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[Vitas Cricket]

I think the question regarding shorter blades and pros has been answered. Regarding potential false advertising, I would say its a little naive to think the bat an international player is using will be identical to the one sold to the public. Many don't even use bats made by the brand they are sponsored by.

The same is true in other sports. I had a fledging professional football career in the lower echelons of the english football league, the sponsored goalie gloves i received as well as the odd pair i saw (some were bespoke) for players playing in the premier league for example were a different beast entirely to the products sold to the public.

I'm glad this topic was bumped, i have 2 more Travis Head bats coming shortly for lucky customers, i'll be sure to post pics.

[WalkingWicket37]

You really don't notice the 1/2 inch difference.

That's not what she said...

[edge]

What?! I refuse to believe the Kashmir plank I bought from Sports Direct yesterday is not identical to the bats Jonny Bairstow is now using in international cricket. A major multinational sports company wouldn't possibly take my money otherwise!

[adb club cricketer]

So the Joe Root player edition bats (which are supposed to be exact player replicas) are shorter blade too? I havent read that in joe root players bat description. Also, one bat made for Pro doesn't necessarily mean he always/even once uses that same type.. Maybe he asked one for wet weather nets bat ? Or maybe GM wanted him to try it and he rejected it, it is still a made for Joe Root bat ...No offence to anyone, just from pics on internet/TV/his grip, it doesn't look like he is using shorter blade bat, or maybe in all the internet pics I saw he isnt using one..And contrary to what people say, 1/2 inch shorter blade is easily detected..i took my kudos to practice first time, and almost all my mates asked if it is a kids bat, and that looks quite small.. i had some explaining to do saying it is same overall length, just that shorter blade makes it look like "smaller" bat and has longer handle to compensate...

Agree Root/pros will not be using off the shelf bat type, but there is no proof that he uses shorter blade either apart from one "bat made for him" which is shorter blade..And the difference could be in other areas such as sweet spot etc, not necessarily in blade length..

@edge Yes, GM released the shorter blade mana so that it's main player advertising it uses a regular length Mana instead.. Also, there are a lot of international players using the super short KAHA ? All GMs I see on TV are Chrome/paragon now, it is almost like GM saying to pros - hey, we have only two full length profiles for you to choose now, if you dont like one of these two, there's NB lol..

[Kez]

Edit: Is it easy to tell how many players use LB's either?

[smilley792]

This handle looks pretty long to me




Excess grip both above and below his hands.

[SOULMAN1012]

There is no way to know what a pro player is using from watching TV or indeed live. I would imagine most pros have so many bats from so many makers with the same stickers. Law of averages states some will prefer short blade, longer handles and some will use standard blade. Hell some may even mix and match depending on format.
Also as has been said you would have to be a fool to believe that a pro who makes his living from the game at the highest level would use a standard off the shelf blade. Some will be lots will be very specific. I had a small insight to this when at salix. Some don't care and will take and use what are given, others would make most of us fussy buggers seem normal

[adb club cricketer]

@smilley792

Yea, looks same as below ..

[smilley792]

@smilley792

Yea, looks same as below .. So ABD also using shorter blade conclusion lol..

Can't see owt mate. But I bow to your greatness in expertise. It's clear you won't be told otherwise.

[adb club cricketer]

Reattached the pic.. sorry mate if anyone offended.. i could be wrong myself...just wanted to have a healthy discussion..nothing else...no winners/losers here...at end of the day, few folks care what a pro uses anyway ...As @SOULMAN1012  stated above, TV/internet pics may not give correct picture either. So will take the forumites word on this and conclude...

[billyb]

There are some very experienced people on this forum who could nearly name a specific factory from a picture of the binding under the handle, the finishing style and all sorts- I even wonder if they can detect what it is before they open the thread!

Needless to say, I tend to trust them. 

[Vitas Cricket]

So the Joe Root player edition bats (which are supposed to be exact player replicas) are shorter blade too? I havent read that in joe root players bat description.

Back when Root was at GM No-one was saying the six6 was a shorter blade, and I don't recall anyone saying he had moved to using a shorter blade until shortly before he moved to NB.

[springbok45]

@SOULMAN1012  internet pics may not give correct picture either.

No they wont, but add in a ruler, the known standard length of a bat and a couple of calculations will give you all the info you could want about the bat specs. If only someone offered this service....

[Calzehbhoy]

Work colleague of mine is very good mates with Joe (he regularly sends me snapchat pictures in Joe's living room of them both chatting) he has 2 bats(both GM) that Joe gave him before the World Cup in Oz/NZ I've just sent him a message to find out and he's checked and they were both regular SH bats.

Not saying he hasn't changed since but certainly during the World Cup the were regular SH.

[potzy248]

So does anyone know if GM can make any of their other sponsored players bats? Sort of got side tracked wit shorter blades conversation.