The cricket bat has been around as long as the game itself, but the manufacturing process has developed over time to manufacture bats in a variety of weights. Cricketers may now select between a lightweight and a heavyweight bat, but which is superior?
A quicker bat swing is more effective at striking the ball farther than a heavier cricket bat contact. A hefty bat with a rapid 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 posture.
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 categories: light, medium, and heavy. Light weight cricket bats typically weigh 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 typically utilized by bigger hitters, however, there are exceptions. Heavier bats, weighing between 2lb 12oz and 13lb 3oz, have larger edges.
As a result, even when the ball is not struck out of the center, it might go longer. Playing with a heavy bat when you’re not ready might hurt your game and perhaps lead to injury. A lightweight cricket bat is considerably better for junior players since it helps them to learn all of the shots more successfully.
Each player will have a preference. A bat will fit their specific style of play, but their build may also influence the weight they select.
8 Elements of Comparison Between Lightweight Cricket Bat and Heavy Weight Cricket Bat:
Technique:
A lightweight cricket bat is ideal for novices or beginners who want to improve their batting methods. It is simpler to concentrate on your shots when you are not weighed down by the weight of your cricket bat. As a result, it aids people in becoming better batsmen by allowing them to swing the bat more freely.
It is ideal for young cricketers. A lighter bat is preferable for players graduating from junior to adult-sized bats. It makes no difference whether you select a round or oval handle. As a result, low-weight bats are preferable over large-weight bats for developing methods.
Also Read : 5 Easy steps to Machine Knocking in a Cricket Bat
Shot Selection:
In comparison to heavy bats, lighter weight bats allow the batter to perform a wider range of strokes. It also increases the pace of the bat action, resulting in better timing. Furthermore, lighter bats allow a batsman to release his hands while maintaining control.
But this is not always the case with a heavier bat. When it comes to shots, the disadvantage of a heavy bat is that it restricts the amount of moment owing to weight constraints.
Innovating New Shots:
As the game evolves and competitive cricket grows in popularity, tactics are built on scoring the maximum runs in 5-10 overs. As a result, the weight of your bat becomes important. Batsmen may do novel shots such as switch hits and dilscoop, which demand superior bat control and changing grips with lighter bats.
In such instances, a lower-weight bat is preferable. The English willow cricket bat is lighter than the Kashmir willow wood. In professional or international cricket, English willow cricket bats are used. Tennis cricket bats constructed of popular willow are commonly used in gully cricket.
Injury:
Injuries are inevitable when playing sports like cricket. However, the right bat and ideal weight bat can somehow decrease the chances of injury. Heavyweight bats are better suited for larger strokes, as demonstrated by the game’s little maestro Sachin Tendulkar. However, with tremendous power comes great responsibility.
The use of a heavyweight cricket bat for lengthy periods of time, for example, one’s whole career, can greatly increase the risk of injury compared to lightweight bats. As a result, the hitter should use bats that are comfortable for them in order to avoid injury while playing. Heavy bats can also cause arm and shoulder pain. As a result, a lightweight cricket bat is ideal for staying in the game for an extended period of time without injury or to reduce the likelihood of damage.
Power:
The main advantage of utilizing a heavy-weight bat is that it provides greater power than a lighter bat. More power equals longer shots, even if you don’t hit the ball directly from the middle of the bat. In other words, hefty bats are ideal for power striking and readily clearing boundaries.
Light bats generally result in less shot force and less distance when you make a shot. This implies that even if you hit the ball from the center of the bat, you will have to produce extra force from your wrist to get it over the boundary. In this instance, heavier bats are preferable.
Edges:
The wide edges of heavy-weight bats provide an advantage. The edges are so broad that even the edges have their own sweet spot, and when a fast-moving ball strikes these broad edges, it causes it to fly fast and far.
Light bats, on the other hand, do not have good edges for batting effectively and lack these edges. As a result, light bat users must exert more strength while batting than heavy bat users, to make the ball cover long distances.
Match Format:
A heavyweight cricket bat is better for shorter forms. In shorter forms, batters typically attempt to strike boundaries. The same may be said about the final few overs of a one-day contest. In fact, batters are not satisfied with only hitting fours.
They aim to reach sixes and long sizes in shorter forms. It’s no surprise that hitting sixes is easier with heavier cricket bats, therefore these bats are ideal for shorter formats and finish overs.
Swing Speed:
Light bats can be swung quicker than heavy bats, but only approximately 10% faster (for the usual range of bat weights). Swinging the arms requires the majority of the effort required to swing a bat. If a light bat was swung at the same speed as a heavy bat and both struck the same ball, the heavier bat would have greater power since it has more energy and momentum.
However, light bats can be swung 10% quicker. As a result, heavier bats are stronger than light bats. A heavy-weight cricket bat has a distinct advantage if you swing all bats at the same medium pace, but if you need to move the bat swiftly into position to strike the ball, a light bat will get there faster.
Conclusion: Which One is Better?
Historically, batters favored relatively light bats, but as cricketers have become physically bigger and stronger, there has been a tendency toward bats with a bit greater weight to create more power.
Some current batters choose heavyweight bats that would have been unthinkable to players a century ago. If a cricketer can swing both light and heavy bats at the same pace, a heavyweight bat is preferable since the batter will be able to create greater force.
Many factors influence whether a bat should be heavy or light in weight, including the batsman’s strength, weight, and game technique. Finally, whether a lightweight or heavyweight bat is superior is a matter of personal taste for the player wielding the bat. As a result, when selecting your cricket bat, consider your strength, comfort level, and the sort of player you are.
