Topic: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles (Read 12065 times)

Gurujames · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2019, 09:21:18 AM »

Quote from: Seniorplayer on February 15, 2019, 08:37:28 AM

Not if you have small hands which when you use oval handles your bottom hand gets forced off the handle playing a shot even small ovals do this.

I have �youth� sized hands and love an oval handle, even rectangular and I so don�t agree with this. I grip very loosely with the bottom hand with only the tips of my fingers and thumb on the handle.
Ultimately there is no right answer, it�s what you personally prefer.
It�s no different from saying light bats are better than heavy ones.

velvetsky01 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2019, 09:36:33 AM »

Oval all the way - a round handle just feels too thin and i feel i have zero control of my shots. If I purchase a bat with a round handle (on ebay sometimes without knowing the handle shape) i always mod the handle to a oval handle with tape etc

sachin200 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2019, 08:21:47 PM »

Remember Adam Gilchrist? He used a very thick oval handle to 1. Loosen his bottom hand grip and 2. Stop the bat from twisting. Unless you are a very-very wristy player e.g. Kohli today, azar, dravid, laxman in the past, or you aren�t belting Yorkers for sixes like Dhoni using wristy shots, you don�t need a round bottom hand.

Quote from: Sitonit on February 14, 2019, 02:54:35 PM

I personally feel that a round handle naturally fits well in the human hand. The grip and hold is a lot more easy and comfortable. The bat is a lot easy and simple to maneuver with a round handle as per the anatomy of a human hand.

Many other players may find oval or semi oval handle better. Which is all good.

My question is, if I remember correctly, it used to be round handles only.
And the oval or semi oval came in as a marketing ploy in the name of innovation. Folks then slowly started to pick the idea.

The idea is, it helps stop the twist.

My argument is, if it helps stop the twist then it may also create some hindrance when you actually DO WANT to slightly twist the bat and get the right angle to play the intended stroke.

But also and more curiously, if the bat has a rubber grip and you are wearing gloves where the leathers in the palms provides some excellent traction, why would the bat twist so much in your hands that you need an oval handle?

brokenbat · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2019, 09:26:59 PM »

Doesn't kohli use a (thin) oval handle?

sachin200 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2019, 09:36:30 PM »

That's quite true but I believe that has happened quite recently (within past two years) and from the looks of it, he uses semi-oval. Many Indian players have changed to oval handles nowadays and many Indian manufacturers are also producing bats with semi-oval handles. Obviously, it is a feel/comfort thing as well e.g. Sachin wasn't a very wristy player but he always used round handles but if you tank to batting coaches and knowledgable bat makers (legendary JM), they will always say that oval handle is far better than round. What more, I have realized that it doesn't break/lose power as quickly as a round handle does upon toe-ending/mistiming the balls simply because it is far stronger near the splice to bottom hand area.

Quote from: brokenbat on February 15, 2019, 09:26:59 PM

Doesn't kohli use a (thin) oval handle?

Sitonit · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2019, 01:53:42 PM »

Quote from: Mfarank on February 15, 2019, 07:03:10 AM

Ever since i started using an oval handle bat i have noticed a lot more control over my batting and a drastic decrease in unwanted cross bat shots. I am naturally left handed and it is my bottom habd while batting as well. Oval handle gives me more control over when my bottom hand is needed for powerful shots

Seriously, what does the shape of handle got anything to do with the decision of playing or not playing a cross bat shot?

Sitonit · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2019, 01:56:25 PM »

Quote from: Hoover on February 15, 2019, 03:29:51 AM

Haha, imagine how much better Bradman, Pollock, Sobers, Richards,Lara, Kohli and co would�ve been if they used an oval handle.!!

Haha. Someone with an oval handle has to break Bradman and Sachin�s records to prove your point.

sachin200 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2019, 03:08:41 PM »

Quote from: Sitonit on February 16, 2019, 01:53:42 PM

Seriously, what does the shape of handle got anything to do with the decision of playing or not playing a cross bat shot?

Do u remember Gilchrist putting a squash ball in his bottom hand glove while batting in 2007 World Cup? You start playing across the line when your bottom hand dominates. Thick oval handle reduces that grip and hence naturally you play straighter.

