I've always been one of those cricketers that loves to see new, innovative cricket equipment come out at the start of each new season. It started when I was a young guy. I remember Slazenger brought out the V12 with that distinctively shaped back and Gray-Nics came out with the Scoop.
These days it's hard to find a bat that hasn't been sculpted or gouged or rounded or concaved.
This season we saw Slazenger introduce toe and shoulder inserts, having teamed up with the TAS Bats company in Australia who developed the technology. TAS stands for torsioned and sprung (yes, I know torsioned isn't a word) which describes the process they use. They take a piece of oak which is then pre-bent and then fitted into a groove on the edge and/or toe of the bat.
Their testing shows a large percentage increase in the springiness of the rebound of the ball. These inserts are allowed for all levels below first class but not for the pro's. They are fitted in the new Slaz V100 or you can send your bat off to Oz for a retrofit at $85 AUD. This is their first season so it will be interesting to see how they play.
Handle technology is another ever moving target. James Laver over at Laver & Wood is one of the innovators in this field. He has four different handle options all comprised of slightly different materials to give his customers a choice that better suits their batting style. This season he brought out the new C-Ten handle.
The honeycomb insert is reported to give more stability to the bat on impact with the ball, which means less flex and more power. Again this is new technology so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
And of course I have to mention our own octagonal shaped handle. I've done a blog on it which you can read here, but if you haven't seen it before here's a quick pic. More control, less shake and it keeps your hands in the correct position all the way through your shot which is a revelation if, like me, you have trouble with one hand or the other being dominant.
One other product I think is excellent is a coaching product developed by a fellow Yorkshireman. I remember spending hours hitting a ball off a cardboard tube, trying to put it in an upturned bucket. A lot of people don't realize how important it is to be able to get in the right position to play your shot and direct the ball. This product takes it to a new level.
I guarantee that if you are having any issues with an particular shot, hitting a hundred ball from these coaching mats will be better than a week's worth of nets.
If there's anything you'd like reviewed, let me know
cheers
Richard
richard@crictech.com
These days it's hard to find a bat that hasn't been sculpted or gouged or rounded or concaved.
This season we saw Slazenger introduce toe and shoulder inserts, having teamed up with the TAS Bats company in Australia who developed the technology. TAS stands for torsioned and sprung (yes, I know torsioned isn't a word) which describes the process they use. They take a piece of oak which is then pre-bent and then fitted into a groove on the edge and/or toe of the bat.
 |
| TAS Bats |
Their testing shows a large percentage increase in the springiness of the rebound of the ball. These inserts are allowed for all levels below first class but not for the pro's. They are fitted in the new Slaz V100 or you can send your bat off to Oz for a retrofit at $85 AUD. This is their first season so it will be interesting to see how they play.
Handle technology is another ever moving target. James Laver over at Laver & Wood is one of the innovators in this field. He has four different handle options all comprised of slightly different materials to give his customers a choice that better suits their batting style. This season he brought out the new C-Ten handle.
 |
| C-Ten Handle |
The honeycomb insert is reported to give more stability to the bat on impact with the ball, which means less flex and more power. Again this is new technology so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
And of course I have to mention our own octagonal shaped handle. I've done a blog on it which you can read here, but if you haven't seen it before here's a quick pic. More control, less shake and it keeps your hands in the correct position all the way through your shot which is a revelation if, like me, you have trouble with one hand or the other being dominant.
 |
| Octagonal Handle |
One other product I think is excellent is a coaching product developed by a fellow Yorkshireman. I remember spending hours hitting a ball off a cardboard tube, trying to put it in an upturned bucket. A lot of people don't realize how important it is to be able to get in the right position to play your shot and direct the ball. This product takes it to a new level.
 |
| Cricket Coaching Mats |
I guarantee that if you are having any issues with an particular shot, hitting a hundred ball from these coaching mats will be better than a week's worth of nets.
If there's anything you'd like reviewed, let me know
cheers
Richard
richard@crictech.com
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