Changing grips is a vital yet intimidating chore for many players. Old grips can make batting unpleasant and have a negative impact on your game. As a result, understanding how to put on a new grip is a necessary skill for players of all skill levels.
A cricket bat can be gripped with either a specific piece of equipment known as a ‘cone’ or a basic shopping bag! Professional players and cricket business owners use cones. Nonetheless, both methods are quick and simple to implement.
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Both methods can be completed in about 2 minutes; all you need to know are these fundamental tricks to make the procedure as simple as possible.
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Step 1: Purchase a Grip for Your Cricket Bat
One should be aware that there are primarily three varieties of cricket bat grips in the market. These grips differ not only in texture but also in the thickness of the rubber used, which might affect durability.
Grip Type 1: Chevron Grips (Thin Grips)
These are typically thin rubbers, yet they provide a decent grip on the bat. Chevron grips are ideal if your bat’s handle is a little too thick, as the thin grips do not make the handle feel thicker!
If you are going to use a Chevron Grip, make sure you get one from a recognised manufacturer. Otherwise, the thin rubber grips tend to wear out quickly, and you’ll find yourself constantly replacing them.
Grip Type 2: Dynamic Grips (Medium Thickness)
Dynamic grips are an excellent choice for medium-thickness bat grips. Dynamic grips frequently offer a half and half combination, with one half of the grip made of a chevron-type grip and the other half built of a slightly thicker ring-type grip.
Grip Type 3: Octopus Grips (Thick Grips)
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These Octopus-style grips are constructed of thick rubber and are very durable. These grip styles are also excellent choices if your bat handle size is on the smaller side of the spectrum.
Step 2: Remove Your Cricket Bat’s Old Grip
This is a lot easier than putting on a new grip. You can try to leave the rubber intact, but this is probably not necessary, and roll it up from the bottom to slide it off. You can also simply shred it or cut it off.
This is generally quite simple because old grips become worn down over time, allowing the rubber to be easily ripped apart. You will be left with the handle, still wrapped in twine, ready to move on and start placing your new grip on it.
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Step 3: Secure the Cricket Grip to the Bat Handle
Cricket bat grips are, by definition, made to be highly sticky. As a result, anyone who is unfamiliar with the following easy tactics may find it difficult to slide the new grip down the handle and into place.
However, it’s not as difficult as it appears, and if you get good at it, you will find yourself with a slew of new pals in the clubhouse waiting for your assistance when they need a new grip to put on!
Method 1: Make Use of a Cricket Grip Cone
One of the simplest methods to adjust your grip is to use a basic piece of equipment known as a cone or grip applicator. These are frequently made of wood with a metal base at one end. A bat grip cone is an excellent purchase.
- Step 1: Place your grip over the pointed end of the cone and roll the grip up from the fat end to the pointed end. This will form the grip into a doughnut shape, but you must stop rolling when you reach halfway down the grip.
- Step 2: Take the grip from the cone and flip it over, putting the unrolled end over the top of the point. Then roll the grip all the way down to the bottom of the cone, towards the metal base, where it will be wrapped around itself in a doughnut shape.
- Step 3: Now take your bat and place the open end of the cone, where the grip is, over the end of the handle. The grip must then be rolled from the cone to the bat handle and all the way down to the bottom, where it meets the bat’s face. Throughout the procedure, it should maintain its doughnut shape.
- Step 4: Finally, unroll the grip upwards until it is fully unfolded. You may notice that there is too much grip hanging over the top end of the handle or not enough at the bottom. If the grip is not far enough down the handle to cover its base, you can hit the top of the grip with your palm, forcing it to go down the handle.
You can also re-roll the grip upwards towards the middle of the handle. When you unroll it, it will have stretched and migrated slightly closer to the bottom. Meanwhile, simply cut off the excess rubber at the top using a pair of sharp scissors.
If you are particular about your grip being ‘the right way up,’ or if your grip has one sort of grip where the top hand should rest and another where the bottom hand should rest, you must consider the geometry of rolling and unrolling the grip.
Method 2: Changing Your Grip Without a Cone
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When it comes to changing the grip on their bat, not everyone has a grip cone on hand. And, while they are incredibly handy tools that make things slightly easier, changing your grip is totally achievable without one.
There are several methods for doing this, and while they may take some practise, you will soon be able to do it just as rapidly as if you were using a cone.
You can try to grip as tightly as you would with the cone, but without it. However, this requires a lot of physical force, and there is a far easier and more efficient method to do it. You can, however, use another method involving far less effort and no special equipment.
The Shopping Bag Approach
This solution makes use of something that, if you don’t have one sitting around your house or hidden away in a kitchen closet, you can readily pick up at any corner shop – a polythene shopping bag. And, while they may be losing popularity due to their environmental impact, they will always be valuable for this.
It’s actually a very simple method for changing the grip on your bat that can be done extremely quickly once you get the feel of it.
- Step 1: Insert the plastic bag into the grip first. Because this approach does not require you to roll or unroll your grip, the open end of the bag should be at the bottom of the grip.
- Step 2: Place the open end of the bag over the top of the handle while the bag is still inside the grip. Then, firmly slide the bag, and thus the grip, down the shaft of the handle as far as it will go.
- Step 3: You’ll notice that the plastic bag has been stuck inside the grip, and you must remove it. To begin, cut open the very top of the bag, just above the point of the handle. The grip should then be rolled from the top down towards the middle of the handle. When it has progressed as far as it is possible, cut the top half of the bag off and pull it away.
- Step 4: Simply roll the grip back up to the top and repeat for the remaining half of the bag that is still inside the bottom half of the grip.
Step 4: Taping Your Grip
Whatever method you use to attach your grip to your bat, tape the base of the grip to the bat around the splice. This keeps your bat looking neat and prevents the grip from sliding back up the handle as you use it.
Conclusion
Changing a Cricket Bat Grip can appear to be a difficult operation at first. However, changing a bat grip is not difficult, even without special equipment.
If you intend to play a lot of cricket, even at a semi-professional level, buying a bat grip cone is one of the best investments you can make in bat maintenance!
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