Junior Bat Buying Guide

How To Choose Their First Bat

WHAT'S THE RIGHT CRICKET BAT FOR A FIRST TIMER?

If you are looking for a cricket bat for the first time, it can be quite a daunting prospect. At Gray-Nicolls we have over 100 variations of bats, with different shapes, sizes and designs. 

So which one should you pick? Is it different for adults and children? How much should you spend? We’ll tackle all your questions on this page. 

See Our Junior Bats
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRADES

One of the most common questions we receive is about our grades of bat.

Our bats are graded on two things: appearance and performance potential. Entry level grades such as Academy and 100 bats will have some cosmetic blemishes such as marks and knots, while the grains will be further apart.

Our top-grade bats, such as the Pro Performance and Players, will have a cleaner look, with fewer blemishes and multiple straighter and tighter grains.

This gives us a good indication that the bat will perform very well in-play.

WHAT DO YOUR FAMILIES MEAN? 

You might have noticed that Gray-Nicolls bat collections are broken down into groups, or what we call families.

Families include a bat, corresponding gloves and pads that match the sticker design of the bat. 

The bat families for 2024 are Tempesta, Shockwave, Gem and Classic.

Click the respective family name to find out more about each collection. 

WHICH BAT SHOULD I START WITH

Choosing a first bat depends on a few factors. The age of the player, the level they are playing at, and the budget are all important.  

If you have a junior starting to play soft ball cricket, one of our Kashmir willow bats would be appropriate. They are ideal for starting out and are great value for money.   

If you are buying for a slightly older junior, you may want a bat that packs more of a punch. This could be a lower grade English willow bat, such as a 100 grade. These can be used against a hard cricket ball, but are well priced for beginners.

SEE BATS UNDER £150