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[Yorkershire]

Okay I get people on here buy more bats than the average cricketer... but I am sometimes amused at people who have constant handles snapping and bats breaking or some other drama with all their bats... Surely the more bats you have and rotating them should result in less dramas...

I have had a reasonable amount of bats over the years and I don't think any of my bats have snapped, handles broke or had horrible cracks...

Closest thing I have had is a handle moving out of place on a JEDi that was fixed back into place and is fine now.

Bats I have had or can remember ... CA Gold, CA 10000, Crown/Raje sports custom, Ihsan not sure model, Charlie French, Couple of JEdis, various AM  bats..
 
Maybe I don't bat enough 

[ppccopener]

Well....not everyone on the forum has lots of bats, quite a few do that's quite right.

I'm sure there will be those who have a view on why bats and handles do seem to break pretty regularly

Having had bats of all makes since I was about 15(a long long time ago) I'm absolutely convinced that:

Bats are dried out these days, willow has not changed that much a bat 20 years ago was a third of the size-so take out the moisture to get a bigger bat and you get a weaker one.You could well take the view e pressing is different and they are not 'compressed' as much these days.

Balls....got to be the fact most of us play with cheap mass produced balls in the leagues that are simply bat breaking ball bearings.

General longevity of bats- are they really designed to last? I'm not sure they are

How many players at your club have a 10 of 15 year old bat? Not many is there

For those still using the SS Jumbo none of the above applies-they will still be going when we can fly to the moon on Easyjet. 

[joeljonno]

There's also a lot to do with technique. I know someone who puts a lot of pressure through the splice when they're waiting for the bowler to run in.

Their bats always split across the shoulders somewhere first.

[Yorkershire]

Well....not everyone on the forum has lots of bats, quite a few do that's quite right.

I'm sure there will be those who have a view on why bats and handles do seem to break pretty regularly

Having had bats of all makes since I was about 15(a long long time ago) I'm absolutely convinced that:

Bats are dried out these days, willow has not changed that much a bat 20 years ago was a third of the size-so take out the moisture to get a bigger bat and you get a weaker one.You could well take the view e pressing is different and they are not 'compressed' as much these days.

Balls....got to be the fact most of us play with cheap mass produced balls in the leagues that are simply bat breaking ball bearings.

General longevity of bats- are they really designed to last? I'm not sure they are

How many players at your club have a 10 of 15 year old bat? Not many is there

For those still using the SS Jumbo none of the above applies-they will still be going when we can fly to the moon on Easyjet. 

Certainly agree with the cheap balls ...  I play mid week friendly cricket and because its not serious more often than not they will use sports direct specials... these guys aren't serious cricketers so will make do...

Nets also...  so I understand why some people have a net bat. Saying that most people I know have one bat and use that for both nets and games. I think people on this forum regardless of ability just have a love for the game and indulge in their passion more than the average weekend cricketer.

Interesting point re drying of wood, and have to admit  I haven't had  a dried out light weight monster bat.

[billyb]

I've only ever had one bat incident, but it was spectacular . This is an old pic from when I was an even younger lad, with a pingy as hell Blade Runner. I only played a forward defensive 


Bonus picture: here's a bat I actually used for a long time, and still use as a catching bat. Scored a lovely 24 with it in the U15s, about... 8 years ago?

[Biggie Smalls]

Flat faces may contribute to more shoulder issues. Square toes may contribute to more toe blow outs . Having said that , ive never had a bat break on me ever . 

[edge]

Flat faces may contribute to more shoulder issues.

Eh, don't get this one, why?

Definitely seen harsh concaving cause problems at the base of the splice on the back which is a modern thing. Also bats being seriously mass produced is a relatively recent thing - wouldn't be surprised if that's a big contributor to the amount of handle/splice problems, along with skinny handles.

[JK Lewis]

Whenever weight is traded for aesthetics, it will build relative weakness into the bat. So be it over-drying, aggressive concaving or thinner handles, the consequence is pretty much inevitable. I also honestly believe that this is exaggerated further in mass production operations, where every cleft is treated the same as all the others. Custom batmakers consider each piece of timber individually, in my experience this leads to fewer extreme breakages.

