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[Bats_Galore]

There seem to be many interesting aspects to this discussion. I don't have any axe to grind as I said I have been equally happy with bowed and unbowed bats, one thing that surprises me is the hitting over the top preference to a bowed bat. To me this doesn't seem to make a lot of sense as the main hitting zone of a bat is the sweet spot, and I have never seen a bat with a sweet spot in the toe, which seems to me to be the part of the bat which comes forward potentially aiding loft. Maybe I am missing something.

[tom line]

Not really related to the question but more for clarity,
Uneven presses occur when bows are solely pressed into the cleft as more pressure is put on the face and not as much at the toe or handle leading to the uneven press
An even press can still exist when a bow is present if the bow is cut in for the press to follow this means you get a bow but an even press across the whole blade at the same time

[ppccopener]

thanks Tom

[madpra6]

The bow doesn't come by cutting nor any makers do that by cutting. The bow is because of pressing. For me personally the bowed bats have done justice compared to old school flat faces - Very good pick up & good balance with inside out shots.

[tom line]

The bow doesn't come by cutting nor any makers do that by cutting. The bow is because of pressing. For me personally the bowed bats have done justice compared to old school flat faces - Very good pick up & good balance with inside out shots.

There's bat making videos on YouTube by Black Widow cricket who have a jig set up specially for cutting a bow into the face for the press to follow

https://youtu.be/hGcreWUhq28
Approx 2 minutes 30 seconds in

[ppccopener]

@tom line

do you have a preference yourself when it comes to bowed bats or flat faces or are you not bothered what you use......just out of interest.....

do you think it doesn't really matter and some of us put too much emphasis on the way a bat looks?  so for example myself I quite like nice looking bats shape wise not necessarily number of grains

but if it's got a nice curve to me i'd be happier with that..

there's clearly a lot on here thou that think the opposite....or are not bothered either way

[tom line]

@ppccopener to be honest to me it doesn't matter. I prefer a slight to medium bow if given the option but if it pings I couldn't care less. I am using a Gm and Kook this season both with no real bow but last year used a CA and H4L devil both with bows and I haven't noticed any real difference in them., unfortunately as I use 2,6-2,8 bats the pick up can't really be judged as feather light regardless.

I think bows do demonstrate a skill of the batmaker though and also look a little nicer than a flat bin bowed bat but that's purely aesthetic

[adb club cricketer]

Always found bowed bats to have better pickup. Also personally prefer a bow lower down the bat rather than in middle of bat..

[edge]

Don't see a bow being cut in that video @tom line? I've heard of them being cut before but never seen evidence of it. Definitely seen examples of unevenly pressed bats though, I have a massively bowed Puma that when knocking in was so much softer on the toe it was unbelievable.

Prefer a bow myself as it gives a different balance to the bat which I prefer, not hugely though. As for does it pick up lighter/help you play aerial shots more easily - sorry but what a load of bobbins!

[tom line]

Don't see a bow being cut in that video @tom line? I've heard of them being cut before but never seen evidence of it. Definitely seen examples of unevenly pressed bats though, I have a massively bowed Puma that when knocking in was so much softer on the toe it was unbelievable.

Prefer a bow myself as it gives a different balance to the bat which I prefer, not hugely though. As for does it pick up lighter/help you play aerial shots more easily - sorry but what a load of bobbins!

If you watch it through from about 2 minutes he talks about the jig that is holding the bat taking a scoop out the cleft for the bow which he then later explains is followed by the press, he also shows how the jig is shaped to take the bow out and the log itself has a curve in it that the planer then follows

[Percy]

I visited Salix a few years ago and AK showed me the jig they use to cut in bows. Said he was the first to do it.

[edge]

If you watch it through from about 2 minutes he talks about the jig that is holding the bat taking a scoop out the cleft for the bow which he then later explains is followed by the press, he also shows how the jig is shaped to take the bow out and the log itself has a curve in it that the planer then follows

I'll have another look later, only watched from the 2:30 mark! Seemed a cracking video though, bloke explains well without any sales pitch nonsense.

[Blank Bats]

https://youtu.be/HHYRFRKjw_M

1 min mark


Completely unrelated but came across this new GM vid too.

https://youtu.be/qaz9IW_2a_o

[Northern monkey]

Yeah Tom, he 'scoops' it out with his little jig

Never really understood the whole bow thing
I've got bats with and bats without, can't say there's much difference playing wise

[tom line]

I'm with you Mark not sure really but if batmakers go to an effort of doing it then I assume it must be for a reason.
Although on saying that it could just be like big edges where bat makers had to keep up with it to stay popular the same could have happened with bows