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[jonpinson]

I've told you all about my Mjolnirs, you've seen pics so i won't bore you again.

I was messing with the SPS today, convincing myself it will be my match bat this season (don't read into that, it changes daily). It feels wonderfully balanced, 'stable' if that is an acceptable descriptor. Feather light pickup despite a pretty low middle...just feels right. I'd bought it as a 2'10 but having not weighed it myself, thought it felt about 2'8 so had assumed that to be the case.

So I weighed it. 2'11.8. Nothing I have of a similar weight feels anything like it. Why?

Might it be that the Mjolnir is just a tried and tested traditional shape with no edges or concaving? Might it be that in the last 100 years batmakers may have actually been on to something? Might it be that 'modern' shapes have an element of emperor's new clothes about them?

Interesting. I'd advise anyone who is fairly young to try and have a swing with a traditional shaped bat if you've only used a 35mm edged concaved monster before. You may be surprised...

[Howzat]

Loved my Redback Surefire 2lb 8 ( 14mm edges) which was very traditionally shaped, just picked up so nicely.

[jonpinson]

Loved my Redback Surefire 2lb 8 ( 14mm edges) which was very traditionally shaped, just picked up so nicely.

Were you watching me type that?

[johan95]

Have to say you're right. I have a 35mm lekka beast, but the two 'slighter' bats I have (RB Paradox and SAF) are better IMO. Pickup is everything. Might have to invest in a mjolnir or a surefire soon though!!

[Alvaro]

my purist ii arrived today and that has a lovely pick up and felt light for a 2.9

[jonpinson]

Further to this, I've not seen a single viable argument for the benefits that big edges offer. People usually roll out the standard 'it increase the value of edged shots'. Does it?

[Opener]

Further to this, I've not seen a single viable argument for the benefits that big edges offer. People usually roll out the standard 'it increase the value of edged shots'. Does it?

Yup that does happen. But on the flip side I have seen simple flicks of slow bowlers go miles in the air due to thick edges.

[GJ]

Times have changed and everything these days is revolved around the "big-edge" with bats. Everyone see's them on the telly used by pro's and will follow this trend. Also a big selling point for retailers as its eye catching for the buyer.
I've got an older shape salix which I had copied at the factory and it was lovely until it badly snapped at the toe and is now beyond repair. Pretty dead as well. Balance is great and handle shape too. Tiny edges compared to todays stuff and not concaved. My latest one is pretty different, bigger overall shape but still not concaved. See very little traditional shaped bats these days which is a shame, hopefully newbery dont scrap the mjolnir.

[niceonechoppy]

My thin edged Blade (2.7 weight) and 20 mm edges picks up better than my 2.11 Solitaire, by a long way.

[jonpinson]

I'm not going to make a statement like the 2'12 Mjolnir picks up lighter than a 2'8 Salix, but it does pick up differently.

[Howzat]

I have generally found traditional shaped bats dont pick up as lightly, but do feel really nicely balanced.

[100 not out]

Do u think that the classical shaped bats have a better middle than big edged and concaved bats. by better I mean a longer and wider middle. This is one for norbs

[procricket]

bigger edges make for a bigger middle in my opinion

There a reason why your classical shapes are dissapearing

[Kulli]

Like most things bat related, I wish there was enough money in the industry to get more scientific proof on arguments like these.

[tim2000s]

In one of norbs batmakers threads, he stared that concaving isn't really  for a big middle,  or something to that effect. I tend to agree with him. Big edges do give you more wood behind the ball further away from the center of percussion, but also tend to result in a lower spine. Effectively you end up with the middle covering a larger area without being as powerful. The other thing is that pressing has improved to make this possible.

For us amateurs, I suspect we would see little difference in performance between shapes as we simply don't have good enough timing!