The short answer
- Batting with gloves: chevron.
- Batting bare-handed: tacky.
- Both, depending on the match: keep one of each, or fit one on each of two bats.
Chevron grips
Chevron grips have a raised pattern of V shapes running round the handle. The ridges give the palm of a batting glove something to hold against, so the bat is less likely to turn in your hands on a mistimed shot.
Chevron suits leather-ball cricket, club nets and any game where you wear gloves. Bare-handed, some players find the ridges a little firm on the skin over a long innings.
Tacky grips
Tacky grips have a finer, softer surface with a slightly sticky feel. There's less pattern to press into your skin, so they're comfortable for bare hands.
That makes tacky popular for tennis-ball cricket, gully cricket and box cricket, where most people don't wear gloves. If you bat bare-handed with a tennis-ball bat, tacky is the one to try first.
Tacky grips pick up dust and sweat, which dulls the feel over time. A wipe with a damp cloth, then drying in the shade, brings back some of it. If the feel doesn't come back, see when to change your bat grip.
Other patterns you'll see
Shops also sell grips with ripple, coil (spiral), scale and other patterns. They sit somewhere between the two: more ridge means more hold for gloves, a finer surface means more comfort for bare hands. Try a few and trust your hands.
Can you use both?
Yes. A common setup is one grip as a base layer and a second on top, which also makes the handle thicker. Many players put a tacky grip on top for bare-hand games. Read more in how many grips on a cricket bat.
Why our kit has both
The Tezvia Match Grip Kit has 2 chevron and 2 tacky grips, so you don't have to guess before you've tried them. Fit one of each and see which your hands prefer. Fitting help: how to change a cricket bat grip.