Walk into our Edison store on any Saturday between May and September and you will hear the same question at least a dozen times: "Which Bandook do you have in stock?" No other hard tennis ball bat line gets asked for by name the way Bandook does. Weekend tape ball leagues across New Jersey run on these bats, and we have sold enough of them over the years to know exactly how each version differs, which lengths suit which players, and which ones sell out first. This guide compares every Bandook model we carry at TopCricketStore, using the actual specs, prices, and availability from our current catalog — not manufacturer marketing copy.
If you just want to browse the full range, our Bandook Cricket Bats collection has every model in one place, and our Kashmir Willow & Hard Tennis Ball Bats collection shows them alongside the other tennis ball brands. But if you want to understand what separates a Burn Edition from a Player Edition, why the 2-hole backs exist at all, or which Bandook will pass an umpire's bat gauge, read on.
What Makes a Bandook a Bandook
Bandook bats, produced by KWE, are purpose-built Kashmir willow bats for hard tennis ball cricket — the 135 gram and 145 gram heavy tennis balls that dominate tape ball and hard tennis tournaments in the US. Every bat in the range shares the same design philosophy: big edges, a dramatic scooped-out back to strip weight, and a finished playing weight between roughly 1,000 and 1,150 grams so you can swing hard through the line for twenty overs without your bottom hand giving out.
The scoop is the signature. Where a leather ball bat needs mass behind the middle to counter a 156 gram cricket ball, a tennis ball weighs 135 to 145 grams and comes on slower off the pitch. Bandook removes wood from the back in deep channels — four scoops on most models, with some adding two drilled holes on top of that — and leaves the edges and spine standing. On the standard 34 to 36 inch lengths, the result is a bat with a 4.5 inch wide face, 50 to 55 mm edges, and a 65 to 70 mm spine that still picks up like something much lighter. That geometry is why a mistimed heave off a Bandook still clears the infield in a way it simply does not off a repurposed leather ball bat. The 33.5 inch models are built differently, to fit inside regulation bat size limits; more on those below.
One thing we tell every customer at the counter: these are tennis ball bats, full stop. The pressing and the scooped profile are matched to soft ball impact. Face one over with a leather ball and you will crack it, and that damage is on you, not the bat.
Every Bandook Model at a Glance
Here is the full current line-up with real prices and the weight bands actually on our shelves as of October 22, 2026. Stock moves quickly, so treat the availability column as a snapshot and check the product page for live stock.
| Model | Length | Blade width | Edge | Price | Weights in stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn Edition (4 scoops), meets ICC bat size limits | 33.5" | 4" | 40 mm | $94.99 | 1 lb 14 oz – 2 lbs, Super Light, Very Light |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops), meets ICC bat size limits | 33.5" | 4" | 40 mm | $94.99 | Sold out |
| Bandook Blue (2 holes, 4 scoops), meets ICC bat size limits | 33.5" | 4" | 40 mm | $89.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 34" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 34" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 34.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light, Medium |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 34.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light, Medium |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 35" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light, Medium |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 35" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light, Medium |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 35.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $87.99–$94.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 35.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 36" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $87.99–$94.99 | Sold out |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 36" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Sold out |
| Player Edition Scoop Cut | 35" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99–$89.99 | Sold out |
| USA Edition Double Blade | 34–36" | 4.3" or 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $89.99 | Light |
| Upper Blade Player Edition | Full size | 4.3" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Sold out |
| Upper Blade (Brown) | Full size | 4.3" | 50–55 mm | from $74.99 | Sold out |
The Burn Edition Family: Six Lengths, Two Backs
The Burn Edition Players Edition Scoop Bat is the heart of the range and what most people mean when they say "a Bandook." It comes in six lengths (33.5, 34, 34.5, 35, 35.5 and 36 inches), each with either a plain 4-scoop back or a 2-hole back. From 34 inches up, the core spec is identical: 4.5 inch blade width, 2 inch edges measuring 50 to 55 mm, a 3 inch spine at 65 to 70 mm, toe thickness of 1.25 to 1.5 inches, and a listed weight of 1,000 to 1,150 grams depending on the weight band you order. KWE grades the willow Grade 1+ Kashmir willow, machine-presses each blade 8 to 16 times, fits a Singapuri cane handle, and finishes the toe with a chemical toe guard. The bats we unbox back that up — most pieces we receive show clean, straight grain for Kashmir willow at this price. The 33.5 inch bats use a slimmer, regulation-sized profile, covered in its own section below.
What changes between the Burn Edition listings is length, back design, and (at 33.5 inches) the profile, and those variables matter more than most buyers expect.
