Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Your Kit => Topic started by: tim2000s on June 09, 2011, 07:26:02 AM
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Someone posted this bat in the ebay Bargains thread, and I saw it and thought, I'll have a piece of that. But why would I do that?
Well, there are a couple of reasons. The major one being that I believe this bat to be a bit of a missing link in recent bat evolution (although, as there are plenty of more knowledgable people than me, I could be shot down on that).
Why I hear you ask? Well, if I remember correctly, this bat was introduced around 2007, after the ECB T20 tournament had been in operation for a few years, but prior to IPL coming into existence. The blurb that Kippax put together on the bat was that it had a shorter blade and longer handle specifically to increase bat speed, with a "Massive Profile", for the destructive middle order batter, which we'll come onto in minute. There was no mention of a bat for T20 style cricket though.
At the time, I don't recall any other manufacturers doing a similar thing, Newbery had been producing the Uzi for a couple of years, but even during the eighties and nineties, I don't remember there being many experiments with the overall dimensions of the blade and handle, more in the Gray Nicolls fashion of removing wood, drilling holes (thanks Hunts), and other such mechanisms. I'd love to get others views on this, Talisman and Tom ex-mongoose especially. While Newbery were a household name in terms of bat manufacturers, Kippax, I'd suggest, were far less well known. We all know how successful the Uzi has been, and I wonder why this style was less successful?!
Anyway, onto the bat. This is a 2lb 8.6oz bat, so in my book, it's very light. By having the shorter blade though, i expected a massive profile. I do have a SpiriT20 with similar dimensions and that has a huge blade, so I don't think this is unrealistic.
What I got was a little less impressive. Now perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised, after all I have looked at/held/owned a number of Kippax bats, and for their weights, nearly all of them have not had "massive" profiles such as those we see in many bats now. I suspect that Kippax still dry their willow to the 12-15% that has been mentioned and as it's all their own willow, they'll cut it as they want.
In addition, I think that that the Kippax pressing (rather like the Laver pressing) is unique. I've noticed this on others of their bats, and uknsaunders has also noted it. They seem to come out "hard". This one has a reasonably responsive middle but as you get to the areas with less wood, there are a fair few points where it feels pretty dead. Still, I'll give it some knocking in and see how it develops. That may of course be the reason why it was up on ebay for £50.
Anyhow, in terms of answering my own question above, I think the pick-up on this bat isn't great. Although 1/4 lb lighter than the Spirit, it doesn't pick up significantly better. In being hit with the mallet, it feels considerably less forgiving and less powerful, which may be as much to do with the weight difference. Given the design of the Uzi, against which it would have been competing, I don't really think it stood much of a chance! And there we have it, a footnote in history as brands strived to copy another Newbery innovation!
Still, pictures for your delectation, all alongside the SpiriT20 to gain an idea of the comparison, bearing in mind it is a portion of sweets (from an old school sweetshop) lighter than the Spirit.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224445.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224428.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224354.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224503.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224525.jpg)(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08224601.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08225022.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-06-08225058.jpg)
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What about the Newbery Uzi?
I thought that appeared 2008, but I could be completely wrong! If I am, then I'll be striking through significant portions of my post!
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I remember buying mine in Bolton at the beginning of the 2006 season. Have pictures on my Facebook of me using it away at Lancaster Uni that year!
Loved the feel of the bat and it was one of the few that made its way to New Zealand with me!
Cheers, Andy
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Thanks for pointing that out guys, updated my original thread. Having a dig around, i found a reference to Uzi being available for sale mid-2005.
Still begs the question as to why Kippax appear to have been the first imitator, and then we had to wait till 2009 for the Joker/Mongoose. I'm not going to suggest that IPL might drive bat sales...
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I believe that the profile is simply that of the Newbery Uzi, it was the first bat with the combination of the truncated blade and elongated handle. The Spirit T20 and Kippax are simply copies. Anyone can walk into the Chalet and buy a blank, add some cheap stickers and you have a T20 bat. For me the next innovation was to take the Uzi and increase the process a la MMI3 which doesn't work but at least a unique take or the Joker which narrows the blade with a 2 inch drop of the shoulders.
The Uzi has been around a lot longer than the Kippax.
