Print

[BatGoonMcClintock]

Anyone else have a problem timing the ball with lighter bats?  My bats range in weight from 2lb 7.2oz (BDM) to 2lb 15.9oz, I've had decent net sessions with most of the lot and in general, I've noticed that my timing is a lot more fluent with the heavier bats - 2lb 10oz and above.  None of the bats are duds, when a ball has hit the middle, they've travelled.  However, when it comes to consistent downswing and timing, the heavier the bat, the better it is for me, particularly when i'm just looking to punch and nudge.  I've played the best consistently with the 2lb 13oz Aldred Titan with the RS and Jedi being the other bats that are just sweet off the middle.  Others which are promising but didn't have extended nets are the Hunts, Red Ink, Phantom and the BB Hulk (blue).

The 2nd Aldred and the H4L at 2lb 15.1oz and 2lb 15.9oz are too heavy to use in the nets (my coach wouldn't have been impressed as I'd have been wasting his time) but the ping on both is ridiculous.  I am planning to reduce the weight in the Aldred to 2-12 ish so I can use it.  The H4L was just to get a monster bat I wanted and I might use it in a game just for a lark - maybe a Sunday game.

The BB B1 (white) which was supposed to be my match bat for this season lost about 1oz over the winter and I've just not had any joy timing the ball for singles though can still whack the boundaries.  So for now, the RS and Aldred Titan will be doing duty depending on quickness of bowling.

[Gurujames]

My bats range from 2lb 6oz to 3lb 4oz I find the timing is fine on all of them until I swap mid net from a heavier to a significantly lighter one. Going the other way has no effect on the timing for me.

[BatGoonMcClintock]

My bats range from 2lb 6oz to 3lb 4oz I find the timing is fine on all of them until I swap mid net from a heavier to a significantly lighter one. Going the other way has no effect on the timing for me.

Sounds like the same for me - no impact going heavier but definitely timing a bit off if I go from heavy to light.  I'm not giving up on the BB, will try a heavier grip to see if I can get my timing back.  The bat lost 1 oz over the winter!

BTW, HT to @tom line for his work on the RS handle, got it nice and oval and added about 2 oz in weight to the 2lb 8.6oz factory weight and it's been perfect.

[jjelricksmith]

You'll ruin that aldred if you remove that much willow. Best to sell it and get a new one made up to similar spec and reduced weight if you arent happy.

Personally agree with this for driving the ball and sunday friendly cricket but 2.8 is perfect for me to get the bat to a bouncer/ beamer from a decent quick. Anything short and im not getting my bat to it with heavier than 2.11 ish.

[InternalTraining]

Anyone else have a problem timing the ball with lighter bats?  My bats range in weight from 2lb 7.2oz (BDM) to 2lb 15.9oz, I've had decent net sessions with most of the lot and in general, I've noticed that my timing is a lot more fluent with the heavier bats - 2lb 10oz and above.  None of the bats are duds, when a ball has hit the middle, they've travelled.  However, when it comes to consistent downswing and timing, the heavier the bat, the better it is for me, particularly when i'm just looking to punch and nudge.

I am in the same boat, light bats are a disaster for my timing. I use bats that are between 2-11.0 and 2-12.5 (high middle) consistently in matches and I can handle them for long innings.

What I have noticed is that these are very specific shapes with very specific setups. For instance, my 2-11.0 match bats have a mid-low swell position but I require a rubber grip counter weight at 1.5 inches from the top of the handle. Basically, not only do I prefer the bat's balance point in a certain position but also a certain swing weight.

They way bats are sold is plain wrong. Bats needs to standardized differently but just by dead weight and length! We need more intelligent factors that determine bats usability for buyers such as: dead weight, swing weight, location of node of percussion, balance point, and willow density.

[BatGoonMcClintock]

You'll ruin that aldred if you remove that much willow. Best to sell it and get a new one made up to similar spec and reduced weight if you arent happy.

Personally agree with this for driving the ball and sunday friendly cricket but 2.8 is perfect for me to get the bat to a bouncer/ beamer from a decent quick. Anything short and im not getting my bat to it with heavier than 2.11 ish.

