With many options available, choosing the right cricket bat is something we can help with. This guide takes you through what to consider and look for.
In this article, we’ll break down key components of what makes up a cricket bat—exploring the shape and profile of a bat, the anatomy, what each technical term means and how these features can affect your performance. So you can choose the best cricket bat to suit your playing style.
Let’s first break down the anatomy of a cricket bat to understand how each feature may affect your performance. Remember that every player differs slightly from the next, so how you hit the cricket ball may affect different bat areas. This is your impact area and the spot you should aim to cater to when choosing your bat.
A — EDGE PROFILE
The edges are the two sides of the bat running from the shoulder down to the bat’s toe. The bigger the edge profile usually provides more balance. This will affect the pickup of the bat and how it feels when you swing during a shot. You’ll most likely have a wider sweet spot that covers more blade surface area.
B — BAT SPINE
The spine is located on the back of the bat and sits in the middle, where the wood rises to a central point. It will usually start from the handle down towards the swell of the bat. The spine works in unison with the edge profile of the bat to create power and a smooth pickup experience.
C — THE SWEET SPOT
Often referred to as the most important part of a cricket bat, it’s located approximately 150mm from the bat's tip and is a position in the blade where performance is at its maximum. Most bats are designed to widen the size of the sweet spot, allowing the maximum amount of energy to be transferred onto the ball whilst minimising the post-impact sensation transferred back to the batsman’s hands for a better, more comfortable performance.
D — SCALLOP
Scallops are designed to maximise the profile of a cricket bat. They are usually located on either side of the spine to allow the apex to be extended without making the bat extra heavy. They also minimise power loss by increasing the edge profile and reducing the rotation of the blade, particularly in off-centre hits.
E — THE FACE/ BLADE PROFILE
In modern cricket, the thickness of the blade is one of the main features of your cricket bat that really matters. Your performance will be highly affected by the weight and thickness of your blade, as this will make up the face profile of your bat (the front side of the blade) that you’ll use to hit the ball. A big factor is the type of wood used to make the bat. There are two main types:
English Willow — The most commonly used as it’s known to create the best-performing bats. Usually white in colour, English willow is native to England.
Kashmir Willow — As the name suggests, Kashmiri willow is native to Kashmiri in India. It's reddish in appearance, denser and heavier wood compared to English willow. Kashmir willow is prized for its durability and long-lasting nature, but its dense quality means that it’s heavier and doesn’t perform as well as English willow.
F — BOW
The bow is the entire back of the bat, from the tip of the handle to the end of the toe. On the back of the bat, a curve usually starts from the bottom of the handle down to the toe. The larger the bow, the more weight is transferred to the front of the hands whilst you bat, affecting how the bat feels when you pick it up and swing.
Now that we’re more familiar with what features make up a cricket bat, let’s explore the components you should consider when choosing a cricket bat:
The Size Of Your Cricket Bat
When considering the size of a cricket bat, you must also consider the size of the batter as this will affect your technique and performance. For example, from a physical perspective, you want to pick the right size bat; if you choose one that’s too big or too small, then this could be detrimental to the batter's performance or, worse, cause injury.
The Weight Of Your Cricket Bat
In the same way the size of the bat can affect your performance, the weight also plays a significant role in how you bat. If you pick a cricket bat that’s too heavy, you could end up putting unnecessary pressure on your wrist, elbows and shoulders. If you choose a cricket bat that’s too light, then you may compromise on the support, power and effectiveness of your hits.
The Blade Shape
The profile, shape and balance of your cricket bat all make up the overall batting experience you’ll have. The profile refers to the sepcific characteristics of your cricket bat such as the length of the spine, height of the bat and thickness of the wood. This all determines the positioning of the sweet-spot, the balance, pick up, swing and hit. So be sure to test out a few with varying profiles to find the one that best suits your batting style.
Choosing the right cricket bat is very important for a player's performance; the chart below should give you an idea of which cricket bats you should be looking at when it comes to your height, the size and dimensions of the most suitable bat. Still, again, this is just a guide to steer you in the right direction. I you’d like to have a good swing and test out some bats in person, then don’t hesitate to pop into your nearest Decathlon store and ask our Decathletes for some expert advice.
If you're just starting your cricket journey and want a general taste of the game, nothing too specific, then why not start with a good cricket set? We have cricket sets to suit all ages, budgets and skill levels.
