Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: yvk3103 on September 28, 2011, 02:23:02 PM
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Hi Guys!
As the topic says - if you are a serious cricketer would you spend £500 on a single bat to use as a match bat (not a collectors item)? You opinions please.
I will not as a bat made to the specs of a international cricketer really does not mean it will be right for me. Moreover, I rather go for a couple of very good custom made bats with my signatures on it :)
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Nope, I've always been able to find bats that I feel comfortable with for under 150, and I'm well aware that the difference (if any) between a good bat and a great one is likely to be negated in my hands as i rarely hit anything and think 'if only I'd have a better bat that'd would have been 4/6'. If you have the cash and it gives you extra confidence, but to my mind the recent super (and superpriced) ranges of bats springign up are just a smart way to part a fool and his money.
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If I won the lottery - Yes
If I saved up - No
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Although I have spent £400 on a bat, it was a 1-off so not a standard!
But with the RRP for a lot of 'off the shelf' bats now being £400+, it seems to be getting common place.
With the introduction of a bat like the GM players bats for £500, I would be interested to know how they perform!!! But not that interested that I would be prepared to fork out all those notes right now! I was hoping that someone would purchase and review one on the forum!!
Saying that, I'm sure the good fellas from Newbery did say that 16 of the £1000 bats had sold! :(
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If money is not a problem for me then why not all four I'd say :)
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No, way too expensive tbh. You can always find a superb bat for a lot less than that!
If I earned an absolute packet and didn't have to manage my money then I probably would. However I would much prefer something that isn't as 'prized' so that I can use it for what it's for, rather than wanting to preserve the bat and not want to dig out any yorkers just incase it cracks etc
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Probably not - there are plenty of very good and cosmetically wonderful bats on the market for half of that number, and I am not sure beyond about £180-200 that you get a difference in performance anywhere near as marked as the difference in pricepoint.
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£500 is nothing for a bat if a player gets over 1000 runs a year. Why else play the game ?
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£500 is nothing for a bat if a player gets over 1000 runs a year. Why else play the game ?
It's not going to guarantee you runs though.
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£500 is nothing for a bat if a player gets over 1000 runs a year. Why else play the game ?
I agree to an extent as buying a truly decent bat does help the run-scoring! But £500 may be a tad excessive....
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Mmmm you can buy the best camera money can buy dont mean you can take a decent photo
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They're more a marketing tool than a proper revenue stream, and to eek money out of people that are cash rich and want/need the best of everything, without any analysis outside of the price tag. The profit from the bottom of the range g3 and Kashmir numbers will dwarf it.
It gets people talking about the brand and, dare I say, I think it may be a device to make the rest of their bats look mroe reasonable - the irony is that IMO it cheapens the rest of their range - I thought the (2011) Legends were hand-rolled-on-the-thighs-of-virgins/personally made by the first born of direct blood descendants of Julian Millichamp/Just didn't make Strauss's personal selection/include a key to the GN Factory/AND full use of both Mr Gray and Mr Nicoll's holiday homes in the South of France/from the tree's that we originally planted by Merlin and watered by Lancelot....sort of things, though now it looks as if Sports Direct will be stocking them this year.
In short, I wouldn't be seen dead with one out of principle!
I thought the design of the Legends were pretty much the best bat stickers I have ever seen, though once I got to see the actual sticks I was very disappointed, and by sight/colour/grainage would have made a few of them blemished G2's.
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How many blind people do your know buy top of the range cameras ? Same with cricket bats , if a batsman rates himself he aspires to using the best. If the best is £500 in his eyes he will go large and take the deal. Trust me , after scoring 1000+ plus runs the money will not be a factor.
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Not right now, because I don't score enough runs with one that costs £195, and that's down to my ability rather than the bat.
If I won £75million on the Euromillions, I'd have a Signature, a Cenkos, the best Legend available, and personally pay GM to make me the best version of their 500 quid bats at a far greater price, because I wouldn't care about the money and I could...
I might also fly out to SG, sit with their best batmaker and get him to select me clefts then watch him make my bat. Because I could.
I'd say that tells you the difference really...
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How many blind people do your know buy top of the range cameras ? Same with cricket bats , if a batsman rates himself he aspires to using the best. If the best is £500 in his eyes he will go large and take the deal. Trust me , after scoring 1000+ plus runs the money will not be a factor.
