Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Buzz on May 03, 2012, 01:10:27 PM
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On this forum it is very noticeable that there is a preference for uk made bats and by and large big four or five softs.
With the soft goods I think that size and availablity has a lot to do with that choice over the Indian branded soft goods. But ss, sf and sg will be over in the uk in force from next season so I believe that will change. Plus most soft goods are made in Asia anyway.
But what of the bats? There is no doubt that the quality of Indian and Pakistani made bats is significantly better now than previously with many top pros using them and yet as a general rule we on this forum still prefer the uk made bats.
Why is this?
With the introduction of new flat face presses better handles and just the absolute volume of production surely we need to change our views?
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i just prefer to support the english bat makers and companies, plus i like dealing with the individual people running them rather than a company, in which you usually get much better customer service!
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Bats are made in Asia due to price, not performance, anyone spending more money making the same product in the UK will need an edge to justify the selling price. This is not to say that the very best Indian or Pakistani bat is worse than the very best UK bat, it isn't, but the average UK made bat will be better than the average Asian made bat.
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its not like the top asian bats are much cheaper now tho!
when like the top dog bas le/CA TRD etc all near 300 pounds
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I think it depends on where you source them from. My Pakistani made bat is rather good, and definitely wasn't £300...
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Tim, did you go direct to the factory for your Pakistan bat?
By email rather than Boeing.
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I think you can only compare brands that make their own bats in one price league and contract prices from bat makers in another. Brands that buy bats have the option of setting a price which does not reflect the cost price.
For Example GM v SS v GN v CF etc.
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I have brought an Asain bat (BAS) for the first time this season and it is possibly the best bat I have ever had maybe surpassing my Gray Nicolls Predator. You can't beat the price either, for £150 its a bargain and its G1 willow
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I have brought an Asain bat (BAS) for the first time this season and it is possibly the best bat I have ever had maybe surpassing my Gray Nicolls Predator. You can't beat the price either, for £150 its a bargain and its G1 willow
Hard to judge one bat against another as a barometer of batmaking but both Indian made bats.
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Tim, did you go direct to the factory for your Pakistan bat?
By email rather than Boeing.
It was provided by someone but it has a splendid middle.
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I think it depends on where you source them from. My Pakistani made bat is rather good, and definitely wasn't £300...
This.
Source is big factor, in UK some Asian bats prices are almost double than what they are sold in Pakistan for.
You'd be better off by buying from Pakistani retailers (a trustworthy one) or directly from the factory.
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This.
Source is big factor, in UK some Asian bats prices are almost double than what they are sold in Pakistan for.
You'd be better off by buying from Pakistani retailers (a trustworthy one) or directly from the factory.
Nailed it :)
I prefer top end bats to be UK made(Better quality) and mid range ones from India(better value for the buck).
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I prefer English made bats for the exact same reason Mike said, an average English bat is better than an average Asian bat. As I don't have £200+ to spend on each bat £120 will get me a better bat from these shores.
I've had 4 Asian made bats and haven't felt as solid or well made as my English ones.
Just my opinion
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My last 6 bats, ones I have actually used, have been 3 English made and 3 Asian made.
English Made, Ayrtek Elite, M&H and Redback Premier (don't know why I sold this bat!)
Asian, Kook Blade, Champ Sports, Talisman
M&H, stunning bat, amazing rebound was too heavy for me at that age though
Kook Blade, good bat, but handle started to go after a season.
Champ Sports, a truly amazing bat, but season went early into its second season.
Redback, lovely bat, sold it for money as I wanted to use the champ instead. That then broke! So regret selling it!
Talisman, truly awesome profile and scored me a lot of runs until the handle snapped. Don't worry, for anyone interested in buying it now has a lovely (albeit oval) handle providing by the willow baron!
Ayrtek Elite, pressed to perfection, lovely handle, awesome service from a UK brand.
I prefer going for UK made bats as I believe the quality is higher and the service is there.
I wouldn't say Asian bats are bad, just a bit more hit and miss with the quality
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I presently have in my bat inventory:
OZ made Gray Nicolls x 4
Gunn & Moore Icon LE x 2
SF Impressive x 1
SS LE x 1
Talisman Lam x 1
TK Lam via Bulldog x 1
Gray Nicolls all very good.
Gunn & Moores all very good.
SF Impressive very good.
TK Lam via Bulldog very good.
SS LE excellent.
Talisman Lam excellent.
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The reason I posted this was because I am genuinely of the belief that the Asian made bats are significantly better now that in the past and that in some cases we wouldn't know the difference and that because they are frequently "bigger" (overdried) you get a different style of bat.
I accept that there is more of a choice over shape and agree that we should support the UK bat making industry - but also feel that if, with the exception of GM, all the major international brands are having their bats made in india, the quality has to be good because without quality you wont get sales.
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In my limited experience the bats I used that were made in Pakistan, although they were significantly bigger for the same weight did not last as long as the UK made bats I have used. Performance is comparable