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The Best Bats by Derek Perera Top of the line cricket bats can run you upwards of $600 (CAD) these days. Ummm…why??? The cost of English Willow (which remember is a natural product) has gone up. English Willow is the only type of wood that will give you the performance and durability required to play a decent level of cricket. Also, as cricket is becoming more and more of a commercialized sport, companies are spending more and more to market their equipment through various channels- particularly through top level players. It is quite common to hear companies paying world cricket stars in the millions to use their kit. So these costs are carried on to the customer, hence the rising costs of bats. So do you really need a $600 bat to do well? Let’s put it this way, first off, Usain Bolt wore Puma Theseus shoes to break the 100m World Record. Say for instance, I wear those shoes, no matter how good they are, I have no chance in the world of coming close to Mr. Bolt. You must be a capable batsman to do well. Having said that, you definitely need a good bat in your hands to get value for your shots- especially if you play on some of the outfields you find in North America. So do you really need a $600 bat to do well????? When you invest in a bat for that kind of money, chances are you are getting a great bat. Your chances of getting a lifeless dud are less. You are paying for top grade willow (usually reserved for professional players), balanced and pressed to perfection. So if you have that type of budget for a bat- hey, go for it! My advice to players looking for a good bat, is firstly, it should feel perfect in your hands. There is nothing like holding a $600 bat that is too heavy or too light for your liking. Look for straight grains on the face, and if you are lucky similar patterned grains on the back. Some knots or blemishes may not make a difference in the playing ability of the bat, so don’t be put off by them. If the store that you are shopping at will allow you to bounce an old ball off of the face then take advantage of that, and feel the ping for yourself. I think if your budget range for a bat is $230-300 (CAD) you are going to get yourself a nice one.
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