I know there are quite a few people in the know on this board and I was wondering if any of these people know of any pro's who use either a really heavy or a really light bat?  Weights and name would be interesting to know as I wonder whether a batman's size and strength particulary corolates to the weight of the bat he chooses (I know it doesn't in Tendulker's case!)

As for myself I prefer 2.9 to 2.10.

The Flintoff and Pieterson weights suprise me somwhat.  As for your mention of Hayden and the railway sleeper...I'm still chuckling away of the thought of it! 

The reason why I posted this topic was basically out of curiousity as being quite a big guy (6ft 2) I have never got on with the heavier bats, even though some people seem amazed that I prefer the lighter bats (just because of my size and strength).  My last bat was 2lb 13 (i chose it to experiment a bit with a heavier bat) but after a few months i had 3oz taken off as the weight impeded my shot selection (even though we are only talking about 3oz it made such a difference). 

I agree with most of your comments.Andrew Flintoff's bats have been as light a 2/6 although 2/8 is more normal.Having talked to a few county lads 2/8,2/9 seems an optimum weight for quicker pitches.I have played lots of times at places like Old Trafford(10 times).Liverpool,which is a satellite county ground for Lancs and Southport which is the same setup as Liverpool and they tend to be much harder quicker tracks than you get at your local club.At OT in particular it would be easy for a medium pace bowler to " go through" you early in your innings .Even a slow track there is much quicker than a normal club wicket,unless you're lucky enough to play at somewhere like Kidderminster which is awesome ( maybe better than New Road!!)Hence the requirement for a meaty bat with a light pickup.There are always exceptions to this,Adam Hollioake used a nearly 3lb blade and was comfortable front and back foot.I suppose it depends on your eye and how quickly you pick up length.Be aware also that county guys, in club cricket very often use heavier bats,to counteract slower pitches.The England guys in India had their bats made with lower middles for the typical slowish sub continental ,non bouncing tracks!

Cheers guys,

Mark.

Warne In Making,

most pros have an idea of the weight they prefer to use.I've played with enough of them to know !It goes without saying pickup is important.Most of the bat suppliers will know what type,profile,weight,pickup their endorsees like to use.I know some have slow wicket bats and quick wicket bats as well.For instance Ian Austin ex England and Lancs used a 2/8 Slaz for county and International cricket and a 3 pound BDM inclub cricket when he was playing as a sub pro which a lot of the County lads do week in week out.

Mark.

Hey Warney,

no probs mate.

Cheers,

Mark.

I once used a 3 pound G and M and found I could drive like a demon,but struggled to play square of the wicket back foot shots off the quicks.Thesedays I think the profile of the bats are getting so huge that it is quite possible to get a massive bat that weighs as little as 2/8,2/9 and picks up like a feather.As an older player now that would be my preference.

Cheers,

Mark.

Hi guys i think those players that are interested in weights and sizes of bats should think 'Density' that is, the ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume?

 Bill

Warney,

I've personally talked to Bill about this and he explains it thus.Pro willow clefts generally weigh less than grade one clefts.The wood is therefore more dense.At say a weight of 2/8 the bat made from pro choice willow will be a bigger bat than the grade one bat,simple physics really.That's why you often see test players in particular with huge pieces of wood .They are actually no heavier than the bats we can buy "off the shelf" in the local sports shop!!

Cheers,

Mark.

Big Guys generally use lighter bats because they generate power from their strength and body weight.

Small guys use heavy bats because they have less body weight into the shot a heavier bat can help them with their timing.

Tendulkar use to a bat around 3 lbs i think he's gone lighter now due to a back injury (note: heavy bats do put extra strain on the back). The heaviest i've heard of in the international scene was Lance Klusenar i think he used a 3.2

Anyone know how heavy Dhoni's bat is? Cuz i heard he uses a pretty heavy stick.

 Simon think Mass!

 3 questions at £5 per question= £15?

Poor Bill

what you mean by mass? 2 bats could have the same mass but one would be bigger, as it has lower density, but how does this affect the performace? as ive seen bats close to the gray-nicolls scoop that still have good middles!

Simon,mass as in volume,with regard to the scoop not too many be made now is there??

Bill

 Simon ,if you had a very big bat ie big volume but very dense and hard,it would go as well as a middle size to small top quality,well pressed bat.thats the wrong way round ,but you know what i mean.

Nothing beats a good light weight ,7 to 10 or more grains,a good bit of meat in the middle and about 2-9/10 with a good pick up.now if that is grades 1 2 3 or whatever then thats ok,it is that you have more of a chance with the higher grades,any way it gives us some thing to discuss.

Bill

Hi, I have asked Andrew Flintoff myself in person wot Weight of the bat he uses and it is 2.9-2.10oz he told me any lighter or heavier and his timimg would be F*u*k*d Very funny :)

i wanted to get a bat 2lb 4( in LH), the 'st george' from choice willow. Would it be crap?

hi bill i emailed you about a custom fusion bat but you havent got back to me, if you could check your emails and contact me as soon as possible that be great. might get a custom millichamp and hall solution new graphics for 2006 looks great has a large low middle perfect for driving on english wickets. undecided i know what the guys on this forum would suggest think there all on bills payroll Very funny. just kidding they must be good bats. deffinetly going to get one of them cant wait to use it.

currently got a vampire test selection 2lb 10 oz perfect balance picks up like 2lb 8oz and a specially made vampire explorer cant buy in shops 2lb 9oz massive profile middle twice the size as test selection beautiful balance and pickup.

Hi Hanif,If you need to contact Bill urgently then it would probably be better to give him a call.Having been down this week to visit Bill and James I found them very busy with a lot of bats to get through.Having tried a couple of these bats in the indoor net they have set up with proper hard cricket balls,I can assure you they are very worthy of consideration.Cosmetically,and aesthetically you could argue that there are other "better" bats,but in the crucial area of performance,pickup and balance Fusion must be up there with the very best.I am not on the payroll or sponsored by Fusion,my comments are my view only,backed by 25 seasons as a top order batsman in top first team league cricket,and the ownership of a great many cricket bats.

Cheers,hope this helps,

Mark.

 Hi Hanif,

    As said we are very busy,but if care to ring us we will speak to you.

Our no is 01270256120 anytime.

Thanks

hi bill, are most of your bats made with high middles, i would like a bat with a midd to low middle.

can you custom make bats with midd to low middles? and still have large profiles, as i have heared. i kinda bat like strauss or bell, what kind of profile could you recommend for me?