Below is a comprehensive guide on helping you on selecting your ideal cricket bat. Choosing the right cricket bat is imperative for a player to excel on the field, we will start right at the top with the handle, all the way down to the various sweet spot positions.

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Handle

The handle is a vital part of the bat. Our bat maker creates and shapes the handle to your precise requirements. There are 3 shapes in our handles; the oval handle, semi oval and round handle.

Oval Handle; The choice of many batsmen around the world. It is typically known to aid with control of the top hand, taking pressure off the bottom hand and helping batters play in the 'V'. Provides a more direct feel through the shot and twists less on impact therefore less energy is lost. Assists in the development of a top hand dominant technique.

Round Handle; Allows the bottom hand to come into play more easily for aerial shots. As a loose rule players that attack mainly with horizontal bat shots tend to prefer a Round handle as it allows for an easier roll of the wrist over the ball. Typically the choice of Asian players. It is for players who are wristy, like using the bottom hand and like to feel the bottom hand on the handle.

Semi Oval; This is a hybrid between the oval and round handle and offers a slight oval handle and is not as pronounced as a traditional oval handle.

Bat Face

We offer 2 options on the face profile; Round face or Flat face.

Round Face; This is the most popular way a cricket bat face profile is made. It is believed that a round face can reduce the chance of damage to the edges and allow more rebound and ping to be kept in the middle of the bat for longer.

Flat Face; This was a face profile that was introduced in the early 2000’s. It is done to give the appearance of the big bats we all know today. It allows the bat maker to press the bat lighter and get great ping in the sweet spot. It takes a touch longer for the bat to 'open up' but once it does the ball stays hit.

The Sweet Spot

The sweet spot or the middle of the bat is the part of the bat where you are looking to strike the ball most of the time. Hitting the ball at the sweet spot ensures that you achieve the largest amount of power in the shot you are playing. The middle is dictated by the profile through the back of the bat.

High Sweet Spot: you would be looking for a high sweet spot if you play on quick bouncy wickets, if you are strong off the back foot and if you are a touch player.

Mid Sweet Spot: you would be looking for a mid sweet spot if you see yourself as a 'complete' batter. This means if you enjoy strokes on the front and back foot, you play on all types of wickets and you want the largest area for the sweet spot.

Low Sweet Spot; you would be looking for a low sweet spot if you are a front foot player and you play on slower, lower pitches. A low sweet spot is perfect for the player who likes to hit straight and who likes to go over the top.

Extra Low Sweet spot: You would be looking for a extra low sweet spot if you are predominately a front foot player and play on low and slow pitches and basically love to hit the ball in the air at every opportunity.

Bat Profiles

Full Profile Min Concaving: The bat has very limited wood taken out the back of the bat, therefore the wood is left where it really matters to ensure the utmost ping. It is someone that is looking at ultimate power at the forefront, then this shape may suit. The pickup will still be nice and balanced and feel superb in the hands. This is the shape that most pro’s like especially in the ODI/T20 format due to the value for strokes you receive with this profile.

Full Spine: This bat is created to ensure a lightweight pickup with slight concaving to help control the weight. We would recommend this profile for a player who likes the spine running right through the toe and looking for a light bat with the sweetspot being positioned mid to high. Ideal for players who play of the back foot and enjoy using their wrists to pierce the field.

Duckbill: A duck bill profile adds thickness to the toe yet aiding pickup for a better balanced bat. This is the bat profile preferred by many international players due to the balance and amount of wood left in the bat in the hitting zone. Perfect for front foot players and on slow low English wickets. This bat is designed for big hitters and for clearing the ropes effortlessly.

Concave : Concave sanded through the back of the blade just enough to reduce weight whilst keeping the essential depth and mass of wood through the bat’s core to ensure a featherlight pickup. Bats with a concave back profile are those that have had wood scooped out from either side of the bat's spine. Concaving is done to reduce the bat’s weight while still providing thicker edges and deeper swells, thereby improving its pick-up. 

Bat Length

Short Blade 21 7/8 Inches, Standard Blade 22 inches (normal length) and Long Blade 22 7/8 inches. We would recommend you ought to only look for a long blade if you are over 6ft'3.

