Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: j.f.101 on March 13, 2011, 08:05:44 PM
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Hi there,
Had been reading a few of the posts here as im looking for a new bat for this season. couldn't really make up my mind though so I thought id ask people who've actually used some of the ones im thinking of and see if there's any advice.
So id managed to narrow it down to...
Black Cat Shadow
Redback Paradox LE/premier
Laver and Wood Reserve/Legend offer
about 2lb 8oz probably with as light pick up as possible
Id be really grateful of any advice from anyone whos used one or more of these before.
Cheers
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of those three, decide which stickers you like the most, then call up the person who makes them and ask them to make you the bat that will suit your game the best.
Seriously trying to choose between them is so difficult, this would be the only way you could do it.
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To be honest you can't go wrong with any of those mate. The Redback Paradox I have is a great bat, though I hear that BC's bats are awesome too. And Laver's bats have had a great reputation for years - the offer could be one worth considering...due to the nature of the offer and the exchange rates, I would advise the Laver one, as it could be a one-off, but it is your money at the end.
May I also suggest an Instinct bat, mine is a gun :) - Literally!
And what Buzz has said is bang on as well!
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Depends on
(1) ££ you are looking to spend
(2) Profile you would like to have/profile you are happy using
I have used a BC and LW. The BC is more to my liking as it has a better bow and ping. The LW is not a bad bat, but they take more time to perform. The pick-up on my LW was excellent, just the bow let it down.
Have not used a Redback yet. But there is hardly any bad reviews about them and have been rated very highly in kit reviews.
If you are happy using a slightly lesser known brand.... then just choose between a BC or Redback. If you want a known and premium brand, then LW is the option
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of those three, decide which stickers you like the most, then call up the person who makes them and ask them to make you the bat that will suit your game the best.
Seriously trying to choose between them is so difficult, this would be the only way you could do it.
Haven't been getting any closer to a decision for the last week or so, so this may be the way to go....
To be honest you can't go wrong with any of those mate. The Redback Paradox I have is a great bat, though I hear that BC's bats are awesome too. And Laver's bats have had a great reputation for years - the offer could be one worth considering...due to the nature of the offer and the exchange rates, I would advise the Laver one, as it could be a one-off, but it is your money at the end.
May I also suggest an Instinct bat, mine is a gun :) - Literally!
And what Buzz has said is bang on as well!
Yeah that's what drew me to the Laver really - might not get the chance again anytime soon.
Had a look at the instinct bats and the all look pretty special but the stickers just aren't for me really. prefer the more subtle approach ;)
Cheers for the advice by the way...
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Lavers do take more time to play in without a doubt
But there are many on here i would not even rule out a h4 leather mate they seen to be producing some bloody good bats
Ask Brimblenator and asad as well he might have something as well
I have a reserve coming in your weight and a legend and iam happy with the deal and James does get the best bats for the weights.
I have used 3 lavers so i know how they go they go well but do some more digging there plenty on offer here
Laver for me though
My money would go to a Laver
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I have used a BC and LW. The BC is more to my liking as it has a better bow and ping. The LW is not a bad bat, but they take more time to perform. The pick-up on my LW was excellent, just the bow let it down.
Ive heard that about lavers quite a bit actually, not particularly worried but its certainly worth considering. was the bow on yours too much, too little?
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I'd recommend Hell4Leather too. Matt showed me some of the LE clefts he has in and they look awesome. I ordered my 2nd one this year yesturday 8)
topic on my first one if you wanna see it: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=9198.0
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It's a difficult choice - all three are top bats. I have just bought a RB Paradox LE and it looks and feels fantastic. I am still knocking it in so can't comment on performance yet but it responds well with a mallet.
I looked at various bats before plumping for the RB - I found it quite difficult going for a 'custom company' as unlike going to a cricket store and picking up various off the shelf bats and trying them, you would end up racking up the miles travelling to each bat maker. As you have probably done, I trawled the posts for reviews and owner's opinions of the bats before deciding which was a massive help. Once you have an idea of which one you may want to go for you could then visit the workshop (with the exception of Laver).
I ordered my Redback after sending and receiving a few emails from Gary who was very helpful and answered the many questions I had. If you haven't seen my RB the topic is here http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10218.0
As you can see he produces some fantastic bats. I would also agree with procricket and jimba - H4L are also worth a look - I have an excel 5 star and that surpassed my expectations and is a very, very good bat.
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Once you have an idea of which one you may want to go for you could then visit the workshop (with the exception of Laver).
Id love to do this but im 4hours from redback 1.5 from H4L. Do Black Cat have anywhere you can visit? i asked charlie last year but there wasnt anything back then.
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We have plenty of bats in stock that fall into your desired spec as well ;)
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Haven't been getting any closer to a decision for the last week or so, so this may be the way to go....
Yeah that's what drew me to the Laver really - might not get the chance again anytime soon.
Had a look at the instinct bats and the all look pretty special but the stickers just aren't for me really. prefer the more subtle approach ;)
Cheers for the advice by the way...
