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[ogroupleader]

Reasoning seems pretty sound to me Danno, I agree. Hard to comment in detail rather than principle on things like the contact time etc. without any data - although 0.001 seems short to me, would be interested to see some experimental evidence.

1 millisecond sounds about right.  Dwell time for a tennis racquet is 3 to 5 milliseconds and you really feel the ball sitting on the strings. 

[Tom]

http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/handle-flex.html

Here's some research on Baseball bats

[tushar sehgal]

well easiest way to add some stiffness of an existing design to my non-engineering brain would be to rotate the handle 90 degrees...so the inserts are perpendicular to the shoulders instead of parallel,,,then shape the V into the cane handle and insert into the splice,,,which would create other issues like cane/rubber/cane/rubber/cane etc bonding to the willow in the splice instead cane and cane...worth the try on a old bat i guess... i would also think you would have a lot more broken handles...

[edge]

...So... where do we all rush out to to try a super stiff handled bat? Laver or old GN? Did I also read Chase do/ did a carbon handle?

I have an idea I may get round to actually doing at some stage - remove the binding and replace it with a composite wrap round the handle. Should stiffen it up nicely!

[skip1973]

My theory for what it's worth is that a flexi handle will make you feel like you middle more balls not necessarily hitting them harder where as stiffer handle you will feel off centre hits more but they will still travel. This just from experience with different bats, no scientific data I am afraid.

[edge]

That would be both pretty easy to do and awesome I'd imagine a lot of the flex is in the blade-handle interface though???

I reckon the most flexy point is just above where the handle join finishes, so a couple of inches above the actual blade. Makes sense I think, and that's certainly where bat I've had with noticeably flexy handles have bent the most, anyway. Below that is pretty well supported by the bond with the splice. I'll have garage space available in a couple of months so it may happen - could be good results, could be left holding a handle after a few shots!

[brokenbat]

Does anyone know how the splice comes into place in all this? Is the flexibility of the handle almost irrelevant because unlike baseball, a cricket bat is two pieces (and so the handle joint actually moves ends up dissipating a lot of the force before it even reaches the handle)?

[330Mark]

what an interesting debate. my 2p (with no scientific background whatsoever) flex in the handle wont matter a jot as the speed of the blade (and momentum thereof) would negate any energy transfer into the handle.
maybe playing defensively with a straight bat would drop the ball at your feet but an attacking shot would mean no effect...I stand to be corrected though, if some sporting university wants to blow their budget on a study.

[sachin200]

what an interesting debate. my 2p (with no scientific background whatsoever) flex in the handle wont matter a jot as the speed of the blade (and momentum thereof) would negate any energy transfer into the handle.
maybe playing defensively with a straight bat would drop the ball at your feet but an attacking shot would mean no effect...I stand to be corrected though, if some sporting university wants to blow their budget on a study.

I agree...... against defensive shots or may be against spinners, a still handle may matter but against fast bowlers, the contact time is so small that it shouldn't matter!

[Seniorplayer]

Yes the carbon  reinforcement is at the top of the splice at  the back of the handle

[sachin200]

In my opinion, Andre Russell (who is one of the biggest hitters around) uses extra flexible handle. This video was aired by spartan for different reason but watch it after 40 sec when he holds his bat and puts some pressure on it. It is clearly evident that his bat doesn't have stiff handle at all!
https://www.facebook.com/SpartanSportingGoods/videos/1396940083659043/

[brokenbat]

In my opinion, Andre Russell (who is one of the biggest hitters around) uses extra flexible handle. This video was aired by spartan for different reason but watch it after 40 sec when he holds his bat and puts some pressure on it. It is clearly evident that his bat doesn't have stiff handle at all!
https://www.facebook.com/SpartanSportingGoods/videos/1396940083659043/

Wow. You're right

[WalkingWicket37]

WTF is he doing at 43 seconds?
That actually made me cringe when he did that 

[Buzz]

This may explain why Dre isn't scoring any runs at the moment...
That handle has snapped.

[brokenbat]

why was he whacking the BACK of one bat with the other bat?