Cricket Bat Handles & Profiles Guide 2026: Short Handle vs Long Handle, Oval vs Round
Short answer: if you're 5'9" or under, buy a Short Handle (SH) bat — the standard adult size and what most of our shelf stock is, like the SS Master 2000 English Willow Cricket Bat Short Handle at $259.99. If you're 5'10" or taller, you want a Long Handle, and in-stock LH bats are rare anywhere — right now ours is the SS Sky 360 English Willow Cricket Bat - Long Handle at $369.99. The rest of this guide covers the part most bat shopping skips: handle length, oval vs round shape, Long Blade vs Long Handle, and what each one does to how the bat plays.
Quick picks: in-stock bats by handle need
- Premium short handle: SS Ton Player Edition English Willow Cricket Bat — $699.99. Top of the SS Ton range we stock in SH; the extra money buys top-tier willow, not a different handle.
- Premium SG alternative: SG KLR Edition English Willow Cricket Bat — $624.99. KL Rahul's range; classical profile that suits an oval-handle, top-hand game.
- Premium step-down: SS Ton Special Edition English Willow Cricket Bat — $524.99. Ton-range willow at a mid-premium price.
- Club standard: SS Master 2000 English Willow Cricket Bat Short Handle — $259.99. The SH bat we point most club players to first.
- Long Handle (5'10"+): SS Sky 360 English Willow Cricket Bat - Long Handle — $369.99. One in stock as of this update.
- Value pick: SS GG Smacker Punch English Willow Cricket Bat — $199.99. English willow in SH under $200; the honest starting point if handle fit matters more to you than willow grade.
Short Handle (SH) vs Long Handle (LH): it's about height, not preference
Short Handle and Long Handle are not style choices. They correspond to player height:
- Short Handle (SH): for players around 5'9" and under. The standard adult bat size, and the size most adult bats are actually sold in.
- Long Handle (LH): for players around 5'10" and above. The blade is the same size — only the handle is longer, conventionally by about an inch. That inch stops taller players from crouching too low at the crease.
Using the wrong handle size creates two problems. A 6'1" player on a Short Handle bat has to bend excessively at the waist, which pulls the head off the line of the ball. A 5'7" player on a Long Handle bat holds the blade too far from the body, which costs control.
The test: stand in your batting stance holding the bat. The toe should rest on the ground with the top of the handle reaching roughly your hip crease. Toe off the ground means the handle is too short for how you stand; handle well above the hip means it's too long.
Long Handle vs Long Blade: not the same thing
This is the single most common mix-up we hear, because both get shortened to "LB/LH" on stickers. A Long Handle bat has a standard blade with a longer handle — you grip higher, your stance stays taller. A Long Blade bat stretches the blade itself, which moves the hitting area and changes the pickup; some tall players prefer it because the extra length is in the wood, not the handle.
We stock both. In-stock Long Blade options right now include the SS Ton Dhoni Thala 2.0 English Willow Cricket Bat Long Blade ($399.99), SS Ton Gutsy English Willow Cricket Bat Long Blade ($249.99), and SS TON Elite English Willow Cricket Bat Long Blade ($199.99). If you're between 5'10" and 6'0", try a Long Blade and a Long Handle back to back before deciding — they feel different through the swing even though both add reach.
What about Harrow size?
Harrow sits between junior size 6 and adult Short Handle — the right stop for players roughly 5'5" to 5'8" who find a full SH bat heavy or long. We currently have the SG Sunny Legend Youth Harrow English Willow Cricket Bat in stock at $399.99. Our cricket bat size chart by age and height covers the full junior-to-adult ladder.
Oval vs round handle: the shape that decides your grip
Cricket bat handles come in two basic cross-sections:
- Oval handle: flattened front-to-back. Your hands index to the same position every time, because the shape sets your fingers into a consistent grip. Suits classical batsmen who play with a high front elbow and want repeatable hand positioning for driving through the line.
- Round handle: circular. Lets the hands rotate more freely around the handle. Suits wristy players who manipulate the bat face late, use the bottom hand to steer the ball, and work gaps rather than drive through the line.
Manufacturers rarely print handle shape on the listing, which is why this is the one spec worth checking by feel. In our Edison store you can hold an oval and a round handle side by side; the difference is obvious within two shadow swings. Ordering online? Message us the model and we'll check the actual bat on the shelf.
Handle construction: cane plus rubber
Quality cricket bat handles are laminated cane with rubber strips between the layers. The cane gives strength and flex; the rubber absorbs vibration. More rubber means a softer feel on mis-hits — less sting through the hands. Less rubber transmits more feedback, which some batsmen prefer for judging contact.