Could ask for an Instinct plain..? But yeah, I know what you mean. Hope you find what you are looking for either way...the Laver offer is an attractive one, as is Instinct's March Madness one..tbh a bat from any forum brand would be quality so there's no reason to worry :) - Let us know as to what you get :)
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..tbh a bat from any forum brand would be quality so there's no reason to worry :) - Let us know as to what you get :)
Yeh that's whats making me take so long. keep on finding good photos of all of them ;)
Sure ill post some pics of whatever i choose - wont be for a little while though - got AS art exam in 2 weeks so will probably be after that.
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Yeah exactly...tough choice but wherever you go you will be well taken care of and no doubt will receive a beaut. Remember the Laver offer runs out at the end of March, as does the Instinct one, if you're interested in that one..
Good luck with your AS Art exam mate, hope it goes well... - The people in my year doing Art GCSE have Sh*tloads of work on their plate so I can imagine how much work you have to put in for AS :( :o - Hope everything goes well and keep us informed! :)
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Ive heard that about lavers quite a bit actually, not particularly worried but its certainly worth considering. was the bow on yours too much, too little?
too little
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Yeah exactly...tough choice but wherever you go you will be well taken care of and no doubt will receive a beaut. Remember the Laver offer runs out at the end of March, as does the Instinct one, if you're interested in that one..
Good luck with your AS Art exam mate, hope it goes well... - The people in my year doing Art GCSE have Sh*tloads of work on their plate so I can imagine how much work you have to put in for AS :( :o - Hope everything goes well and keep us informed! :)
Yeh ill watch out for that. Cheers :)
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Ask the Hosk
He has had most bats
How about a SAF to put it out there award winning bats
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All of the bats you mentioned are top notch!!
Black Cat Shadow are excellent. Or the Voodoo is lush too!
Redbacks are quality and Lavers are as good as any.
As Dave said SAF are quality and hand made to own spec.
But as someone else mentioned, H4L are also quality.
The problem is that they are all top quality bats which I personally rate as better than just about any standard retail bat!
I can't comment on an Instinct bat as I do not have one of those, but by all accounts it also sounds like a quality stick!
So do your research and pick a favourite fella! ;)
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All of the bats you mentioned are top notch!!
Black Cat Shadow are excellent. Or the Voodoo is lush too!
Redbacks are quality and Lavers are as good as any.
As Dave said SAF are quality and hand made to own spec.
But as someone else mentioned, H4L are also quality.
The problem is that they are all top quality bats which I personally rate as better than just about any standard retail bat!
I can't comment on an Instinct bat as I do not have one of those, but by all accounts it also sounds like a quality stick!
So do your research and pick a favourite fella! ;)
Sounds like you need an Instinct Pete ;) - though is the BC you have still down to be your match bat this year? Out of interest, do members of your team borrow your bats? ;) - if they do they'd have a range of stunners :D
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I may just do that....but not just yet! Couple of debts to pay off first fella!
I do take along some bats for them to use sometimes. But they tend to be a couple of 'standard' but decent bats. Don't take any of the pro bats for them to use...they are just for me and special friends! Seriously though, a number of my team mates already have purchased bats off me! 6 or 7 so far, and a further 2 have just purchased off my this season!
So I am hoping to not have to bring any bats in cos they all have bats supplied by me already! ;)
The Black Cat Shadow will be in my kitbag but I also have a few others which may make it to match bat status! 8)
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I reckon a Big Bertha in what you deem a "real bat weight" would be on the cards ;)
But yeah, that sounds nice :) - Hope you pay off them debts though...and add to the collection :D
Ohh and interesting about the other bats, I'm keen to know what gets in the Hosk Kit Bag by the season... :)
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Pete
Will a SAF be in their this year
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I picked up a second hand BlackCat Joker on this forum and I was very surprised how nice the bat was. Out of those bats you list I only have used a BC Joker and it goes like a train!
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johan it's beginning to sound like you have joined instinct's sales team! with the offer on the table at the mo, it could be laver time?unless you like bowed bats...
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I was pointing out as I believe it is as good an offer as Laver's. :) - But I have been converted, I admit I was skeptical at first about the price and everything, but the bat justifies it...
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with the offer on the table at the mo, it could be laver time?unless you like bowed bats...
Not too bothered about bow really. Had a GM Flare 909 last year and that didn't have very much. Do the Lavers have really very little or are the just not so good for people who like quite a bit of bow?
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Pete
Will a SAF be in their this year
Absolutely! 8)
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Not too bothered about bow really. Had a GM Flare 909 last year and that didn't have very much. Do the Lavers have really very little or are the just not so good for people who like quite a bit of bow?
Errr, Bow? Lavers usually have a fair bit!? Compare it to the Hunts County Insignia to its left and the M&H to its right and you can see quite a dramatic difference.
The laver in this pic has a significant amount (http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/Bats01-1.jpg).
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on that Laver - I would say that the handle is set forward at an angle and the face was not bowed at all.
This is a bat with a bowed face...
(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/DSC00253.jpg)
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on that Laver - I would say that the handle is set forward at an angle and the face was not bowed at all.
This is a bat with a bowed face...
([url]http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/DSC00253.jpg[/url])
Fair enough. Has the same effect though. The toe of the bat is in front of the base of the handle helping to loft the ball.
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Well, eventually went for the Laver offer as not sure something like that will come up again.
Will post pictures of clefts etc in a new topic in the Laver section once I receive them.