If you are looking for an incredibly light bat and big profile we would advise you to go for a short blade.

The standard blade is our most popular choice of blade length and is the dimensions used when making a off-the shelf cricket bat.

Blade Profile

Modern cricket bats have varying degrees of curve (bow) in the blade. The amount of bow in a bat is an individual choice but it has some advantages.

Slight Bow; This is a combination between the traditional and large bow which is the most common when making a cricket bat. Indian sub-continental shapes are typically seen with a more pronounced bow enabling the sweet spot to be lower on the blade, ideal for play on slow and low pitches.

Traditional; Bat makers from Australian and New Zealand typically produce bats with little bow resulting in a higher sweet spot ideal for bouncy pitches.

Large Bow; A large bow acts as a counter-balance, raising the center of gravity of the cricket bat, thereby assisting pick-up. In other words, a bat with considerable bow and a lower middle can feel the same as a straight blade with a higher middle.

It helps with control of strokes, as the player’s hands are positioned more in front of the ball during contact. It acts like a scoop, to produce more lofted (higher) shots, which do however run the risk of being caught.

Toe Shape

Square Toe: A Square toe has been widely used by current international players as it enhances pickup and increases the sweet spot right down to the toe. It also gives the feeling of a bigger toe area due to there being less wastage in comparison to the round toe

Round Toe: A Round toe is the most common toe shape used by players and in general will help prevent damage of the bat toe particular if you are a constant crease tapper.

Semi Square Toe: The main reason for an Semi square toe is that it helps minimise damage from tapping at the crease and running in, as the toe is slightly offset.

We would love to discuss further particulars on your ideal bat with you. If you have any enquiries please complete the Contact Us form or call us on +44 7711 890103

DKP Cricket is a UK Based bespoke online cricket store specialising in quality equipment at affordable prices for the amateur cricketer, albiet with a difference. We don’t bother with stock pictures as we believe that every cricket bat is different so it is important for you the customer to see the exact bat you will receive before purchasing.  We exclusively offer a video review of any bat you are interested in on request. We sell the same quality and models that you would see the pros using in Test Cricket, IPL and Big Bash. So even if you play at grass roots level why not have the best cricket gear to boost your confidence.

 We always source the best cricket gear from the biggest brands which would be the first choice of the worlds finest players. These include, SS TON, New Balance, SG, CA Sports, BAS Vampire and many more. Many of our bats are hand selected, based on ping and pickup with the added advantage of us picking ones which have nice grain structure too. We appreciate it is not easy choosing to buy cricket gear online especially cricket bats so we look to provide as much detail as possible about the each product with plenty of product pictures of the exact bat you would purchase. In addition, we are just a phone call away to provide further information no matter how small your question is.

Here at DKP Cricket Ltd we pride ourselves on the fact that we are very knowledgeable on cricket equipment having dealt with manufacturers directly for a number of years. It also helps that we have been playing league cricket for over 40 years so it is fair to say we have a good understanding of the requirements of a cricketer.

We are also unique in a sense that we don’t bother with stock pictures as we believe that every bat is different so it is important for the customer to see the exact bat they will receive so all the bats on website are of bats that you can choose from. If you would like to see more images please do not hesitate to contact us via the form below or are online 'Chat with us!' and we will endeavor to send across the images.

Contact us Form

We pride ourselves in being one of the few bespoke cricket service providers who offer a customised bat delivery option from start to finish, made to your every specification to ensure that you are confident with your choice and happy with the service provided. 

Size Guide

We firmly understand how difficult it may be to order certain items that we stock online.  We also appreciate that cricket equipment, particularly cricket bats, can be a significant cost to you, so we have put together a complete size guide which should provide support and point you in the right direction.  If you have any further questions or queries about your purchase, please feel free to contact us on info@dkpcricketonline.com

If you order online and receive your goods, but for whatever reason they don't fit or feel quite right, you are safe in the knowledge that we offer a returns policy, which means that you can opt for either an exchange or refund if the goods are returned to us (in their original condition) within 7 days. Please note laser engraved and Custom-made Cricket Bats are excluded for a refund or exchange.

