While choosing a cricket bat may seem like a very hard choice to make, it can be made very easy with a few simple steps. There are 4 main factors which one must take into account.

Weight

By far the most important characteristic of a cricket bat has to be its weight. The weight of your cricket bat can completely revolutionize your game. How to choose which weight to use though, that depends on you. While most people prefer lighter bats, a proper balanced bat can change the game. A balanced 2 pound 10 oz bat and an unbalanced 2 pound 7 oz bat can both feel the same in the hands, with the 2 pound 10 oz bat providing much thicker edges and a far better ping on the bat. So while weight is very important, it is much more important to check out the balance of the bat and choose based upon that.

Profile

The profile of a cricket bat refers to where the sweet spot, also known as the middle of the cricket bat, is located. Certain bats have a higher sweet spot whereas others have a lower sweet spot, both of which suit different styles of play. A higher sweet spot suits players on bouncier wickets who enjoy playing cross bat shots while lower sweet spots are suitable on spinning and less bouncy wickets for players who enjoy playing straight bat shots. While both of these profiles are suitable for different types of play, it is completely up to the player’s preference.

Handle

The handle of a cricket bat can completely change how the bat plays in the player’s hands. There are three main types of handles, round, oval, and semi-oval. All of these handles have different feels to them and depend completely on the player. Certain people who have different hand shapes and sizes will prefer different handles. While different handles can affect your batting, no handle provides a significant advantage over another type, leaving the choice up to the batsman.

Grade

The grade of your cricket bat can have a massive impact on its performance. The higher the grade(1 is the highest and the grade goes down from there), the better the stroke of the bat. The grade is determined almost entirely by the price of the bat. The higher the grade, the higher the price of the bat. So if you have an extra $50 or $100 dollars to spend on a cricket bat, make sure you do as it will maximize your bat’s output.