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 Kashmir Willow & Hard Tennis Ball Bats collection has every Bandook we stock alongside the other tennis ball brands. But if you want to understand what separates a Burn Edition from a Player Edition, or why the 2-hole backs exist at all, 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: a full-size blade with 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. 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.
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 options actually on our shelves as of late July 2026. Stock moves quickly in peak season, so treat the availability column as a snapshot.
| Model | Length | Blade width | Edge | Price | Weights in stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 35" | 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) | 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 ICC Approved (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 33.5" | 4.25" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 34" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light, Medium |
| Burn Edition (4 scoops) | 35.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $87.99 | Light |
| Burn Edition (2 holes, 4 scoops) | 35.5" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Medium |
| Player Edition Scoop Cut | 35" | 4.5" | 50–55 mm | $89.99 | Super Light |
| Upper Blade Player Edition | Full size | 4.3" | 50–55 mm | $79.99 | Light |
| Bandook Blue ICC Approved | 33.5" | 4.25" | 50–55 mm | $89.99 | Very Light |
| Burn Edition Diamond Cut | 34–35" | 4.5" | 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: One Profile, Seven Lengths
The Burn Edition Players Edition Scoop Bat is the heart of the range and what most people mean when they say "a Bandook." The core spec is identical across the family: 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 lists the willow as its top filtered grade of Kashmir willow with maximum grains on the face, and the bats we unbox back that up — most pieces we receive show clean, straight grain for Kashmir willow at this price.
What changes between the seven Burn Edition listings is length and back design, and those two 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, ICC Approved: The Standard-Length Pick
The 33.5 inch ICC Approved Burn Edition is the one bat in the family sized like a conventional short handle cricket bat, with a slightly trimmer 4.25 inch face to stay within regulation dimensions. If your league umpires check 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 runs $79.99 like the standard lengths, and right now we have it in Light (2 lbs 7 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz).
34 to 35 Inches: Where Most Players Should Land
The 34, 34.5, and 35 inch versions are our volume sellers, and it is not close. 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.
35.5 and 36 Inches: For the Tall Hitters
The 35.5 inch versions serve players 6'2" and above, or anyone who stands deep in the crease and swings on a long arc. We currently hold the 4-scoop 35.5 inch in Light at $87.99 and the 2-hole 35.5 inch in Medium at $79.99. The 36 inch listing exists in the range but is sold out at the time of writing — if you need the maximum length, the 35.5 is the one to grab while it lasts.
Player Edition Scoop Cut: The Cane-Handle Upgrade
The Bandook Player Edition Scoop Cut is the connoisseur's pick of the range. It shares the Burn Edition's face dimensions — 4.5 inch width, 50 to 55 mm edges, 67 to 70 mm spine — but the blade is pressed six times through a hard machine press and fitted with a full Singapore cane handle. The pressing shows up as a harder, pingier face from the first net; the cane handle shows up as noticeably less vibration on mistimed balls. The listed weight band is tighter too, at 1,050 to 1,090 grams. At $89.99 in the Super Light band (2 lbs to 2 lbs 3 oz), the single piece we have in stock right now is the lightest full-power bat in the store, and it will not sit on the rack long.
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 in stock in Light at $79.99, and the product photos on that listing are live images of the actual bats on our shelf. The earlier brown Upper Blade is sold out but worth watching if you want the same profile at a lower $74.99 entry price when it returns.
Special Editions: Bandook Blue and Diamond Cut
Two more models round out the catalog. The Bandook Blue takes the 33.5 inch ICC Approved profile and dresses it in blue livery at $89.99; we have exactly one left, in Very Light (2 lbs 4 oz to 2 lbs 6 oz), which makes it the pick for lighter or younger players who still want a regulation-length bat. The Burn Edition Diamond Cut is the outlier of the whole range: a flat-backed design with no spine at all, built for 135 gram and lighter balls, priced at $79.99. It is sold out as of this writing, but if you play in a league that uses the lighter ball, it is worth joining the restock notification list because the diamond profile puts a surprising amount of wood directly behind the contact zone.
Choosing Your Weight: Super Light to Medium
Every Bandook is ordered by weight band rather than exact weight. The 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). Light is the default for most adult tape ball players and it is what we stock deepest. 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. League players under umpire scrutiny take the 33.5 inch ICC Approved. Touch players take the Upper Blade Player Edition. And if you want the best bat in the range regardless of price, the Player Edition Scoop Cut with its six-times-pressed face and Singapore cane handle is worth the extra ten dollars over any standard Burn Edition — provided your weight band is the one in stock.
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 50 to 55 mm edges, 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. Both cost the same $79.99 in most lengths.
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 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?
No. Unlike English willow leather ball bats, hard tennis ball bats like these are ready to play out of the wrapper. A scuff sheet is optional insurance for the face, and we fit them in-store while you wait.
What weight Bandook bat should I choose?
Light (2 lbs 7 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz) suits most adult players and is the band we sell most. 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 33.5 inch models — the Burn Edition ICC Approved and the Bandook Blue — are the versions sold under the ICC Approved label, with regulation-friendly 4.25 inch faces and standard bat length. The 34 to 36 inch models exceed conventional bat length and are intended for tennis ball formats where those dimensions are welcome.
How much do Bandook cricket bats cost?
The range runs from $74.99 for the entry Upper Blade to $94.99 for select weight bands of the longest Burn Editions. Most models, including every core Burn Edition length, sit at $79.99, with the Player Edition Scoop Cut and Bandook Blue at $89.99.
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 Kashmir Willow & Hard Tennis Ball Bats collection and get your season started with the bat half your league already swears by.