I do also wonder if the quality of willow itself is changing. On the one hand, trees are grown faster and felled earlier than in the past, due to demand outstripping supply. Also, gradual changes in climactic conditions - with more regular weather 'events' - might be increasing the amount of storm damaged wood that reaches the market.

[Yorkershire]

JK Lewis mass production and over dried clefts sounds like a bad combination for breaking bats. Also the quality control will vary from company to company, but hearing stories about some companies who sticker over imperfections does make you think.

Think I have been lucky as I have either had top end Asian bats or boutique brands. Also an interesting point raised earlier was what is a realistic life of a bat, again all sorts of factors come into play.

I've heard from James at JEDi that he still has old ACE bats come in for repair and refurb, and many are still going strong.

PS Aldred did a video on strain thin handles put on the bat and favours thicker handles.

[FattusCattus]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a number of Kooks go in that very same area.

[leatherseat]

 

PS Aldred did a video on strain thin handles put on the bat and favours thicker handles.
[/quote]

The strain that thin handles put on bats shoulder/ splice area looks unhealthy. The video showed him twisting the bat in his hand with a thin handle, whereas very little or no flex with a thicker handle. I am converted, irrespective of comfort.

[InternalTraining]

^ I haven't seen the video but that's scary. I like thin handles but been lucky so far. *Knock on wood*.

[InternalTraining]

Okay I get people on here buy more bats than the average cricketer... but I am sometimes amused at people who have constant handles snapping and bats breaking or some other drama with all their bats... Surely the more bats you have and rotating them should result in less dramas...

I feel that we are in a period of transition where bat-making is catching up to the new market realities...in my opinion it is certainly not there yet. I think the customers' demands and market is much different than it used to be in the olden days. People are buying more bats than the previous generation did - at least that's what I am witnessing in my club and other cricketers. The expectation of performance is faster, the amount of time spent is preparation (knocking etc.) is less, and batsmen have more disposable income.

Regarding "constant handles snapping and bats breaking", it has to do with quality of the bat and bat making than anything else. It is funny but the number of bats broken due to defects is very low since bats we (me and club) buy are generally high end or hand picked. Going to a reputable bat maker or brand isn't enough, you have to pick the right bats or have someone else pick them for you.

Another factor is understanding what a batsman needs vs what they want. Lot of times, batters than understand that they need specific bats for ground conditions, pitch conditions, or even the level they bat at. Bat sizes are wrong too! Most batters need to use a shorter bat than an SH! There is not enough good information out there. The confusion and lack of good information keeps batters buying (spending money on ) bats and sales up for the brands/bat makers. Bat marketing is absolutely a giant lie! Stickers? Brand ambassadors? Most brand spokesmen don't even use the bat brand they are holding in the marketing material.

[leatherseat]

^ I haven't seen the video but that's scary. I like thin handles but been lucky so far. *Knock on wood*.

Here is the link to the video on thin handles-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmVA1Xfwk2c
circa 1min 30 seconds in, but worth watching all 3 and a half minutes of it.

[leatherseat]

I feel that we are in a period of transition where bat-making is catching up to the new market realities...in my opinion it is certainly not there yet. I think the customers' demands and market is much different than it used to be in the olden days. People are buying more bats than the previous generation did - at least that's what I am witnessing in my club and other cricketers. The expectation of performance is faster, the amount of time spent is preparation (knocking etc.) is less, and batsmen have more disposable income.

Regarding "constant handles snapping and bats breaking", it has to do with quality of the bat and bat making than anything else. It is funny but the number of bats broken due to defects is very low since bats we (me and club) buy are generally high end or hand picked. Going to a reputable bat maker or brand isn't enough, you have to pick the right bats or have someone else pick them for you.

Another factor is understanding what a batsman needs vs what they want. Lot of times, batters than understand that they need specific bats for ground conditions, pitch conditions, or even the level they bat at. Bat sizes are wrong too! Most batters need to use a shorter bat than an SH! There is not enough good information out there. The confusion and lack of good information keeps batters buying (spending money on ) bats and sales up for the brands/bat makers. Bat marketing is absolutely a giant lie! Stickers? Brand ambassadors? Most brand spokesmen don't even use the bat brand they are holding in the marketing material.

That is an observation I have never heard before. I'd be interested to understand the thinking behind the idea that the established bat sizes are wrong.