That's a nonsense analogy! A camera is the sole fundamental tool that directly creates the output that is a photo. A bat increases shot power and assists in timing and confidence, the effects of which could be replicated to the 90-95% with something half the cost. If your no good at the game, a better bat will not help, and vice versa. And due to the dichotomy of bat perfomance to durability, I don't think many people will shell out £500 for a stick that will last them a number of months.
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That's a nonsense analogy! A camera is the sole fundamental tool that directly creates the output that is a photo. A bat increases shot power and assists in timing and confidence, the effects of which could be replicated to the 90-95% with something half the cost. If your no good at the game, a better bat will not help, and vice versa. And due to the dichotomy of bat perfomance to durability, I don't think many people will shell out £500 for a stick that will last them a number of months.
If you are no good at composing a photograph, however technically good the camera is, you will still produce a crap photograph. Loads of people who can't take good photographs shell out £1,000 for a technically excellent camera when one that was £200 would deliver equally good results.
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Some people aspire to have the 'best' and most expensive in everything, they'll sell some.
Would I buy one at £500? No. But if I can snaffle one at trade or in the end of season sales at half that, then they're worth a look. I haven't seen one yet in person, though.
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Some people aspire to have the 'best' and most expensive in everything, they'll sell some.
Would I buy one at £500? No. But if I can snaffle one at trade or in the end of season sales at half that, then they're worth a look. I haven't seen one yet in person, though.
I think I'd be looking to get one for around £45... ;)
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If I had more money than sense, possibly. But I'd rather spend £500 on a guitar.
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£500 is nothing for a bat if a player gets over 1000 runs a year. Why else play the game ?
Also if someone pays £500 for a bat and can't score a run what it - what a tw*t he'll feel.
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If I had 500 for a guitar I'd send it to SAF for a refurb.
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only someone with more money than sense would spend £500 on a bat-it certainly won't make you play any better.
If you are determined to spend a monkey on cricket a £200.00 custom made bat from one of the reputable batmakers and £300.00 on a coach or 25 hours against a bowling machine might be best!
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If a player pays £500 on a bat then he is free to choose where and when he uses the said bat. It's all about confidence and that's what may win out in the end.
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Nope....i think the bat aids with the run scoring but essentially the person holding it scores the runs, if uv got the talent you should be able to score runs with a decent bat costing half the price
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I have scored over 1000 runs in 8 out of the last 10 seasons and don't feel the need to spend more than £150 on a bat.
In fact in most of that time I have used a bat costing £100 or less.
Could I spend £500 on a bat, absolutely.
Would I - err no. But I wouldn't criticise someone who did - it is their choice - I would wonder why as for £500 buys you two £150 bats and a loads of really quality softs, whites, bags, shoes...
We must remember how privileged we are on this forum to have such unfettered access to such a choice of batmakers.
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I have scored over 1000 runs in 8 out of the last 10 seasons and don't feel the need to spend more than £150 on a bat.
In fact in most of that time I have used a bat costing £100 or less.
Could I spend £500 on a bat, absolutely.
Would I - err no. But I wouldn't criticise someone who did - it is their choice - I would wonder why as for £500 buys you two £150 bats and a loads of really quality softs, whites, bags, shoes...
We must remember how privileged we are on this forum to have such unfettered access to such a choice of batmakers.
You'd have scored 1000 runs in 10/10 season if you'd had a £500 bat... ;)
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but is that worth an extra £350 or more ??? ;)
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but is that worth an extra £350 or more ??? ;)
Hey, if I'd had Buzz's bats, does that mean I'd have scored more than 1,000 runs in 8 out of the last 10 seasons? ???
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It is if one wants to impress.
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Hey, if I'd had Buzz's bats, does that mean I'd have scored more than 1,000 runs in 8 out of the last 10 seasons? ???
NO!
:D jokes. Exactly the point, its who is holding the bat at the end of the day.
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If a buy a rolex can i tell the time better than a normal watch?....nope it just looks flash and costs more than a normal watch!
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A rolex does not keep very good time at all. But then you don't buy a rolex just to tell the time. Mine has doubled in value since I bought it. Not many cricket bats do that.
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If you are no good at composing a photograph, however technically good the camera is, you will still produce a crap photograph. Loads of people who can't take good photographs shell out £1,000 for a technically excellent camera when one that was £200 would deliver equally good results.
disagree with the photography comment!
find me a 200 cam that takes better pics than a 500 quid cam?
