Leather Ball vs. Tennis Ball Cricket Bats - What’s the Difference?

Cricket is one of the most loved sports globally. Kids and adults across the world play it for fun or maintain physical fitness. From professional cricketers to kids in the streets, playing cricket gives a lot of satisfaction. Leather ball cricket and tennis ball cricket are the two most popular ways to play this sport. While both follow the same fundamental rules, there are several differences due to the nature of leather and tennis balls. At GLS Sports, we offer a wide range of cricket bats for street cricketers to professional ones. In this blog, we are going to explore the differences between leather and tennis ball cricket bats.

Material

Leather Ball Cricket Bat: The leather ball cricket bats are mostly made of English Willow, Kashmir Willow or Himanchal willow. The hardwood trees in the cold region provide suitable wood to fabricate these bats. Their willow is harder, denser and has optimal moisture content for shock absorption.

Tennis Ball Cricket Bat: Tennis ball cricket bats are made from slightly cheaper timber or even composite materials. They are softer and less stronger than leather ball cricket bats. But these are strong enough to play tennis ball cricket.

Weight Profile

Leather Ball Cricket Bat: These are slightly heavier than a tennis ball cricket bat because they need to absorb shocks from heavy leather balls, which carry higher momentum when bowled fast. The edges of these bats are also thicker, with a heavy spine on the back.

Tennis Ball Cricket Bat: These are lighter because the player needs a fast swing when playing tennis ball cricket. The batsmen cannot rely on the momentum of a tennis ball to reach beyond the boundary; hence, they choose a light bat to hit a powerful stroke with timing.

Sweet Spot

Leather Ball Cricket Bat: The sweet spot of a leather ball cricket bat is lower because of the lower bounce of the leather balls on the curated pitches. Professional batsmen depend more on timing than power, and the pronounced sweet spot allows them to it the ball with timing.

Tennis Ball Cricket Bat: Players using these bats need their shots to hit the ball powerfully, even if the timing is off. The sweet spot in these bats is flatter and higher because of the greater bounce of the tennis ball on rough surfaces or concrete.

Region of Play

Leather Ball Cricket Bat: These bats are used by professional cricketers in international cricket, club cricket, or state and local tournaments in stadiums, sports complexes and local grounds. Some casual players may also use these bats because of their strength and impact absorption.

Tennis Ball Cricket Bat: These are used by players in gully cricket, backyard or sports parks for fun and recreation. It is a popular way of team bonding in various non sport organizations.

Price

The price of a leather ball cricket bat is higher due to the higher quality of wood and the craftsmanship involved. On the other hand, tennis ball cricket bats are budget-friendly for a large number of casual players.

Conclusion

For serious tournaments, international and national level cricket, the leather ball cricket bat is a suitable choice. While a tennis ball cricket bat is suitable for daily evening fun for growing children, weekend play for adults and college students. Both these bats have their own set of benefits, and if you are looking for any of these bats, you can trust GLS Sport for providing you with the best variant.