Handles: Finding the Perfect Feel for Your Bat
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The handle shape of your cricket bat is arguably the most important aspect of its design. It’s the only point of contact between you and your bat - the connection that translates feel, control, and power. Getting this part right means tailoring the handle to your personal preference in terms of shape, thickness, and overall feel.
Every player grips the bat differently. Some like to “strangle” the handle, using their wrists to work the ball through the on-side, while others prefer a lighter grip, giving them more freedom to stroke the ball through the off-side. Whatever your style, the handle shape plays a big part in how natural the bat feels in your hands.
Finding Your Shape
The first decision is shape. Once that’s established, the thickness can be adjusted with extra grips or cotton medical tape. When wrapped evenly, tape can exaggerate the existing contour of the handle, and grips themselves will add a consistent layer of thickness due to their evenly distributed texture.
Round Handle
The round handle is the traditional and most common shape - you’ll find it on roughly 75% of bats in retail stores or amongst your teammates’ gear in the changing room.
The shape remains round from the knob all the way down to the shoulders of the bat. It might taper slightly toward the top to reduce weight, but where your hands sit, the feel is consistently round. This design offers a familiar and balanced feel for most players, making it a popular all-round option.
Oval Handle
The oval handle (including semi-oval) is the most popular choice among our custom orders here at OX29 Bat Doctor.
The handle has more material front-to-back through the lower half, creating that distinctive oval cross-section.
Originally, this design aimed to reduce bat twist - helping maintain control when the ball is struck off-centre. A round handle can twist slightly on impact, wasting energy and reducing power. Less twist = more power = more runs.
However, in recent years we’ve found that most players choose the oval shape simply because of the feel. Many say it provides better alignment and control, particularly for players who use a strong top hand or play more down the ground. The influence of professional cricketers showcasing their bat setups on social media has also helped this shape become more popular at every level of the game.
Semi-Oval Handle
A semi-oval handle sits between the two extremes - not fully round, but not too tall or pronounced either. It’s slightly oval, giving a hint of that oval stability without feeling bulky in the bottom hand.
This is our best-selling handle shape in custom orders, and we’ve started introducing more of this shape into our stock bats as standard.
If you spot a bat in our stock section that feels close but not quite right, we can reshape a semi-oval or oval handle down to round. We can remove material where needed, though it’s worth remembering - we can’t add it back on!
Adjusting Handle Shape and Thickness
Over the years, we’ve refined techniques to subtly build up a thin, round handle into a semi-oval or oval feel without a full re-handle. While not always ideal, this can be a great way to save costs and reduce risk on repairs.
We use a combination of grips and cotton medical tape to create the desired shape, then finish with a top grip that smooths out any high or low points for a clean, natural feel.
We’re happy to do this on repairs upon request, but for new bats, we prefer to craft the handle to your ideal shape from the start - the natural way, the way it should be. Once you’ve got the perfect shape, you can always fine-tune the thickness yourself in the changing rooms.
The handle is where your bat truly becomes yours. Whether you prefer the classic round, the control of an oval, or the balance of a semi-oval, the key is comfort and confidence in your hands. At OX29 Bat Doctor, we make sure every bat - custom or stock - feels right for the player holding it.
Explore More
Explore our Custom Bat Builder to design your perfect bat from handle to toe.
Browse the Handmade Workshop Stock Section to see what’s ready to ship straight from the workshop.