Biggest Cricket Bat Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Buying a cricket bat isn’t just about grabbing the biggest name on the shelf or copying what your favourite pro uses. In fact, most players — juniors and adults alike — end up with the wrong bat for their game. Below are the biggest bat-buying mistakes and how to make sure you walk away with a bat that genuinely improves your performance.
1. Buying the Wrong Bat Size
Bat size is the most important decision you’ll make. Yet it’s also the most common mistake — especially for juniors.
If you’re starting your search, it helps to browse a full range first so you can compare shapes, sizes and profiles: Cricket Bats
The junior mistake: “They’ll grow into it”
Parents often buy bats that are too big or too heavy, thinking it will last a few extra seasons. Unfortunately, this can do more harm than good.
If a bat is too heavy or too long, juniors can’t bend properly, can’t swing freely, and can’t develop correct technique. Confidence drops, technique suffers, and the bat ends up holding them back rather than helping them improve.
If you’re buying for a younger player, always start with bats designed specifically for their age group: Junior Cricket Bats
The opposite mistake: Hanging onto a bat that’s too small
A bat that’s too small causes its own problems. Warning signs include:
- The ball regularly sneaking under the bat
- Frequent toe-end hits
- Shots lacking distance or power
- Getting bowled more often
If you notice these issues, it’s time to upgrade. For adults or older juniors moving up, you’ll typically be looking at:
Browse Senior Cricket Bats for the right next step.
2. Choosing the Wrong Bat Weight
Never buy a bat just because someone tells you a certain weight is “right.” What matters is how the bat feels in your hands.
When testing bat weight:
- Put your gloves on
- Play the shots you actually use in games
- Don’t just do one or two practice swings
You can also test with the same protective gear you’ll actually wear on match day, because it changes how the bat feels through your swing:
Pair your test with Cricket Batting Gloves and Cricket Batting Pads to get a true feel.
The cut shot is the best test. Because you’re swinging against gravity, every extra gram is noticeable. If it feels heavy on your wrists during a cut shot, it will feel even heavier late in a long innings or on a hot day.
Too heavy vs too light:
- Too heavy: Slows bat speed, causes fatigue, limits shot control
- Too light: You swing too early, mistime shots, or miss the ball entirely
The ideal bat is light enough to swing freely but heavy enough to give you power (“oomph”) through the ball.
3. Buying a Bat Just Because of the Brand
This is one of the biggest mistakes of all.
Yes, professional players use certain brands — but they are paid to do so. Their bats are often custom selected, heavily modified, and sometimes not even the same bat under the stickers.
Instead of shopping by label first, shop by what suits your game — then narrow down by budget and performance.
A smart way to do that is to browse by price bracket:
This helps you choose based on feel and quality — not hype.
4. Sticker Brands vs Manufacturing Brands
Another common mistake is choosing a sticker brand over a manufacturing brand.
A sticker brand doesn’t make its own bats. Instead, they pay another manufacturer to produce the bat, then add branding and endorsements — which often increases the final price.
That doesn’t mean sticker brands are “bad” — the performance still comes down to the willow — but you can end up paying significantly more for similar performance.
If you’re investing in a new bat, it’s also worth protecting that investment. Consider adding:
The Golden Rule of Bat Buying
Ignore the labels, endorsements, and hype. Focus on correct size, comfortable weight, how the bat feels when you play real shots, and how it performs when tapped and struck.
Ready to browse? Start here: Cricket Bats
Leave a comment