Cricket bats made of bamboo instead of willow are stronger and have better ‘sweet spot’, study finds

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Cricket bats made of bamboo instead of the traditionally-used willow are stronger, offer a better “sweet spot,” and deliver more energy to the ball on impact, according to a new study. Using techniques such as microscopic analysis, video capture technology, computer modelling, and mechanical testing, scientists at the University of Cambridge found that bats made of bamboo enabled “increased energy transfer from the player to the ball,” than willow which has become synonymous to cricket bats. Since bats made with bamboo could be thinner while remaining as strong as willow, the researchers believe batters can swing the lighter blades significantly faster to transfer more energy to the ball. Scientists also found that their prototype’s “sweet spot” – the area on cricket bats where energy transference is at its most efficient – performed 19 per cent better than on a traditional willow bat.