Which Bat Is Best For You?

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The Hardest Decision To Make

Choosing the correct cricket bat is one of, if not the hardest decision that a cricketer has to make. There is literally so much choice at Talent Cricket with all types of differing profiles, grades of willow, sizes, weights and prices of cricket bat that one of questions we get asked frequently is 'which is the best bat for me?'

This question is never that easy to answer, so here are a few pointers;

• Are you primarily a front or back foot player?

Establishing whether you are a front or back foot player will determine if you look for a low, high or standard (orthodox) sweet spot position. Bats with a low sweet spot would suit a driver of the ball who plays of the front foot mainly, a high sweet spot would suit an individual who likes to use the pace of the ball to cut and pull off the back foot, and a standard (orthodox) sweet spot would benefit the all round stroke maker.

• What weight of bat should you go for?

The dead weight of a cricket bat is very important. You should never choose a bat that is too heavy for you as you will become restricted in your range of shots and develop bad habits. Most players at present tend to opt for the Light to Medium bats which are nice and easy to pick up and manoeverable. We do also offer the heavy bats as well for the big hitters as these bats can be a little more forgiving and more durable if you are putting it under alot of stress. Even though the dead weight of a cricket bat is very important the bat must feel correct in the hand, if it doesn't you will always tend to struggle with it.

• What grade of willow should you go for?

The grade of willow of a cricket bat will ultimately determine the price of a bat. Most top end bats (Grade 1+) are in excess of £300 and will generally be built for performance with a narrow grain structure. The narrow grain bats will play really well because they are softer by nature but may not neccessarily last as long as a broader grain bat. Grade 1 cricket bats will have a clean broader grain structure and are harder by nature so may take a little longer to reach full performance levels but will last longer. Some of the lower grade bats will play well, but because there are more blemishes/imperfections in the blade may not last as long.

• What shape/profile of bat should you choose?

The fashion at the time of writing is for a large profile, flatter faced cricket bat with a concave back to maximise the shape/profile of the bat but minimise the weight. Many bats are shaped like this at the moment, a few examples would be the Kookaburra Ricohet, GM Octane F2, Gray Nicolls Oblivion, Salix Torque and so on. One thind we have found with these bats is that the sweet spot is more elongated than a traditional shape bat. A traditional shape cricket bat with a rounder face and a more convex shape to the back of the bat will tend to have a broader sweet spot compared to the modern shape but the sweet spot will more more concentrated to a specific area. Examples of these bats would be the Newbery Tour, GM 1885 and the Salix Praestantia.

• What other factors do I need to consider when choosing my bat?

Some other things to consider are whether you require a long handle or long blade? these bats are normally for individuals who are over 6ft 4" in height. What sort of finish you would like on the bat? most bats nowadays come pre prepared with a protective toe guard and clear face sheet (anti-scuff), or if you would prefer the natural finish where you would be required to sand and oil th blade more ofter that the pre pre pared bats.

All of the above are important, but the single most important factor in choosing a bat is making sure that it feels correct. There is no substitute for picking a range of bats up and getting a feel for them. If you are unable to do this we are always available at Talent Cricket for free help and advise on our huge range of cricket bats.