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A rolex does not keep very good time at all. But then you don't buy a rolex just to tell the time. Mine has doubled in value since I bought it. Not many cricket bats do that.
Which begs the question are people buying a £500 bat to look berty big balls amongst their peers ???
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Possibly or are they just buying it because they can ? People have different priorities and choose to spend thier money on what they like. I drive a £500 car but have an expensive watch. Mind you I do constantly ask myself why I drive the heap of (No Swearing Please) !!
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disagree with the photography comment!
find me a 200 cam that takes better pics than a 500 quid cam?
Take a look through my flickr site pal and you will see that i have taken equally good shots on a £200 camera next to my more expensive one.
The quote stands
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Cricket bats are always worth more than double the value even when sold for over £100 pounds.
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disagree with the photography comment!
find me a 200 cam that takes better pics than a 500 quid cam?
If I give you a £500 cam, and David Bailey a £200 cam, the pics that he takes will be better...
Take a look through my flickr site pal and you will see that i have taken equally good shots on a £200 camera next to my more expensive one.
The quote stands
I'd agree. I have some exceptional photos taken on a range of £50 multiple-second hand film cameras and they are as good as the ones taken on my £1000 DSLR, however, I have much more control over what I can do with the DLSR... The pictures though are dependent on my ability to use the camera and not the camera itself.
In addition, my recent bat pics versus my older bat pics, all taken with different interchangeable lens cameras. The older ones were taken with a Camera/Lens combination that cost me just under £1000 a few years back. The newer ones with a camera and lens combi that I got from ebay for considerably less than half, and you know what? I can't see the difference!!!
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If I give you a £500 cam, and David Bailey a £200 cam, the pics that he takes will be better...
Wheres the "like" button
Well said
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Never
Why would I when I can get something very special for half the price
If I was an amazing player and thought it would make a difference then I'd consider it, however if I was an amazing player I'd be getting my bats for free
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Bats are a personal prefference......I dont buy on price i buy on pick up and ping!!! I am lucky in that I am in a position that price would not be a problem but i think that in todays market there are some amazing bats in the £180 - £300 bracket. Yes there are "signature" blades from Laver and Newbery but I do not see them as a serious playing bat!
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I paid £600, and used the bat in every game and i love it. I work a long week doing shift work, earn a wage and treated myself. My family haven't gone without and I love cricket every Saturday win or lose.
Mr Bulldog, sounds like your rolex needs a service if it doesn't keep time.
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I would say I sometimes take cricket too seriously, yet my bat for next year is likely to come in at under 100 dabs and will definitely be no more than 150
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Mr Bulldog, sounds like your rolex needs a service if it doesn't keep time.
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Haha you would think that but when I bought it I asked the guy in the shop what they were like at keeping time. He looked at me and said "you don't buy a rolex for it's time keeping. If you want something that keeps good time by a casio".
Mine gains about 5 mins every month and has done since the day I bought it.
I still love it though.
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Haha you would think that but when I bought it I asked the guy in the shop what they were like at keeping time. He looked at me and said "you don't buy a rolex for it's time keeping. If you want something that keeps good time by a casio".
Mine gains about 5 mins every month and has done since the day I bought it.
I still love it though.
Mine loses about 5 mins a week, but it is a 50 year old perpetual - which I don't wear at weekends (not really something to leave in the changing rooms while you are fielding...!)
Like Kieron - I love it and it has appreciated in value since I was given it.
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Had mine for about 10 years now. Should have it serviced really but it's £600 !!
If I had the money I would invest it in some rolex watches. You will never loose money
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Had mine for about 10 years now. Should have it serviced really but it's £600 !!
If I had the money I would invest it in some rolex watches. You will never loose money
My old one I had for about 10 years lost about 5 mins a week. I have a gmt master2 now and this hasn't lost any time in 2 years. I thought the service was around £200, but only needed if it lost time or needed refurbing.
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My old one I had for about 10 years lost about 5 mins a week. I have a gmt master2 now and this hasn't lost any time in 2 years. I thought the service was around £200, but only needed if it lost time or needed refurbing.
that is what I thought too.
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Mine gains time !! And so does my brothers gmt !! Buzz has given me some details on a place he uses so will call in the morning.
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Is this topic about rolexes or bats I'm confused.
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d7bow has hit the nail on the head.
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I have two Rolex's and ten cricket bats.
I love my bats more.
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110 bats and no Rolex........who needs a watch!! ;)
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110 bats and no Rolex........who needs a watch!! ;)
Well you cannot wear a watch when you are batting.