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I believe that the profile is simply that of the Newbery Uzi, it was the first bat with the combination of the truncated blade and elongated handle. The Spirit T20 and Kippax are simply copies. Anyone can walk into the Chalet and buy a blank, add some cheap stickers and you have a T20 bat. For me the next innovation was to take the Uzi and increase the process a la MMI3 which doesn't work but at least a unique take or the Joker which narrows the blade with a 2 inch drop of the shoulders.
The Uzi has been around a lot longer than the Kippax.
Yup, and the Kippax is no more. The Uzi profile is also a lot fuller and much less concaved in general than the Kippax imitation.
The Uzi was introduced in 2005 from what I can tell, the third year of the ECB T20 competition. I presume (and Mike, you'd probably know this best) at the behest of Pros looking for something a bit special for the T20 competition? Given that T20 had existed as midweek cricket for years at reasonable club level, does this type of bat really make the slightest difference to the majority of cricketers?
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I should have said dimensions rather than profile.
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agree with most of Tim's comments. However, Kippax still make T20 bats and the 2'8 one I own could almost be a direct copy of an Uzi, but, and a big but, most of the others I've seen have a significantly chunkier profile, similar to the bulldog. I'm no expert on drying but most of the recent one's I've picked up in the shop compare very well in terms of edge size and profile. Any thoughts on the wavex handle having some bearing on the profile, I know they can be awkward to fit.
Agree about the hard wood, but the more I use it the bigger the middle seems to get. Though it's not at match level yet. the My bat pics are somewhere on the forum!
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It's interesting that they still make the T20 styled bats. I haven't seen them marketed anywhere!
This is yours I take it...
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/headingleycricketclub/photos/new-kippax-custom-t20-bat-108969.html
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Kippax bats have been made by Malik for a number of years, maybe they are using dry willow.
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Kippax bats have been made by Malik for a number of years, maybe they are using dry willow.
eh? Kippax make their own bats.
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eh? Kippax make their own bats.
It would be a bit awkward putting "Made in Yorkshire" on the labels if they don't!
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and producing my bat in 24 hours flat, unless they shipped a cleft from their warehouse (which is full of them) to Maliks and back in record time. How can they make changes, repairs, knocking in on the premises or show guys into the workshop while making a bat if they didn't, unless my eyes are deceiving me on the last 5 visits.
Mike, give us the evidence please!
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Tim, a team mate is obsessed with getting a bat with a wavex handle, if you decide to turn this one over, let me know and I will sort it out.
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I've been round the workshop too but they mainly produce clefts for Malik and get bats made in return. I'm sure that Chris make a few, he has a small old copy lathe after all but he said he bought them all in. Plus I've done work for Malik and was told the same, of course being in the trade is a little different to being a punter.
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Interesting, was that before or after they withdrew from selling retail?
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I can quite believe the Tyronica is made elsewhere. The heavy Hydra I sold on was completely different shape and finish wise.
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Interesting, was that before or after they withdrew from selling retail?
After, it was early last year, I did and indeed still want his press.
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Just checked out the stickers. They no longer say "Made in Yorkshire", rather, they say " Handmade Yorkshire England" which is a subtle but significant difference!
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found my bat pics:-
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=9935.msg157693#msg157693
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I think you might have been looking at a few Malik's from your opening post?
"Apologies for the rubbish smartphone images. I was pretty pleased, seems very responsive and pickup feels great. Until I've knocked it in I can't comment on the wavex handle but I will update this review when I do. Had a chat with the two Chris's and they were showing me some absolute monster lammy's - 50mm edges on 2'15/3'6 bats. Great service, lovely bat."
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They weren't Mike. Chris made them himself as he was describing what a pain in the (No Swearing Please) it was to put together ie. glueing the face. Apart from the allrounder shop at Headingley, I imagine the two Chris's can cope with demand from the visits to the farm. Be interesting to hear from either of them on the subject.
My bat says "Hand Craft Cricket Bat Yorkshire : England".
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I must go up and see him again soon, I wonder why he is making them?
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Certainly plenty of demand for them.
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when you say they are involved with malik, has that got to do with this "Kippax are the preferred bat maker to many County and International players, we also make for 5 other internationally known brands" , from the homepage