Hard tennis, soft tennis and tape ball are three very different games, and each one wants a different kind of bat. Hard tennis and tape ball cricket demand a firmer, heavier Kashmir willow blade, while soft tennis cricket needs a light, quick bat with a forgiving scoop profile. Here is exactly how the three formats differ and which Wular Sports bat fits each one.
What is hard tennis ball cricket?
Hard tennis ball cricket is played with a firm, heavier tennis ball that bounces truer and travels faster than a soft ball. It is the standard for gully, society and street cricket across India, and it asks for a bat that is solid rather than light — normally 950–1100g with proper edges and a hard-pressed face. A hard ball punishes a flimsy blade, so the right choice here is a genuine Kashmir willow bat from the Wular Sports hard-tennis range.
What is soft tennis ball cricket?
Soft tennis ball cricket uses a lighter, softer ball that is kinder to beginners, younger players and indoor or close-quarters games. Because the ball is softer, you do not need a heavy bat — in fact a lighter blade lets you swing faster and place the ball more easily. That is why soft tennis bats are built around 820–950g with a deep scoop that reduces weight and adds a lively pick-up. The AK-47 honeycomb is Wular's purpose-built soft tennis bat, with 40–45mm edges, a 4.3" face and a honeycomb scoop designed exactly for this game. See the full soft tennis bat collection for the complete picture.
What is tape ball cricket?
Tape ball cricket is the in-between format: a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, which makes it skid and swing more than a plain tennis ball. It is faster and harder than soft tennis but not as heavy as a full leather ball. The tape adds zip off the pitch, so you want a bat that is firm enough to time the extra pace but light enough to react quickly — a mid-weight hard-tennis bat is usually the best fit, with a flat non-scoop face to keep timing simple.
Hard tennis vs soft tennis vs tape ball: the key differences
| Feature | Hard tennis | Soft tennis | Tape ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball | Firm, heavier tennis ball | Soft, light tennis ball | Tennis ball wrapped in tape |
| Pace and bounce | Faster, truer bounce | Slower, softer bounce | Skids and swings more |
| Ideal bat weight | 950–1100g | 820–950g | 950–1100g |
| Profile | Firm, hard-pressed face | Deep scoop, light pick-up | Flat non-scoop face |
| Wular pick | Legacy 1.0 / Legacy 2.0 / Bahubali | AK-47 | Bahubali / Legacy 1.0 |
Which Wular Sports bat suits each format?
Best for hard tennis
For hard tennis, the Legacy 1.0 is the all-round pick, with Grade A Kashmir willow, 48–52mm edges and a flat non-scoop face at ₹2,799 (MRP ₹4,000). If you face faster or heavier balls, the Legacy 2.0 at ₹3,499 (MRP ₹4,600) adds a hard-pressed face, a ramp scoop and three-year seasoned willow for more authority. The Bahubali at ₹2,999 (MRP ₹4,500) is the middle ground, with around one-year seasoned willow and a wine red/black finish.
Best for soft tennis
For soft tennis, the AK-47 honeycomb is the clear choice at ₹1,999 (MRP ₹3,000). Its 820–950g weight, 40–45mm edges and honeycomb scoop make it quick through the swing and easy on the hands, which is exactly what a softer ball rewards.
Best for tape ball
For tape ball, a mid-weight hard-tennis bat does the job best. The Bahubali gives you the firmness to time a skidding, swinging ball without going too heavy, while the Legacy 1.0 is a dependable alternative if you prefer a slightly lighter pick-up.
Wular Sports bat comparison for all three formats
| Feature | AK-47 | Legacy 1.0 | Legacy 2.0 | Bahubali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹1,999 (MRP ₹3,000) | ₹2,799 (MRP ₹4,000) | ₹3,499 (MRP ₹4,600) | ₹2,999 (MRP ₹4,500) |
| Weight | 820–950g | 950–1050g | 980–1100g | 950–1100g |
| Edges | 40–45mm | 48–52mm | 48–52mm | 46–52mm |
| Face | 4.3" | 4.4" | 4.5" | 4.4" |
| Profile | Honeycomb scoop | Flat non-scoop | Ramp scoop, hard-pressed | Flat non-scoop |
| Best for | Soft tennis | Hard tennis / tape ball | Hard tennis (heavy balls) | Hard tennis / tape ball |
How do you choose the right weight and profile?
Start by naming the format you actually play most, because that fixes your weight range. Soft tennis points you toward 820–950g and a scoop profile, while hard tennis and tape ball point you toward 950–1100g and a flatter, firmer face. From there, pick a profile to suit your style:
- Flat non-scoop: the easiest to time, ideal if you value clean placement.
- Ramp scoop: adds pickup and power for heavier or faster balls.
- Honeycomb scoop: strips weight for quick, soft tennis play.
Every Wular bat is handcrafted from Kashmir willow with a Singapore cane handle and leaves the workshop fully knocked and oiled, so whichever format you choose, the bat is ready to play on arrival. If you are still unsure between hard and soft, a quick look at the ball in your kit bag will settle it: firm and heavy means hard tennis, soft and spongy means soft tennis, and taped up means tape ball.
Written by Moin Wani, founder of Wular Sports. Published Jul 15, 2026.
Which format is most common in Indian gully cricket?
Hard tennis and tape ball are the two big formats across India's streets, societies and grounds, with hard tennis the default for organised tournaments and tape ball for casual evening games. Soft tennis is more common among juniors, beginners and indoor or low-impact games, where the softer ball keeps the game safe and the equipment forgiving. Knowing which one you actually play most is the fastest way to narrow down the bat — and the quickest way to avoid the mistake of buying a heavy hard-tennis bat for a soft-ball game, or a light soft-tennis bat that gets bullied by a hard ball.
How does ball type change your bat weight and profile?
The heavier and harder the ball, the more mass and firmness your bat needs. Hard tennis and tape ball want 950–1100g with a firm, pressed face and real edges, while soft tennis wants 820–950g with a deep scoop for fast hands. The profile follows the same logic: a flat non-scoop face keeps timing simple for hard and tape ball, a ramp scoop adds pickup for faster, heavier balls, and a honeycomb scoop strips weight for soft tennis. Match the ball, then the weight, then the profile — in that order — and you will rarely buy the wrong bat.
Can one bat work for all three formats?
Not perfectly. A mid-weight hard-tennis bat around 950–1050g with a flat face will handle hard tennis and tape ball comfortably, but it will feel heavy and dull against a soft tennis ball. Equally, a light 820–950g soft-tennis bat is too light to drive a hard ball with authority. If you genuinely play all three, a solid mid-weight bat like the Legacy 1.0 is the best single compromise — it covers hard tennis and tape ball well and is serviceable for casual soft tennis. Serious soft-tennis players should still add a dedicated light bat.
What equipment do you need for each format?
Beyond the bat, hard tennis and tape ball need little more than a firm or taped ball and a flat surface, which is why they dominate gully and society cricket across India. Soft tennis needs only a soft ball and is the safest option for juniors, beginners and indoor games. Match your bat to the ball you actually play with most, and the rest of the kit takes care of itself — because the wrong bat is the one piece of equipment that will genuinely hold your game back.