2-Hole vs 4-Scoop Backs: What Actually Changes
Every Burn Edition has four scoops milled out of the back. The "2 holes" versions go further and drill two additional holes through the scooped section. On our shop scale the difference between comparable pieces is small, but the drilled bats consistently feel a touch quicker through the swing because the removed wood comes from high on the blade. Batters who open the face late or play a lot of helicopter-style wristy shots tend to prefer the 2-hole backs once they have tried both. Pure baseball-grip sloggers usually cannot tell the difference and should just buy whichever length and weight is in stock.
33.5 Inches: Built to ICC Bat Size Limits
The 33.5 inch Burn Edition is our single best-selling Bandook, and it is the one bat in the family sized like a conventional short handle cricket bat. It is also built to a different profile from the longer lengths: a 4 inch face, 40 mm edges, a 65 to 67 mm spine, a 22 to 22.5 inch blade and a 10.5 to 11 inch handle. That keeps it inside the bat size limits in MCC Law 5.7, which the ICC plays under: no more than 4.25 inches wide, 67 mm deep, and 40 mm at the edges. Umpires check those limits with a bat gauge. The ICC does not approve or certify individual bat models, so "meets ICC bat size limits" is the accurate way to describe it.
If your league umpires gauge bats, or you switch between tape ball and leather ball formats and want one consistent length in your hands, this is the version to buy. It comes with either back: the 4-scoop 33.5 inch is in stock now at $94.99 in the 1 lb 14 oz to 2 lb band, Super Light and Very Light, while the 2-hole 33.5 inch, also $94.99, is sold out at the time of writing.
34 to 35 Inches: Where Most Players Should Land
The 34, 34.5, and 35 inch versions are where most adult tape ball players end up. The extra inch or inch and a half over a standard bat extends your reach for the full-toss yorker outside off and adds leverage at the top of the swing arc, which is exactly what hard tennis ball cricket rewards. The 35 inch 2-hole model carries a 24.5 inch blade with an 11 inch handle, while the 34.5 inch 4-scoop pairs a 24 inch blade with a shorter 10.5 inch handle — a subtle difference that suits bottom-hand-heavy hitters who choke down on the grip. If you are between 5'8" and 6'1", start with a 34.5 or 35. Right now the 34.5 and 35 inch bats, in both back styles, are in stock in Light and Medium at $79.99; both 34 inch versions are sold out.
35.5 and 36 Inches: For the Tall Hitters
The 35.5 and 36 inch versions serve players 6'2" and above, or anyone who stands deep in the crease and swings on a long arc. The 4-scoop versions at these lengths are $87.99 in Light and Medium and $94.99 in Super Light and Very Light; the 2-hole versions are $79.99. All four are sold out at the time of writing, so if you need the extra length, check the product pages for restocks or call the store.
Player Edition Scoop Cut: The Step Below the Burn
The Bandook Player Edition Scoop Cut is KWE's standard Player Edition 4-scoop, the step below the Burn Edition. It shares the Burn Edition's face dimensions as KWE lists them — 4.5 inch width, 50 to 55 mm edges, a 65 to 70 mm spine and a 25 to 30 mm toe — with a tighter listed weight band of 1,050 to 1,090 grams. KWE prices it below the Burn Edition and does not publish a pressing count or willow grade for it; the Burn Edition is the model it specifies with 8 to 16 pressings and Grade 1+ willow. Our listing is $79.99 in Light and Medium and $89.99 in Super Light and Very Light, and it is sold out at the time of writing.
Upper Blade Models: The 4.3 Inch Alternative
The Upper Blade line trims the face to 4.3 inches while keeping the 2 inch edges, 3 inch spine, and 1.5 inch toe of the standard profile. Less width means less wood, and these bats swing lighter for a given length than their Burn Edition cousins. In-store, we point Upper Blades at touch players — the ones who run twos hard and place the ball square rather than clearing mid-wicket every over. The Upper Blade Player Edition is $79.99, and the product photos on that listing are live images of actual bats from our shelf. The earlier brown Upper Blade starts at $74.99. Both are sold out at the time of writing.
Special Editions: Bandook Blue and USA Edition
The Bandook Blue takes the 33.5 inch profile that meets ICC bat size limits (4 inch face, 40 mm edges, 65 to 67 mm spine, 2-hole back) and dresses it in blue livery at $89.99, five dollars under the Burn Edition 33.5. It is sold out at the time of writing.
The Bandook USA Edition Double Blade is KWE's US-market build, offered in a 4.3 inch upper blade or a 4.5 inch flat blade, with 50 to 55 mm edges, a 55 to 60 mm spine, a 30 to 32 mm toe and a 1,050 to 1,150 gram weight range, in 34, 35 or 36 inch lengths. KWE grades the willow Grade 1+ and double machine-knocks the bat before it ships, so it is ready to play out of the wrapper. It is $89.99, and we have one in Light right now.
