The cricket bat has been around for a long time as a sport, but over time the manufacturing process has evolved to produce bats in various weights. Cricketers can now choose between lightweight and heavyweight bats, but which is better?
A fast bat swing is more effective at hitting the ball away from contact than a heavy cricket bat. A thicker bat with a faster bat swing would be a perfect match. Some cricketers play better with a lightweight cricket bat, while others perform better with a heavyweight cricket bat. It all comes down to the batsman’s batting position.
Let’s learn more about choosing a lightweight or heavyweight bat.
What is the normal weight of a cricket bat?
Cricket bats are classified into three weight classes: light, medium, and heavy. A lightweight cricket bat usually weighs between 2lb 8oz and 2lb 9oz. Medium-weight bats can weigh between 2lb 10oz and 2lb 11oz.
Most players should stick to these two groups. A heavy-weight cricket bat is anything weighing more than 2lb 12oz. They are usually used by big hitters, however, there are exceptions. Heavier bats, weighing between 2lb 12oz and 13lb 3oz, have larger edges.
As a result, even if the ball is not hit off-centre, it may go long. Playing with a heavy bat when you’re not ready can hurt your game and possibly lead to injury. A lighter cricket bat is much better for junior players as it helps them learn all the shots more successfully.
Each player will have a preference. A bat will fit their particular style of play, but their construction can also affect the weight they choose.
8 Points of Comparison between Lightweight Cricket Bat and Heavy Weight Cricket Bat:
Technique:
A lightweight cricket bat is ideal for new players or beginners who want to improve their batting techniques. It is easier to focus on your shots when you are not weighed down by your cricket bat. As a result, it helps people become better batsmen by allowing them to swing the bat more freely.
The MVSports DC Range Series is ideal for young cricketers. A lighter bat is better for players graduating from junior to adult-sized bats. It doesn’t matter whether you choose a round or oval handle. As a result, low-weight bats are better at developing methods than high-weight bats.
Shot Selection:
Compared to heavier bats, lightweight bats allow the batsman to perform a wider range of strokes. It also increases the speed of the bat action, resulting in better timing. Additionally, lighter bats allow a batsman to release his hands while maintaining control.
But this is not always the case with heavy bats. When it comes to shots, the disadvantage of a heavy bat is that it limits the amount of momentum due to the lack of weight.
Innovating New Shots:
As the game evolved and competitive cricket grew in popularity, strategies were devised to score maximum runs in 5–10 overs. As a result, the weight of your bat becomes important. Batsmen can perform new shots such as switch hits and dill scopes, which require better bat control and changing grip with a lighter bat.
In such cases, a lighter-weight bat is better. English willow cricket bat is lighter than Kashmir willow wood. In professional or international cricket, English willow cricket bats are used. Tennis cricket bats made of popular willow are commonly used in street cricket.
Injury:
Injuries happen while playing a sport like cricket. However, the right bat and ideal weighted bat can somehow reduce the chances of injury. Heavyweight bats are better suited for big strokes, as demonstrated by Sachin Tendulkar, the little master of the game. However, with great power comes great responsibility.
Using a heavyweight cricket bat over a long period of time, for example, one’s entire career can greatly increase the risk of injury compared to a lighter-weight bat. As a result, hitters should use bats that are comfortable for them to avoid injuries while playing. Heavy bats can also cause arm and shoulder pain. As a result, a lighter cricket bat is ideal for staying in the game longer without injury or reducing the chance of damage.
Power:
The main advantage of using a heavier-weight bat is that it provides more power than a lighter bat. More power equals a longer shot, even if you don’t hit the ball directly through the middle of the bat. In other words, heavy bats are ideal for power striking and clearing boundaries with ease.
Lighter bats generally result in less shot force and less distance when you hit a shot. This means that even if you hit the ball from the centre of the bat, you have to generate extra force from your wrist to get it past the boundary. In this case, heavier bats are preferred.
Edges:
The wider edges of heavier-weight bats provide an advantage. The rims are wide enough that the rims also have their sweet spot, and when a high-speed ball hits these wide rims, it flies faster and farther.
On the other hand, light bats do not have good edges to bat effectively and lack these edges. As a result, lighter bat users must exert more power when batting than heavier bat users, in order to cover the ball for a longer distance.
Match Format:
A heavyweight cricket bat is better for shorter forms. In the shorter formats, batsmen usually try to hit boundaries. The same can be said about the last few overs of an ODI. Indeed, batsmen are not satisfied with just hitting fours.
They aim for sixes in the short form and reach the long form. It’s no surprise that heavy cricket bats are easier to hit for sixes, so these bats are ideal for shorter formats and finish overs.
Swing Speed:
Lighter bats can be swung faster than heavier bats, but only about 10% faster (for a typical range of bat weights). Swinging the arms requires most of the effort required to swing the bat. If a lighter bat is swung at the same speed as a heavier bat and both hit the same ball, the heavier bat has more power because it has more energy and momentum.
However, lighter bats can be swung 10% faster. As a result, heavier bats are stronger than lighter bats. A heavier-weight cricket bat has a distinct advantage if you swing all the bats at the same moderate speed, but if you need to move the bat into position quickly to hit the ball, a lighter bat will get there faster. will reach
Conclusion: Which One is Better?
Historically, batsmen favoured relatively light bats, but as cricketers have grown physically larger and stronger, there has been a trend towards slightly heavier bats to generate more power.
Some current batsmen opt for heavyweight bats that were unthinkable for players a century ago. If a cricketer can swing a light and heavy bat at the same speed, the heavyweight bat is preferred because the batsman is able to generate more power.
Many factors influence whether a bat should be heavy or light, including a batsman’s strength, weight, and playing technique. Ultimately, whether a lightweight or heavyweight bat is superior is a matter of personal taste for the batsman. As a result, when choosing your best brand english willow cricket bat,new balance cricket bats, retro cricket bats , consider your strength, comfort level, and the type of player you are.