Handles are not solid wood. A solid wood handle would send every vibration straight to your hands and would snap quickly. Cane-and-rubber lamination is the standard across every brand we carry.
Handle thickness: one grip vs two
You tune handle thickness with the number of rubber grips you install:
- Single grip: the standard. Thinner handle, more direct feel. Better for top-hand dominant players who drive through the line.
- Double grip: thicker handle, more surface for the bottom hand. Better for bottom-hand dominant players who work the ball square and hit through the leg side.
A second grip also adds a little weight at the handle end, which shifts the balance point slightly toward your hands — the bat picks up marginally lighter. Grips are cheap enough to experiment with: we stock the SG Players Cricket Grip ($9.00), DSC Zig Zag Cricket Grip ($7.99), and Raydn Coil Multi Colored Cricket Grip ($6.99). If your bottom hand feels disconnected, add a grip; if your shots feel numb, remove one.
In-stock bats by handle and length option
Every bat below is active and in stock as of this update (October 23, 2026). Stock on premium bats is often one or two pieces, so if a row matches your size, don't sit on it.
Browse the full ranges: Adult English Willow Cricket Bats and all cricket bats.
When handle type matters most
Bouncy or matting wickets (most US club cricket): oval handle, single grip. The extra bounce gives you less time, so you want hands that index to the same spot every delivery.
Low, slow wickets: round handle, or oval with a double grip. More time to see the ball rewards the ability to turn the face late and work gaps.
Power hitting / T20: many big hitters go double grip for bottom-hand leverage. Pair it with a bat built for it — the SS GG Smacker Blaster ($259.99) is the aggressive-profile SH option on our shelf.
Handle maintenance
The handle takes the most sweat, dirt, and glove friction of any part of the bat. Two rules:
- Replace the grip when it smooths out. A bald grip channels sweat into the handle. Most regular players replace grips every few months; at $7–9 it's the cheapest upgrade in cricket.
- Store the bat somewhere dry. Moisture that gets into the splice or handle degrades the glue joint and the rubber laminations over time.
If a handle creaks when you twist it, or feels loose in the splice, stop playing it — that's a repair, not a maintenance job. Our Edison store handles bat repairs including handle replacement; details in our bat services guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I need a Short Handle or Long Handle bat?
Rule of thumb: 5'9" or under, Short Handle; 5'10" or above, Long Handle. Confirm with the stance test — bat toe on the ground, top of the handle at your hip crease. The SS Sky 360 Long Handle ($369.99) is our in-stock LH English willow option.
What's the difference between Long Handle and Long Blade?
Long Handle = standard blade, longer handle. Long Blade = the blade itself is longer, so the extra reach is in the wood and the pickup changes. Tall players should swing both; the SS Ton Gutsy Long Blade ($249.99) is a mid-price way to test the Long Blade feel.
How much longer is a Long Handle bat?
By convention about an inch over a Short Handle. There's no law-of-cricket rule fixing handle length — the limits apply to overall bat length (38 inches) and blade width — so exact lengths vary slightly by maker.
Can I convert a Short Handle bat to a Long Handle?
No — the handle is spliced into the blade at manufacture and can't be extended. A broken handle can be replaced like-for-like by a repair workshop (we do this in Edison), but buying the correct size up front is the answer.
Is an oval or round handle better?
Neither is better; they suit different techniques. Oval indexes your hands for repeatable, down-the-line hitting. Round frees the wrists for late, bottom-hand manipulation. If you've never noticed your handle shape, you're probably on oval — it's the more common fit on the SS and SG bats we stock.
Does adding a second grip change the bat's balance?
Slightly. The extra grip adds weight at the handle end, which moves the balance point toward your hands and makes the pickup feel marginally lighter. The bigger effect is the thicker feel for your bottom hand.
What is a Harrow size bat?
The step between junior size 6 and adult Short Handle, for players roughly 5'5"–5'8". We stock the SG Sunny Legend Youth Harrow English Willow ($399.99). If you're between sizes, size down — control beats reach.
Try the handle before you buy the bat
Handle length and shape are the two specs you can't judge from a product photo. Our Edison NJ store (37 Meridian Rd, Mon–Sat 11AM–9PM, Sun 11AM–8PM) has the SS and SG ranges on display — pick up five bats, feel oval against round, test SH against LH in your stance. Buying a new English willow bat? We do professional knocking-in in-store so it's match-ready. Can't make it in? Call or WhatsApp us with your height and grip style and we'll match you to the right bat. Free US shipping over $100 and 7-day returns if the handle doesn't feel right when it arrives.