So, yes, I can understand that!
500 pound bat though???
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I have two Rolex's and ten cricket bats.
I love my bats more.
What have you got vic ? Bats and watches
By the way I was correct on the service costs.
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why spend 500 on a bat that scores you 100 runs a season? ive shaped a h4l part made and it made me 1700 and that cost alot less. You get what you pay for in a lot of things. rather spend the extra 400 plus on something else.
i guess it all comes down to need and want.
Do i need a £500 bat? nope. may look nice on my wall but then id have the mrs moaning at me cos i play all weekend, have taken over the garage with part mades and now taking over the house with a bat on the wall.
do i want a £500 bat? well apart from it looking nice on the wall probably not.
do you need it? probably not. do you want it? yes because you look good infront of all your mates!
Just to confirm i do not own a rolex or have done in the past so ill leave the watch stuff to the experts
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I don't even own a watch!!!!
But I think £500 is crazy but if some will pay it which they will so it will encourage the £600 bat
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do you need it? probably not. do you want it? yes because you look good infront of all your mates!
You think that's why someone would buy a 500 quid bat.....to look good in front of their mates? Are you serious? ???
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I know for one at my club we would recognise an opponent batsman with a £500 bat. At which point our banter/sledge would be all around that bat "Ooh £500 bat, this guy must be something special" "Isnt that Ravi's signiture bat? I dont think ravi would have missed that drive...." etc etc
Someone in our club bought a £280 Newb TT SPS at start of this season and wasnt scoring runs, we nicknamed his bat Torres :D But then he started scoring runs and got his average to 58.something so it became Dzeko :(
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This went from a £500 bat to who's got the biggest....... Watch.. Really who gives a rats who owns a Rolex.. I have a watch thats tells the time accurately and 10 guitars worth £25000.. Is mine bigger than yours?... Nope
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Quote. Who gives a rats ass
Quote. I have 10 guitars.
Made me chuckle.
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Quote. Who gives a rats ass
Quote. I have 10 guitars.
Made me chuckle.
Making a point... No-one cares about how many Rolex's people own just as no-one cares how many guitars I own... plain and simple
Chuckling whole heartedly
Now bats.... We all care.. This is a custom bat forum isn't it?...lol
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It was a point of reference that helped put some perspective on the op.
If you want to spend £500 on a bat then great. You earn you money so spend it on what you like.
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Making a point... No-one cares about how many Rolex's people own just as no-one cares how many guitars I own... plain and simple
I do. Especially if you've got an old telecaster or 335 lying around that you don't want and are willing to give away to someone less fortunate ;)
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we nicknamed his bat Torres :D
:D
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Bulldog - I think what you are meant to say is:
If you want to spend £500 on a bat then great. I would be very happy to sell you one, I have a few very special bats in stock, failing that I can get something made up for you.
;)
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Ah yes correct Buzz.
I have a very special one here that I will sell for £999
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Even if I had the money I'd be a fool to buy a £500 bat just because I could.
I've seen a trend for this very thing in my other hobbies (fishing and playing guitar) where high-end luxury items have been created to cater solely for a market that wasn't around 5 years ago. These ultra-expensive goods are no higher performing than most mid-range models but are catering to our increasing dependance on material goods for self-gratification.
The sort of person who thinks paying for £500 bat is justifiable is going to want something even more expensive down the line because they have that type of mindset. Where all this ends I've no idea.
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Ah yes correct Buzz.
I have a very special one here that I will sell for £999
Bargain! That's around 100 pennies cheaper than the Newbery! ;)
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Exactly. And this one is worth a lot more
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The sort of person who thinks paying for £500 bat is justifiable is going to want something even more expensive down the line because they have that type of mindset. Where all this ends I've no idea.
I would have to disagree. I have no intentions of buying a more expensive bat. If I got to go to the GM visit if it happens and I like one of there players bats and I can afford it then I would buy it.
So, yes I would pay £500 for a bat. But I wouldn't pay a lot of money for is pads and gloves. All mine are/were purchased in the end of season sales.
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Even if I had the money I'd be a fool to buy a £500 bat just because I could.
I've seen a trend for this very thing in my other hobbies (fishing and playing guitar) where high-end luxury items have been created to cater solely for a market that wasn't around 5 years ago. These ultra-expensive goods are no higher performing than most mid-range models but are catering to our increasing dependance on material goods for self-gratification.