I also feel that an oval handle helps me place the ball better by not twisting so much in my hands and it also allows me to have thin edges which of course helps with keeping the weight of the bat down.

Sitonit · « **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2019, 03:42:08 PM »

Quote from: sachin200 on February 16, 2019, 03:08:41 PM

Do u remember Gilchrist putting a squash ball in his bottom hand glove while batting in 2007 World Cup? You start playing across the line when your bottom hand dominates. Thick oval handle reduces that grip and hence naturally you play straighter.

I also feel that an oval handle helps me place the ball better by not twisting so much in my hands and it also allows me to have thin edges which of course helps with keeping the weight of the bat down.

hmmm ... so what you are saying is this.

In your back-lift when you intend to play a cross bat shot, (lets say a pull or even a sweep) the toe of the bat points towards and point fielder and face of the bat is facing the bowler, now you make the swing, and the face of the bat twists towards sky or towards the ground if you play with a round handle? And it won't do so if you play with an oval handle?

sachin200 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2019, 04:21:33 PM »

Quote from: Sitonit on February 16, 2019, 03:42:08 PM

hmmm ... so what you are saying is this.

In your back-lift when you intend to play a cross bat shot, (lets say a pull or even a sweep) the toe of the bat points towards and point fielder and face of the bat is facing the bowler, now you make the swing, and the face of the bat twists towards sky or towards the ground if you play with a round handle? And it won't do so if you play with an oval handle?

In your cross batted shots, your bottom hand is going to dominate any way. Is the difference between hitting an on drive vs hitting the same ball at the cow corner unintentionally where an oval handle (Bottom hand) helps. It doesn�t let you use your wrists that easily.

brokenbat · « **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2019, 05:26:23 PM »

It�s all subjective. My bottom hand shots actually improved after switching to oval. Don�t know why, but maybe being a tennis player all my life (hence used to oval feel in bottom hand) is why it worked for me.

Hoover · « **Reply #26 on:** February 17, 2019, 01:17:04 AM »

Quote from: Sitonit on February 16, 2019, 01:56:25 PM

Haha. Someone with an oval handle has to break Bradman and Sachin�s records to prove your point.

No point made. Just having a chuckle. Whatever works really. Oval or round personal choice in my book.

Sitonit · « **Reply #27 on:** February 17, 2019, 05:57:03 AM »

Quote from: Hoover on February 17, 2019, 01:17:04 AM

No point made. Just having a chuckle. Whatever works really. Oval or round personal choice in my book.

Yes, that's true.
100% personal choice and I fully support it.

I just wanted to see what are the various reasons? And it was for my own knowledge.

Everyone is free to use whatever handle shape works for them.

Psi · « **Reply #28 on:** February 18, 2019, 12:14:56 AM »

I would agree that oval handle base feels much better and gives a lighter pick up. See below for the wide variations of handle shape on some bats : https://photos.app.goo.gl/YnavYTvN6Wqi9Roc6

The Warsop in particular has a very large handle and quite extreme ovalling and is very comfortable to grip.

I would like to get the Mrf built up to have oval handle. Can this be done at home or is it a job for a specialist repairer? The GN in the pictures seems to have been built up with padding and the feel is very successful.

brokenbat · « **Reply #29 on:** February 18, 2019, 04:38:59 AM »

Quote from: Psi on February 18, 2019, 12:14:56 AM

I would agree that oval handle base feels much better and gives a lighter pick up. See below for the wide variations of handle shape on some bats : https://photos.app.goo.gl/YnavYTvN6Wqi9Roc6

The Warsop in particular has a very large handle and quite extreme ovalling and is very comfortable to grip.

I would like to get the Mrf built up to have oval handle. Can this be done at home or is it a job for a specialist repairer? The GN in the pictures seems to have been built up with padding and the feel is very successful.

Easy to do using strips of tape (I use 1 inch wide medical tape - the waterproof type is better as it doesn�t get crumpled up and stuck to the grip)

Author Topic: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles (Read 12065 times)

Gurujames

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

velvetsky01

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

sachin200

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

brokenbat

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

sachin200

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Sitonit

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Sitonit

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

sachin200

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Sitonit

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

sachin200

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

brokenbat

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Hoover

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Sitonit

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

Psi

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles

brokenbat

Re: Round handle vs oval and semi oval handles