Choosing Your Weight: Super Light to Medium
Every Bandook is ordered by weight band rather than exact weight. The main range runs Super Light (2 lbs to 2 lbs 3 oz), Very Light (2 lbs 4 oz to 2 lbs 6 oz), Light (2 lbs 7 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz), and Medium (2 lbs 9 oz to 2 lbs 10 oz), and the 33.5 inch bats add an extra-light 1 lb 14 oz to 2 lb band. Light is the default for most adult tape ball players on the longer lengths; the 33.5 inch bats, with less wood, sit lighter. Go Medium if you play with the 145 gram ball and want the extra mass at contact; go Very Light or Super Light if you cut and pull more than you slog, or if the bat is for a teenager stepping up to adult nets. When customers visit us in Edison, we hand them one bat from each band and have them shadow-swing all four — the right answer is obvious within thirty seconds, and it is usually one band lighter than what they walked in asking for.
Which Bandook Should You Buy?
If you want the shortest possible answer: most players between 5'8" and 6'1" should buy a 34.5 or 35 inch Burn Edition in Light for $79.99 and get on with their season. Tall hitters go 35.5 or 36. League players whose umpires gauge bats take the 33.5 inch, the only Bandook built inside ICC bat size limits. Touch players take the Upper Blade Player Edition. And if you would rather skip knocking entirely, the USA Edition is the only Bandook we stock that KWE double machine-knocks before it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bandook bats good for hard tennis ball cricket?
Yes — that is precisely what they are built for. Bandook bats are Kashmir willow bats designed around 135 and 145 gram heavy hard tennis balls, with scooped backs and 1,000 to 1,150 gram finished weights that reward fast swings against a soft ball. They are among the most requested tennis ball bats in our Edison store.
What is the difference between 2-hole and 4-scoop Bandook bats?
All Burn Edition Bandooks have four scoops milled into the back of the blade. The 2-hole versions add two drilled holes in the scooped area, removing a little more wood high on the blade. In practice the 2-hole bats feel marginally faster through the swing, while the standard 4-scoop bats keep a touch more wood behind the hitting zone. At 34 to 35 inches both cost $79.99; at 33.5 inches both cost $94.99.
Can I use a Bandook bat with a leather cricket ball?
No. Bandook bats are pressed and profiled for tennis balls only. A 156 gram leather ball will crack the face or the scooped back, often within a single session. If you play both formats, keep a separate English willow leather ball bat — our team can help you pick one that matches your Bandook's length and pickup.
Do Bandook tennis ball bats need knocking in?
It is not required the way it is for an English willow leather ball bat, and you can play a Bandook straight away. KWE sells professional machine knocking as an optional extra on the Burn Edition because it further conditions the blade for repeated hard tennis ball impact and reduces the risk of cracks, which matters if you play a lot with the heavier 145 gram ball. The USA Edition is the exception: KWE double machine-knocks it before it ships. We offer machine knocking-in from $40 as an add-on on our bat pages, and a scuff sheet is cheap extra insurance for the face; we fit both in-store.
What weight Bandook bat should I choose?
Light (2 lbs 7 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz) suits most adult players on the 34 to 36 inch bats and is the band we sell most at those lengths. Choose Medium (2 lbs 9 oz to 2 lbs 10 oz) if your league uses the heavier 145 gram ball and you are a power hitter; choose Very Light or Super Light if you rely on bat speed and placement, or you are buying for a lighter-built player.
Are Bandook bats ICC approved?
The ICC does not approve or certify individual bat models. What it enforces are the bat size limits in MCC Law 5.7: a blade no more than 4.25 inches wide, 67 mm deep, and 40 mm at the edges, checked with a bat gauge. Our three 33.5 inch Bandooks — the Burn Edition 4-scoop, the Burn Edition 2-hole and the Bandook Blue — are built inside those limits, with a 4 inch face, 40 mm edges and a 65 to 67 mm spine. The 34 to 36 inch models have 50 to 55 mm edges and a spine up to 70 mm, which exceed those limits, so they are meant for tennis ball formats that do not gauge bats.
How much do Bandook cricket bats cost?
The range runs from $74.99 for the entry Upper Blade to $94.99. Every 34 to 35 inch Burn Edition is $79.99. The Bandook Blue and USA Edition are $89.99, the Player Edition Scoop Cut is $79.99 to $89.99 depending on weight band, and the 33.5 inch Burn Editions are $94.99, as are the lighter bands of the 4-scoop 35.5 and 36 inch bats.
Swing One in Edison, or Get It Shipped Free
Photos do not tell you how a scooped bat picks up — your hands do. Visit us at 37 Meridian Rd, Edison, NJ (Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 8 PM) and swing every in-stock Bandook side by side before you commit. We will fit a scuff sheet or an extra grip while you wait, and if you would rather order from the couch, every Bandook in this guide ships free anywhere in the US on orders over $100 — add a pair of gloves or a few heavy tennis balls and you are there. Browse the full Bandook Cricket Bats collection and get your season started with the bat half your league already swears by.