Last updated 8 years ago
What is meant by type of handle as I am not familiar with it and how to know which type of handle I am using?
ANAT
CONC (FL)
ST
Hi Kunal,
This is just the shape of the handle. It doesn’t really make any difference to the performance of the bat but just how the bat feels in your hand. Try the different handles and see which feels best for you.
ANAT - Anatomic. This has a curved handle with a bump in the middle which fits into your hand.
CONC (FL) - Has a flare at the bottom of the handle
ST - Straight all the way down the handle.
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Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago
CONC = Concave
Mark Jung Posted 8 years ago
Note that CONC (FL) and FL are different. FL, or flared, is the handle you see most commonly. CONC (FL), or Conic, is significantly wider than a normal FL handle; it's also a bit uncommon.
It seems that defensive players (e.g. Joo Se Hyuk) play with straight handles, while offensive players tend to play with Flared handles. Maybe you can get a bigger chopping motion with straight or something, I'm not sure...
Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago
Hi Mark,
I never heard about two different flared shaped handles for a same reference of blade. Do you have an example? In France I only ever saw the terms "Droit / Anatomique / Concave" used (STraight / ANATomic / CONCave).
I think that players who twiddle (one regular gripy backside and one special rubber on the other side), so mostly defenders, will need the straight handle to make the switching easier. As I don't twiddle and rely on topspins a lot, I like the flared handle so that the bat doesn't slide out of my hand without having to hold it too tightly. Anatomic handles are a bit the same, but as I like to let the handle slide out a bit on my forehand, I find that it's not so easy with the little bulge in the middle. Maybe that's why some attackers also use the straight handles (easy transition ant no difference of feel if you use two slightly different grips on forehand and backhand).