| For all levels of cricket players, from the guy that | | | | There are many different options and opinions as to |
| plays professionally down to the weekend cricket | | | | what is the best grip material for a cricket bat. |
| player that has just begun playing, there is a desire | | | | Some emphasise the anti-shock properties while |
| to work to improve one's game. Some of this work | | | | others emphasise how well the grip sticks. The two |
| comes from practice, specifically batting practice to | | | | need to be balanced, but that balance will vary |
| work on batting technique and timing. With practice, | | | | depending on the person. However, the extremes |
| a batter can be able to easily score runs off even | | | | can be discussed. A grip that offers truly superior |
| the best bowler. However, there are many other | | | | anti-shock properties at the expense of all else will be |
| ways to work on one's game. One of these is | | | | hard to hold onto and can even make the bat twist |
| trying out various cricket bat grips to find the one | | | | slightly when it makes contact with the ball. In other |
| that works the best for you. | | | | words, it is possible to have too much of a good |
| What is the Cricket Bat Grip? | | | | thing. However, someone with a lot of hand |
| The grip of the cricket bat is the area where they | | | | strength that squeezes the grip tightly will need more |
| batter holds the bat. The grip is made of a number | | | | anti-shock material than someone that doesn't hold |
| of different materials including rubber and leather. | | | | the bat as tightly. |
| As technology has evolved for the sport of cricket, | | | | The amount of grip that each type of grip material |
| cricket bat grips have come a long way since the | | | | offers too, can be too much. Something really |
| inception of the modern cricket bat. The grip has | | | | sticky may ensure a good grip on the bat but could |
| two critical jobs that require a very specialised | | | | also cause pain and blisters with repeated use. On |
| material. A grip must cushion but still allow good | | | | top of this, a truly sticky grip material would become |
| control. The cushioning, or anti-shock effect, allows | | | | less and less sticky as dirt, skin contact and skin oils |
| the batter to more comfortably hit repeatedly. The | | | | all work to stop the grip from being as sticky. Most |
| shock of the bat making contact with the ball, over | | | | people find that they prefer a texturised grip of |
| the course of a game, can cause fatigue in the hands | | | | some sort that offers grip through friction. Some |
| of even the most hardened batter. By adding a grip | | | | purists still use leather as well because it cannot be |
| made of anti shock material, it reduces this fatigue. | | | | beat for those that have sweaty hands or for those |
| The other job of the cricket bat grip material is to | | | | playing in wet conditions. However, proper care of |
| provide a surface that has sufficient friction to | | | | the leather and there being products with better |
| ensure that the bat doesn't go flying with a really | | | | anti-shock properties, make some choose a |
| hard swing. | | | | rubber-based grip instead. |
| Choosing the Right Grip Material | | | | |