The F Plus Tape Ball Bundle is a complete tape ball setup in one box: two F Plus Taimoor Mirza Edition bats, six Crystal Sports Speed tennis balls and a pack of ten Osaka tapes. Turn up, tape a ball, play.

Bought separately these come to £192.96. Together they are £159.99 — a saving of £32.97. Two bats means you are not waiting on one between innings, and the tape and balls mean nothing else needs buying before the first game.

What's in the bundle

The bats

Both bats are F Plus Taimoor Mirza Edition coconut press blades — 4.7 inch wide face, thick edges, a large sweet spot and a one-piece full-cane handle with a high-traction rubber grip. Coconut press is the standard for serious tape ball because it stays quick in the hands and keeps rebounding shot after shot, without denting the way cheap softwood bats do after a couple of games.

The balls

Six Crystal Sports Speed tennis balls, our own ball, chosen because it takes tape well and holds its shape. A tennis ball that goes soft or lopsided after an hour makes for a poor game, and that is most of what you find in a supermarket.

The tapes

One pack of ten Osaka tapes. Osaka is what tape ball cricketers in Pakistan have used for years and it is the tape people ask for by name. Ten rolls is a serious amount — enough to keep a group going for a long time rather than running out halfway through a session.

How tape changes the ball

This is the part people new to tape ball do not expect. How you tape a ball changes how it plays. A fully taped ball skids on and comes quicker off the surface. A half-taped ball grips and turns. Leave a strip of the ball exposed and it will swing. That is why having plenty of tape matters — you are not just repairing balls, you are choosing what kind of game you want.

Tape ball bats and hard ball bats are not interchangeable

Worth saying plainly. A coconut press bat is not built to face a hard cricket ball and will be damaged quickly if you use it for one. If you play hard-ball cricket you want English willow or Kashmir willow instead. Plenty of players keep one of each.

No preparation needed

Unlike English willow, nothing in this bundle needs preparing. No linseed oil, no knocking in, no scuff sheet, no drying time. Take the wrapper off and play.

Who is this bundle for?

• Groups and families who want a full tape ball set in one go rather than buying piece by piece
• Anyone starting a regular park, street or sports hall game
• Players who want a spare bat without paying full price twice
• Anyone buying a gift for a tape ball cricketer

Buy the F Plus tape ball bundle in the UK

Crystal Sports is an independent cricket shop in Luton, Bedfordshire, stocking F Plus alongside the wider tape ball bat range. Order online with tracked UK delivery, or visit Unit 2, 200 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8JL to pick the bats you want in person.