
It's a shame fashion has dictated the profile and size of bats, to the sometimes detriment of shot playing

[RF]

Will be interesting to hear what everyone thinks personally I think people get a bit too hung up on weight. I'd happily use anything from 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz, maybe even 2lb 11oz.  It's only at 2lb 12oz and above that I find too heavy and I feel that lose my shape on the down swing and try and hit everything too hard.
Started to use lighter bats this year and it seems to be working OK although I suspect netting a lot more is making a bigger difference than dropping a few ounces.

[joeljonno]

I have found I lose my shape with a lighter bat, try and hit the ball too hard and never time it.

I think my perfect weight is around the 2:11-2:12 mark.

Bat speed or weight are the be all and end all as long as you time the ball well.

[addidasf55]

I have found I lose my shape with a lighter bat, try and hit the ball too hard and never time it.

I think my perfect weight is around the 2:11-2:12 mark.

Bat speed or weight are the be all and end all as long as you time the ball well.

This...
Maybe call it mental but if I go too light with my bat weight I start going harder with it. At my normal weight I feel the bat does the job and play with softer hands.

[procricket]

Trade off

Bat speed vs weight behind ball

Professionals tend to use heavier in t20 than anything else yes they have gun arms but when I asked they told well 3 of them it's because shorter format and there arms will not get tired and a heavier bat hit it better.

My theory is bat with what feels right and don't change you bat weight too often it messes you up as I keep finding out

[Rob580]

My two match bats this year are a 2.9 Warsop and 2.13 Hell 4 Leather and tbh, i don't notice too much of a difference.

Not sure if the 2.13 is beautifully balanced or if i'm just too thick to notice the difference......

[Northern monkey]

Spot on Dave

The older I get, the more I realise I can't tell how I'm gonna play with a bat, until I'm out there in the middle.
It doesn't matter how well it picks up for the weight, ,dead weight is dead weight
And your not really gonna discover that until you try and cut that first short ball or sweep a shot to leg.

I think I've dropped down from 3lb to 2.9 now, and may possibly go lighter next season, over 35yrs of playing.

[peristocle]

I'm a big fan of light bats (2.6-2. and think with bat speed and timing you can hit the same distances as a meatier bat.

Heavier bats have caused me all sorts of timing issues and shoulder problems in the past.

[Cin88]

I have problems with my wrist so having a light bat is better for me. I haven't had any trouble with sending the ball miles, if the ball hits the middle and i've timed it right then its going to the rope and that's the end of it.

[InternalTraining]

I never got any value for my shots with light bats. 2-7/2-8 were useless. 2-9 size 6 bats are great but still lacking power. It wasn't until I started using heavier bats that I started seeing value for my strokes. First, it was 2-11 Laver and onwards from there. My timing is better with heavier bats. I tend to lose my shape with light bats.

People who I have seen score big runs with lights bats generally have exceptional bats in their hands. All big hitters that I know use a minimum of 2-10. Guys who are built like Chris Gayle prefer heavier bats to lighter bats as their timing is affected by lighter bats.

I don't recall seeing a light bat user hitting a big six. Big hitters use heavy bats.

[tim2000s]

Find something that matches your muscles.

I've used both much heavier and much lighter bats (typically in nets). I find it takes a lot of getting used to. Too light and I'm way too early on shots and too heavy and I'm way too late.

Solving the way too early is easier to fix - it requires relaxing and some delay in playing the shot.

Solving the heavier bat syndrome is much harder - go to the gym and get stronger.

I use the weight I do because I feel it balances me. I've used heavier in the past, but what i use at this moment in time works, and that's why I use it.

[InternalTraining]

Another observation is about location of the swell or concentration of the bat weight. A 2-9 bottom heavy bat feels like 2-12 or more to me. A 2-12/2-13 bat with a high middle feels like a 2-9. I believe this is called the Swing Weight of the bat. I had a long discussion with @crictech about swing weight of the bat; unfortunately, I no longer have the message in my inbox. Lot of these "light bat" users are actually swinging a bottom heavy (Tendulkar style) bats which seem a lot heavy and uncomfortable to me. Give me an Amplus, or a CA albeit over 2-11 and I am happy with it.

[Rob580]

I don't recall seeing a light bat user hitting a big six. Big hitters use heavy bats.

This is nonsense. Too much value is placed on the bat here, give a good player a plank and an average player an excellent bat and then we'll see who hits it further.

The furthest i've ever seen a ball hit was with a 2.5 Newbery, and the guy who hit it over the Lords pavillion (his name escapes me) was using a twig!

It's all down to the timing (which admittedly can be affected by the bat weight) to say you need a heavy bat to hit it a long way is rubbish.

[InternalTraining]

The furthest i've ever seen a ball hit was with a 2.5 Newbery, and the guy who hit it over the Lords pavillion (his name escapes me) was using a twig!

It's all down to the timing (which admittedly can be affected by the bat weight) to say you need a heavy bat to hit it a long way is rubbish.

Lords pavillion hit has been discussed and there were two versions of the story on the bat weight used.

Newbery makes exceptional bats. But not everyone can hit big with a light bat. It's a myth.