Cricket Bats Size Guide

Choosing the correct size cricket bat is vital for the proper technical development of young players. It is important that the bat is not too long and, more importantly, not too heavy to hinder correct stroke play and good technique. Junior cricket bats are scaled down in size and weight to meet this important requirement. Below is an accurate guide to help you choose an accurate size for both junior and senior cricketers:

Please Note: While Long Handle cricket bats are advisable for taller players, and are particularly useful for digging out Yorkers, it is not uncommon to see adults over 6ft 3” tall using a short handle bat - mainly because the grip is generally deemed to be more comfortable.  It just comes down to personal taste.  If you are still unsure on the correct size, we would recommend that you message us and we will offer our expert advice

Bat Care & Knocking-In Service

Every English Willow cricket bat needs to be oiled and knocked in before use.  A summary of the process is as follows:

Oiling

Oiling stops the willow from drying out and therefore greatly reduces the risk of cracking.  If you are buying a covered bat, or one fitted with an anti-scuff sheet, there is less oiling needed as these bats are able to retain their moisture – but please don’t overlook the exposed areas around the edges and toe of the bat.  For natural faced bats, apply a light coat of linseed, or specialist bat oil, to the blade and edges, using a soft rag or your finger.  You can also oil the back, but this isn't essential.  Be careful not to oil the splice, handle, stickers and never stand the bat in oil.  It is also very important not to over oil the bat as this can increase the weight and cause ‘wood rot’.  Indeed, under oiling is better.  Once the oil is applied, leave in a horizontal position – bat face up – so the oil can soak through the blade.   Allow the bat to stand for twenty-four hours.  Covered bats can then move on to the “knocking-in” stage, while uncovered bats will need to be oiled again at least once (but we would recommend twice), repeating the process exactly.

DKP Cricket "Knocking-In" Service

3 Steps we do to ensure the bat is near enough match ready as possible:

• Two coats of linseed oil

• 3-4 hours of hand knocking in

• Apply a scuff sheet (clear or mesh)

We believe that once you have purchased your cricket bat the next stage is the most important aspect in attaining the most out of your bat, in terms of performance and longevity. We will firstly apply two coats over 48 hours of high quality Salix Bat Wax which is linseed oil in solid form.

The knocking in process is a labour intensive process so if you would like this done by us we will make sure that it is done thoroughly and the bat pings when you receive it so you can clear the boundaries effortlessly.

Knocking in a cricket bat is a noisy, laborious process that we realise is not for everyone, especially if you don’t want to upset your housemates or neighbours! So if you don’t have the time or inclination to knock in your own bat, don’t worry – we’ll gladly do it for you.  The service will include oiling, knocking-in and, if required, the application of edge tape and an anti-scuff sheet.  Unlike various other cricket shops, we do not rely on a machine for our handiwork.  No, no, no - we do it the old fashioned way, by hand - using a wooden bat mallet.  This way the most vulnerable areas of the bat, like the toe and edges, get full attention and are properly knocked in, not just the sweet spot.  So, if you get your bat knocked in with us, it should last you a lot longer than one that's been done by a machine.

If you buy a bat from us, we will include this “Knocking-In” service for £20.00 which is half the price of what many competitors will charge.  We simply ask that you allow an extra five days for us to carry out the service. 

The lifespan of a cricket bat varies, and is dramatically effected by how well the bat is knocked in and how regularly it is oiled.  If you have a covered bat, we recommend that you oil the exposed areas during the off season, or any other period of significant non-cricketing activity – on average once a year. If your bat has a natural face it should be oiled on a monthly basis to ensure consistently high levels of performance.  We would also recommend applying fibreglass tape to the inside and outside edges as this will reduce the risk of cracking in these vulnerable areas.  The “knocking-in” process will not need to be repeated, however, unless you start noticing seam marks appearing on the face, in which case we recommend another coat of oil and one more hour of “knocking-in”.

Specialist Bat Care Instructions

All cricket bats are different, and the above instructions are merely a general guideline. Should you require further specific instructions on how to oil, “knock in” or look after your bat, we recommend that you contact the manufacturer directly.  Most cricket bat manufacturers have detailed bat care guides on their websites.