The sort of person who thinks paying for £500 bat is justifiable is going to want something even more expensive down the line because they have that type of mindset. Where all this ends I've no idea.
Recession? What recession? :D
I agree that a very expensive product will be made, and will be given a tiny little 'niche' to justify the expense and to hook the buyer.
E.g. The signature bat. Batsmen are used to model and advertise their products, but the product they use is not what they advertise. So now a kid who may have wanted the Icon because this or that batsman used it, but now will they want a signature because that batsman actually doesn't use an Icon....
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Recession? What recession? :D
He he I do wonder that sometimes. I work in Taunton town center and every day it looks the same - people out shopping!
E.g. The signature bat. Batsmen are used to model and advertise their products, but the product they use is not what they advertise. So now a kid who may have wanted the Icon because this or that batsman used it, but now will they want a signature because that batsman actually doesn't use an Icon....
I think cricket is quite unique amongst popular sports in misleading its customers about the gear they sell being the same gear their sponsored players use. I'm surprised some sort of advertising watchdog hasn't flagged this up.
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Making a point... No-one cares about how many Rolex's people own just as no-one cares how many guitars I own... plain and simple
Chuckling whole heartedly
Now bats.... We all care.. This is a custom bat forum isn't it?...lol
I own six guitars as well.
On top of the two Rolex's and ten bats....
...and a partridge in a pear tree.
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I think anyone who knows me will agree that I am a very serious cricketer - posibly the most serious cricketer on this forum.
I won't spend more than £200 on a bat. They can break, they can get nicked, they can not work very well.
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I think anyone who knows me will agree that I am a very serious cricketer - posibly the most serious cricketer on this forum.
I won't spend more than £200 on a bat. They can break, they can get nicked, they can not work very well.
I find bats not working to be a common problem. So many have a stonking great hole in them...
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We shall soon see my tail-ender chum - we shall soon see....................
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Having seen the bats which everyone is referring too, they are very good quality. They were the best GMs I have seen but still dont think they justified the price, but in saying that I have seen better bats before in cheaper prices.
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Worth the £60 more than an Original LE??
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In answer to the original questions?
No I am not.
Yes I would (well, have done so).
In the case of the GMs I would not buy one for the sake of it. I would buy one if it warranted the price. If the Sigs are a step above the LEs then so be it, worth a look. If there is one worthy of the price tag, yeh why not. Same goes for any brand though.
Interesting reading those pouring scorn on the idea: Surely if a person has enough money, what they buy is there choice. Cricketing ability doesn't come into it. It may be foolhardy, but if your sweat made the pound signs...
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Am I right in saying the only difference is that it has a signature on it?
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Am I right in saying the only difference is that it has a signature on it?
They claim to be made to exact player specs. Interesting is that weights cannot be guaranteed or predetermined, which frankly I find odd. If the lightest willow only is used and the shape is constant, weight isn't going to vary much.
Like I said, if one seemed worthy of the cost, then I'd have one. But in this case I'd need to see them in the flesh, as the manufacturer refuses to release details about weight.
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I would be worried that I would want the exact weight if I'm paying £500 for a bat!
And at that price it would need to be blooming amazing! If it could iron my shirts, cook for me, and do my accounts....as well as clear the boundary at will, then I'd buy one!!
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To be honest these bats are just like really good LEs which you coul get already.
For example if you go to your local store you might find six GM Flare LEs. Go and get Get the mallet out and hit everyone and find the best one.
The players bats are all pretty much just that quality from what I have seen. They were a little bigger but definetly nothing like the huge Watson size bats I think people are hoping for. In fact the Flare I saw was still smaller than most top end branded bats.
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Forgive me if this has already been mentioned but I haven't read through the whole thread. Surely GM should be able to give a weight for each of these bats, mainly because each Pro would have a number of bats all weighing the same. So if each bat is up to the Pro's specs they should be a one weight only bat. Or am I way off the mark?
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It would seem that you aren't buying a pro's bat, but instead a bat made to the dimensions of said pro. So the weight will fluctuate depending on cleft density.
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So the weight will fluctuate depending on cleft density.
BINGO!
We have a winner!
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It would seem that you aren't buying a pro's bat, but instead a bat made to the dimensions of said pro. So the weight will fluctuate depending on cleft density.
In my maybe misguided estimations, I would have considered the weight/pick up to be one of the bat dimensions... ???