Solitaire Cricket bats are handmade for players of all levels.

Solitaire cricket bats are made from willow obtained from trees specially grown in Essex. We only use Grade 1 clefts which are cut and dried for optimum precision. This wood is used as it is very tough and shock-resistant, not being significantly dented nor splintering on the impact of a cricket ball at high speed, while also being light in weight.

Modern bats incorporate a wooden spring design where the handle meets the blade, though bats were not always this shape. Before the 18th century bats tended to be shaped similarly to how hockey sticks are currently shaped and it may be that the game was first played using shepherds' crooks. The oldest bat still in existence dates from 1729 and is currently on display at the Oval cricket ground, South London.

We do not advise you to use your cricket bat straight away. Instead, you should knock in the bat by hitting the surface with a cricket ball or a special bat mallet first, which compacts the fibres within the bat and protects the bat from snapping which would often be the case should the bat not be knocked in. Solitaire advises that you spend 3 – 6 hours knocking the bat in. This really is worth it as, with time, the bat becomes more controllable and manipulative of the ball and provides the user with more power. This is the reason for the pressing technique used to finish the bat during its construction. Many players today want a bat with a huge profile on the blade that picks up as lightly as possible. This is a trend used more widely in the southern hemisphere, where the pitches are quicker and bat/hand speed is crucial to playing the ball correctly.

Each player will have their own preference as to the balance of their own bat. If you press a heavy bat too much and it will pack too much weight without creating power, whilst a bat left untreated is liable to crack or split early on in its life. Solitaire makes each and every bat by hand and will work with you to create the blade you desire, taking into account your batting style, desired weight and balance. We have made bowed bats for keen front foot drivers, lightweight bats for opening batsmen, large profile bats for middle-order players and even heavy clubs for big hitters! Whatever your preference, your bat will be made with great attention to detail and shaped to achieve the profile and balance you require.

For more information, please call Solitaire Cricket today on 07725 072008
or email Solitaire