The science underlying Hardik Pandya's trademark no-look sixes and his bent bat

When Hardik Pandya knocks his signature no-look sixes, he does so with a casual demeanor; his timing, skill, and power make it appear effortless. His front-curved bat, a novel invention that has been around for a while but has mostly gone unnoticed, helps the star clear the rope.The groundbreaking "bat tweak" started in the 1990s when Sachin Tendulkar asked his bat manufacturer a question. He had seen that after a while of use, his bats would have a wonderful sweet spot—the wood would get compressed, giving the willow a "good dent." Tendulkar said, "Is it possible to have a readymade sweet spot?" The bats were no longer flat as a cutting board, and the response was "yes." They were convex as well.Hardik is a leading contender in the arms battle among six-hitters thanks to his abilities, conditioning, and bat. His bat has about 200 percent more curve than the competition, according to Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), a manufacturer based in Meerut.Hardik has two requirements: the ball must strike the sweet point of the curve and take off at the exact angle that will allow it to travel the furthest. As an SG engineer notes, it's all about the physics.

The ball must take off from the bat at a 45-degree angle in order for its trajectory to form a perfect parabola in the air and travel the farthest. The batsman has a better chance of obtaining the perfect angle when the willow is bent.The throwing wedge on golf clubs has an angle that provides elevation. With the curve's assistance, we were able to provide an excellent angle. When struck with the proper force at a 45-degree angle, it travels over 90 meters. Here, that is the science. The ball is lofted by the curve. Anand remarked, "Hardik worked that out."To illustrate the workings of their Arc series bat, the SG engineers draw schematics on their notebooks and use 3D animation on their laptops. Few are longtime employees who have worked at the company for more than ten years and are unwilling to be identified. They are assets that the business cannot afford to lose or identify in a highly competitive market. One may comprehend why T20 cricket has turned into a batsman's game just listening to them. They discuss how the bat's surface lengthens and the sweet spot enlarges as the curve's degree increases.In comparison to a flat bat, a bat with a longitudinal curve has a longer surface if you measure along the curve, such as with a string. The sweet spot or high-performing zone expands as a result of this increased surface area. This implies that even with imperfect timing, the bat has more "forgiving space" to hit the ball accurately. According to a mechanical engineer who serves as Hardik's sounding board, "curving the bat helps increase the area where you get powerful, clean shots."