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[Bats_Galore]

Reading another thread there is quite a lot of talk of bow or lack of it. It is something that has never bothered me, happy with or without it, frankly if the bat goes that's good enough for me. However with such strength of opinion on the matter, I wonder if I am missing something, so wondered if I could get thoughts from both sides of it, and from makers and players alike.

[ppccopener]

ah yes you mean the B3 thread I started

clearly lots on the forum it does not matter. if you look at most, I say most not all, B3 and GM new ones-straight blades pretty much......

I do like a bow in my bats, I don't know why and there's no reason a bowed bat would be better than a straight blade....in fact ive read on here many times a bow weakens the bat, or potentially weakens a bat, so long term you may be better with a straight blade.

ive no idea whether this is accurate or just an opinion. I can see the logic a totally straight blade may last longer than a bowed bat- but is it like that in reality

I've no idea.....gut feeling is it really does not matter as far as a bat playing well or lasting well....

[Seniorplayer]

Always  felt that a bow towards the bottom of  the bat helps  give a lighter pickup than if the bat was unbowed particularly bats with a low middle.

[smilley792]

I find it helps pick up, and it also can help attacking players when going over the top.

All probably placebo.

And that's what matter isn't it? If something feels right to you then stick to it. No point changing to something that feels wrong because others prefer it.

[Alvaro]

If you got a bowless bat and used it for long enough and played it in, it should naturally achieve its own bow.

[ppccopener]

If you got a bowless bat and used it for long enough and played it in, it should naturally achieve its own bow.

does it Alvaro? really....

ive never seen a non bowed bat develop a bow over the years...

why would it do this out of interest?

[northernboy1987]

If it's from the ball hitting it consistently I'd only be bowing the edges 

[e4sby]

does it Alvaro? really....

ive never seen a non bowed bat develop a bow over the years...

why would it do this out of interest?

@procricket has a bat from B3 that developed a bow with use

[ppccopener]

love to see it 

[Biggie Smalls]

When defending with an angled bat a bow helps keep the ball further behind the hands... i like that . I also like the assistance in hitting over the top you get from a bow ( call it placebo , but i swap to a straight bat , play the same shot , it feels worse ) . Lastly,  pickup with a bow is better . This is subjective but not placebo . Is bow , is good !
Btw , never had any pressing problems on the toe from bowed bats or anything else bat makers say re the adverse effects of prominent bows that are cut into the blade .

[JK Lewis]

I prefer a subtly bowed bat, but purely for aesthetic reasons rather than any suggestion of performance enhancement. I just think that totally straight bats look a bit old school, bowed bats more modern, more sophisticated. Too much bow looks crap though, so I am a bit choosy about this.

[tushar sehgal]

Not that I play much on the ground but I do find if there is a lot of bow and pitch has decent bounce its harder for my style to not hit the ball in air!! I am ok with bow or no bow, I know what shape and weight i like and haven't really had issues with pickup

[InternalTraining]

Here are my reasons:

- Pickup feels better
- Lofted shots are easier for a clubbie like myself. I tried playing same shots with flat bats and didn't get the distance I wanted. Once I used a bowed bat, I never looked back as my shots were going over the rope with a lot of ease. Basically, a bowed bat makes it easy for me to score runs.
- More control over defensive shots and keeping ball down.
- Pressing is fine. TK bows his bats. Stuart Kranzbuhler puts huge bows in his bats. Neither of these batmakers complain about pressing issues with bows - anyone who has used bats made by TK & Kranzbuhler would attest to an even press of their bats. They are master batmakers in the truest sense. Simple.

[InternalTraining]

A bow does nothing a bit of a forward set/ angled handle doesn't so it seems an it of a fashion thing to me but if you like it why not

But not all bat makers comply with your request or know how to do it correctly. My last bat from a bat maker,  that remained performance free, couldn't set the "forward set" handle correctly not to mention no bow.

It is not a fashion things, bowed bats are around for a long time. English market has been reluctant to adapt to it as it prefers traditional style bats. They are wildly popular in rest of the cricket playing world.

[ppccopener]

last few years a lot ok UK manufacturers have followed the Asian style if that's what you mean Internal, so bats have changed including the big manufacturers quite correct.

In the past large bowed bats were seen a lot in India and Pakistan...maybe because of pitches out there the bounce was less...so maybe a bowed bat helped hit 'over the top'

iv'e always wondered myself have a bow gets into a flat cleft myself. At some point there must be stress put on it. That's presuming( and I don't know this) all clefts start out flat in the first place...