@jjelricksmith You know, you just might be right.  Was packing the Aldred to ship for weight reduction and just swung it around and even though it's 2.15, it just feels so good in my hands and no different from the 2.13 Aldred that will be my match bat.  I think I will hang on to it as is and see what happens...the ping, as with all Aldred bats, is just superb.  The thing with heavier bats is that they never feel like a mishit except if you edge it and therefore provide so much more confidence.

[edge]

I find when I'm batting really well and nailing everything, a slightly lighter bat is significantly better as it gives me the freedom to really pile into my shots and express myself best. If I'm not batting so well or the pitch is a bit sticky, the ball isn't coming on to the bat so well etc, a slightly heavier bat helps me to slow it all down a bit more and helps me with timing it and playing the simpler shots better. What would be really helpful was if I could predict which would be best before I walk out!

[BatGoonMcClintock]

I am in the same boat, light bats are a disaster for my timing. I use bats that are between 2-11.0 and 2-12.5 (high middle) consistently in matches and I can handle them for long innings.

What I have noticed is that these are very specific shapes with very specific setups. For instance, my 2-11.0 match bats have a mid-low swell position but I require a rubber grip counter weight at 1.5 inches from the top of the handle. Basically, not only do I prefer the bat's balance point in a certain position but also a certain swing weight.

They way bats are sold is plain wrong. Bats needs to standardized differently but just by dead weight and length! We need more intelligent factors that determine bats usability for buyers such as: dead weight, swing weight, location of node of percussion, balance point, and willow density.

I need to feel something heavy being swung...like you will likely throw a cricket ball further than a plastic ball because of the weight...know what I mean...after winter of experimenting, I feel light bats (below 2.10) aren't for me.  2-10 to 2-11 work best for me unless it's an Aldred, then it's heavier because his thick handles change the dynamics a bit.

[InternalTraining]

The joy is buying a new bat after every dodgy innings as it is clearly the bats fault and there is a unicorn out there somewhere 

[Boondougal]

I've been through this whole debate in the last year... in reality I found I needed the bat speed as I don't pick the ball up out of the bowlers hand fast enough... but against my own standard bowling I find I can use anything from 2'8 through to 2'11. As long as it feels ok in the hand and gives me confidence it seems to be the biggest factor... the rest is all relative.

[smilley792]

I use 2.14

With a 2.10. Everything just goes straight up.

With 2.14 it still goes up, but at a more wanted trajectory.......

[Seniorplayer]

For me it's the opposite anything over 2- 7 just to heavy timings out specially on the pull and hook balls long gone before my bats there  also loss of bat speed..

[cesare_in]

Same problem with me. But I'm not too sure if it's just the weight that's the issue. This particular bat pings beautifully when I do a ping test. But, nets or matches.. just doesn't work. I just don't find the middle and unable to generate any power in my shots.

[BatGoonMcClintock]

I've been through this whole debate in the last year... in reality I found I needed the bat speed as I don't pick the ball up out of the bowlers hand fast enough... but against my own standard bowling I find I can use anything from 2'8 through to 2'11. As long as it feels ok in the hand and gives me confidence it seems to be the biggest factor... the rest is all relative.

Funny you say this Boon @Boondougal , I have the exact same problem - I've got bad eyes, cannot be corrected to 20/20 and have bad astigmatism, so I don't pick it out of the bowlers hand - and therefore,I need a heavier bat to help me get the ball off the square - I struggle with lighter bats - I tend to begin my downswing OK but my hands adjust after picking up the line late and so my bat speed slows as it changes direction ever slightly and so I need the weight - this of course is for the nudges and nurdles - if its short and wide, or tossed up, no problems there but I still prefer the comfort of swinging something heavier so I don't swing myself off my feet.

Same problem, different solution - just shows how different people are and definitely how there can be no one solution.  Different strokes (unintentional pun intended) for different folks, etc. etc.

[mohawks94]

Im 6'3 with long levers, but always use a light bat, between 2lb7 and 2lb9.
I always rely on bat speed rather than brute force, even though I can hit a long ball.
I would describe myself as lean, and with the added weight of a heavier bat I struggle to time it. I used a 2lb10 for a couple of games but just didn't get on with it, and used a team mates b3 warner in the nets a couple of times but it was far too heavy.