Cricket: New grip gives batsmen a helping hand

The product, which goes by the adult 'pure' or youth 'rock' brands, enables the bat to be gripped at the technically correct contact points.

Picking up and gripping the cricket bat correctly is one of the key tenets to succeeding in the sport.

Children are confronted with myriad theories in early coaching sessions - "hold it like an axe", "make sure your Vs are in the right place", "grip it like you would if a chicken was in your hands".

It can all get confusing.

Former New Zealand cricketer Rob Hart, along with father-and-son business partners Dave and David Richardson, have invented a solution as part of their 2mm Sports business.

They have invested time and finances over the past five years into designing a new grip which they claim gives players a more effective gripping surface on the bat handle.

Their initial research began in a shed with a lump of plasticine but has now been endorsed by a host of New Zea-land cricketers including Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris and current Scotland coach Grant Bradburn.

The product, which goes by the adult 'pure' or youth 'rock' brands, enables the bat to be gripped at the technically correct contact points which work as a gauge when setting up the stance. It has since been patented in most cricket-playing countries.

"If I could give young cricketers one gift from my career, it's to keep an open mind to new ways of doing things," said Hart, who kept wicket in 11 tests and two ODIs. "If I had access to this grip, it would have accelerated many years of hard work."

A key reason behind its creation was so batsmen can perfect a fundamental of the game before investing in equipment and coaching.

Richardson senior, a professional cricket coach, says that has compounding effects.

"Players with a correct grip are more likely to play the ball late and hit it cleanly," he said. "With the ultimate gripping surface, players don't have to think about their grip in the heat of competition."

The grips are expected to retail online for about $75.