WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The information below is designed to provide you with a basic knowledge on all the different aspects of a cricket bat that can be customised.
If you have any questions regarding the design of your custom cricket bat, please get in touch.
SIZE GUIDE
HARROW - H
Players Height: 1.63m - 1.68m
Bat Length: 84cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 29.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 4oz to 2lbs 6oz
SMALL MENS - SM
Players Height: 1.68m - 1.75m
Bat Length: 84cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 29.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 6oz & Above
SHORT HANDLE - SH
Players Height: 1.68m - 1.88m
Bat Length: 85cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 29.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 6oz & Above
LONG HANDLE / SHORT BLADE - LH/SB
Players Height: 1.68m - 1.88m
Bat Length: 85cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 31.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 6oz & Above
LONG BLADE - LB
Players Height: 1.88m & above
Bat Length: 87cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 29.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 9oz & Above
Long Handle - LH
Players Height: 1.88m & above
Bat Length: 87cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 31.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 9oz & Above
Long Blade / long handle - lb/lh
Players Height: 1.88m & above
Bat Length: 89cm
Blade Length: 10.7cm
Handle Length: 31.5cm
Weight Range: 2lb 9oz & Above
ENGLISH WILLOW
GLE
A Grade LE (limited edition) is the best looking and performing blade money can buy. A typical GLE will have 9+ grains, no blemishes on the playing surface and a tight, clean and straight grain structure. These are outstanding pieces of willow turned into the most exceptional bats imaginable.
If you are looking for a specific grain structure, please get in touch, and we'll let you know what is available.
SELECTING THE CORRECT WEIGHT
Heavier bats have a slower bat speed than lighter bats. The effort required to move the bat increases as the weight of the bat increases. A lighter bat will allow faster bat speed and increase the chance of middling the ball. A heavier bat will not be quite as easy to middle the ball with, but when you connect with the ball, it will stay hit.
In general, the rule is light bats for the controlled players and slightly heavier bats for the aggressive and attacking stroke-makers.
Use these weights as a guide when choosing the weight of your bat:
Harrow size only (2lbs 4oz - 2lbs 5oz): This is a standard weight range for a harrow cricket bat. It is an excellent balance between bat speed and bat performance. This also allows for a standard weight increase of 2oz -3oz when moving to a full-size bat.
Light (2lbs 6oz - 2lbs 8oz): We recommend this weight range if you are moving from junior sizing to your first full-size bat or if your moving into the finishing stages of your playing career and are looking for a lighter bat which may help if you carry a lingering injury
Regular (2lbs 9oz - 2lbs 10oz): This is a standard weight range for a full-size cricket bat the majority of professional cricketers use a bat of this weight. It is an excellent balance between bat speed and bat performance.
Heavy (2lbs 11oz +): From 2lbs 11oz up you get a bat less about bat speed and more about overall performance. This weight range is for players who want to score their runs through boundaries and want a bat that is large and imposing.
SPINE & EDGE PEAK POSITIONS
The sweet spot or middle of the bat is the area of the blade where you achieve the largest amount of power in the shot you are playing if you have a bat with a high sweet spot you need to be hitting the ball high on the blade regularly to get the best out of the bat.
When choosing the spine position, remember that the higher you go, the better the pick up will be. We give customers the option of having a different spine peak position to the edge. Having an offset edge and spine is designed to lengthen the middle, which also improves the pickup and balance. This option is optimal if you like a low sweet spot.
HIGH
A high sweet spot is usually 26cm to 28cm from the toe. This bat suits a batsman who opens or prefers playing short-pitched bowling, and off the back foot. The weight distribution is higher up the blade, meaning that the bat speed is faster. This type of bat suits the player that likes to cut, hook and pull.
CENTRAL
Most players will have a bat with the central sweet spot. This would be 22cm to 25cm from the toe. A bat with a central sweet spot will suit a batsman who plays the full range of shots. This sweet spot does not favour any style in particular.
LOW
A low sweet spot is usually 15cm to 18cm from the toe. This type of bat suits a player that enjoys driving the ball and playing aggressively. It is particularly suited to wickets that do have much bounce. The pick will be affected due to the weight of bat being nearer to the toe.
EDGE & SPINE HEIGHT
As cricket bats are made from a natural product, each cricket bat will feel and perform & weigh differently. The same-sized clefts can weigh 10oz different to the next, which comes from the density of the fibres.Most batsmen like to see a bat with thick edges and a high spine, but this shouldn't be a prioritised over performance and bat speed.
As a guide, we always recommend prioritising a fuller profile over edge and spine height. Very often bats are chosen based on the measurements not from what is going to best suit the player. Edges are important, and it's great to have a bat with thick edges, but always but performance, bat speed & the pick up above them.When you choose the edge and spine height above, take the information above into consideration and remember that this is to give us a guide only. Most of the time, the specifications given need to be adjusted to achieve the weight & shape you're after.
PROFILE
CONCAVED
A concave shape allows a maximum spine and edge. Off-centre strikes aren't as powerful as a full shape. Weight is removed through the back of the blade whilst keeping a high edge and spine. If you seek large edges and spine at a lightweight, then this is the option for you.
SEMI-CONCAVED
A semi-concave shape is in between concave and full and is balanced between big edges and good off-centre power. If you seek performance but still want a good sized spine and edge, then this is the option for you.
FULL
With little to no scallop, wood is left where it is essential to ensure performance. If performance is what you want, then this should be the focus. This is the shape that most professional cricketers seek due to the value for strokes with this forgiving profile.
CONFORM TO MCC LAWS
From October 2017 the new MCC laws on cricket bat sizes came into force for the professional game. The new code means that the maximum dimensions of a cricket bat will be 108mm in blade width, 67mm in spine height with 40mm edges. A bat gauge has been developed for umpires to use to check players bats and we use one in the workshop to guarantee your bat will fit through.
The laws are only applicable to the professional game at present but there is a moratorium period for the amateur game. This period means that amateur players can still use and purchase oversized bats which may be in breach of the Law. It is expected to be several years before the same law is imposed on club cricket.
HANDLE SHAPE
OVAL
The oval handle provides more strength to the handle as the circumference is larger. The oval shape in the lower handle also gives the bat a better directional feel. It is also harder to grip the bat too hard with the bottom hand as a result the top hand controls the shot.
semi-oval
The semi-oval handle is our most popular choice as it gives you the best of both styles which is why we use it on all of our pre-made bats.
round
The round handle is best suited to those who like to use their bottom hand for control, to hit the ball hard and lift it.
TOE SHAPE
ROUND
A round toe will help prevent damage of the bat toe particular if you are a constant crease tapper. Both round and semi-round toes assist you in sliding your bat into the crease.
SEMI-ROUND
The semi-round toe is our most popular choice as it gives you the best of both styles, which is why we use it on all of our Designer Range bats. Both round and semi-round toes assist you in sliding your bat into the crease.
SQUARE
A square toe has been widely used by current international players as it makes the blade appear wider and is comfortable while in stance. The only drawback is that with sharp corners the square toe is more prone to damage.
The main reasons for an angled toe is that it helps minimise damage from tapping at the crease, as the toe is slightly offset and allows for a more stable and natural bat position while in your stance. It also means that when the ball hits the toe, there is willow behind the ball.
additional information
We encourage you to give us as much information as possible. This is a space to tell us precisely what you're after whether that is replicating your current bat, a bat you've found online or creating a new shape altogether.
If you're not sure what would suit you let us know your playing style, pitches you play on, best & worst shots, formats you play, bats that you've previously used and what you liked/disliked about them, age & build we will then design a shape based on the information you provide that moulds to your game.
