Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: tim2000s on January 04, 2013, 03:40:51 PM

Title: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 04, 2013, 03:40:51 PM
As a slight change from the "How great are great bats" theme of recent Batoffs, I will be taking a number of Lower Grade bats with me to the Net at Lord's and I'd appreciate those participating to do a bit of bat rating.

I'll be bringing along with me the following bats:

Laver and Wood Special Reserve
GN Dyndarive
B3 Stripe 1
Kook Blade Special Edition
MSR Lower Grade Bat

All are supposedly no better than Grade 2 willow and will be accompanied by a Grade 1 SAF Hades to provide some level of comparison.

I thought it would be an interesting challenge to see what buying down the willow scale can do for you and whether you really need to purchase the most expensive Willow that money can buy to really get results...
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: RossViper on January 04, 2013, 09:52:36 PM
Good idea, interesting to see what people think
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Nickauger on January 04, 2013, 10:08:15 PM
See if you can get hold of an MSR 'bad net bat' or whatever they're called. Having never spent more than £160 on a bat, I wouldnt say that any of those are lower grade bats lol.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 04, 2013, 11:09:48 PM
See if you can get hold of an MSR 'bad net bat' or whatever they're called. Having never spent more than £160 on a bat, I wouldnt say that any of those are lower grade bats lol.
That's what I have.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: smokem on January 05, 2013, 01:16:00 AM
That will be really interesting. Would be great if other participants can add to that list of Grade 2 test bats. Personally, I'd like to see how the Dynadrive fares.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Vitas Cricket on January 05, 2013, 01:19:52 AM
My Dynadrive is going great guns in our net. It's not one of the Grade 1 custom mades that I got for some friends and a few customers as I already have enough top bats.

They seem much better than last years scoop which was at a similar price point.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tushar sehgal on January 05, 2013, 01:33:07 AM
My Dynadrive is going great guns in our net. It's not one of the Grade 1 custom mades that I got for some friends and a few customers as I already have enough top bats.

They seem much better than last years scoop which was at a similar price point.

Jake did you knock your at all? i haven't knocked mine and nervous about taking it to nets...will take it and try it out gently i guess...

back on topic, Tim fantastic idea...anychance of getting a GM and a few other brands? i know you have a Halo 606 ;)
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Colesy on January 05, 2013, 01:37:00 AM
My Icon 606 is up to set the benchmark ;)
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Vitas Cricket on January 05, 2013, 01:44:24 AM
Jake did you knock your at all? i haven't knocked mine and nervous about taking it to nets...will take it and try it out gently i guess...

back on topic, Tim fantastic idea...anychance of getting a GM and a few other brands? i know you have a Halo 606 ;)

I tend not to bother too much with my own bats, as they get so much time in the bowling machine, this runs the face in for me without risking damage too much. I'm somewhat gambling that I won't edge the ball too much but I'll back myself :)

 plus it's already got a scuff sheet applied from the factory. scuff sheeted bats should be 'pre-prepared' so hopefully the manufacturer has done some of the work for me already. the difficulty is, aesthetically you ruin a bat that already has a scuff sheet on when you knock it in. as the sheet cracks/bubbles up round the edges when you knock in the edges. As I'm only facing BOLA balls with it at the moment I'd rather keep it looking relatively pristine.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Buzz on January 05, 2013, 08:15:29 AM
Depending if someone wants to collect it from me (and return it please!) , I will offer up my KG.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tushar sehgal on January 05, 2013, 12:38:39 PM
Depending if someone wants to collect it from me (and return it please!) , I will offer up my KG.

KG might do very well in the comp i think...
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 05, 2013, 12:55:33 PM
Depending if someone wants to collect it from me (and return it please!) , I will offer up my KG.
bring it to the bar...
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: ammo on January 05, 2013, 11:58:16 PM
That KG is 'lower grade' ? :o
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Buzz on January 06, 2013, 09:09:41 AM
well it was bought as a grade 2 bat. I certainly didn't pay a g1 price for it :)
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: The_Bird on January 06, 2013, 09:14:25 AM
Be good to see a Newbery 5 star in there Tim, they are grade 2 I think.

Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Chad on January 06, 2013, 09:24:22 AM
Would the L&W Special Reserve be classed as a lower grade, or a grade 1? :-[ They have been rated as a G1 in performance, so maybe the test would be a bit unfair in that case!
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 06, 2013, 11:53:42 AM
Would the L&W Special Reserve be classed as a lower grade, or a grade 1? :-[ They have been rated as a G1 in performance, so maybe the test would be a bit unfair in that case!
That's part of the test. The willow used would not be classed by Wrights as G1, and the price isn't either, so if it performs massively better than the other lower grades, then we have some sort of answer.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: Chad on January 06, 2013, 05:18:52 PM
That's part of the test. The willow used would not be classed by Wrights as G1, and the price isn't either, so if it performs massively better than the other lower grades, then we have some sort of answer.

Ah right, makes sense. 8) I would send one down, or I may even go down myself! :D What kind of handle does it have, and do you have a pic of the bat? If it is similar, would be interesting to test out the C-ten handle as well, as mine has one. The net is on the 25th, right? I need to find out when the university term starts, and also if I have enough money to go down, have a little raid of a few cricket stores (IJC comes to mind. ;)) and money to come back! Also net space issues. :-[
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: trypewriter on January 07, 2013, 09:16:54 AM
Cracking idea - I'm tempted to sign up to bring my Pod Performance down.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: PedalsMcgrew on January 07, 2013, 10:02:24 AM
I think this is a great idea, this is the kind of information that would prove useful to a lot of people....

Once this one has been signed off and we've got the results how about looking at a 'light bat' batoff. Say 2.9 finished (grip and stickered with/without scuff) for the next one? That would be another good test of the batmakers art...after all, we'd all love a bat that weighs 2.8/9 but goes like a 2.12+ wouldn't we? That's what I'd love anyway.... ;)

Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 07, 2013, 10:14:02 AM
Sorry Chad, mine's prior to the C-Ten handle existing.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: uknsaunders on January 07, 2013, 11:40:46 AM
Tim thought about using Deans event at Choice to do the batoff? Sounds like he has spare lanes.
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 07, 2013, 11:42:16 AM
Tim thought about using Deans event at Choice to do the batoff? Sounds like he has spare lanes.
However one needs to be able to attend...
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: uknsaunders on January 07, 2013, 11:43:57 AM
that would help, bad day the 24th feb?
Title: Re: Lower Grade Batoff
Post by: tim2000s on January 07, 2013, 12:11:08 PM
Unsure at the moment but weekends are generally tricky, and ones when the other half has just returned from a business trip are worse!