Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Black Cat Cricket => Topic started by: Cowcorner on January 23, 2013, 04:12:27 PM
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(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/013478A9-8577-4507-97C4-2AFC34C4A741-207-0000000A8F684BA2_zps8f91a8c4.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/3CC803F8-840D-45D6-B614-AAFAB041EAA0-207-0000000A825A9943_zps72f6b45a.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/C3525D78-3F2C-4F30-8298-085270D144EB-207-0000000A7C0D84C1_zps2375b668.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/253CBD41-81FE-4F5D-A3FB-8569AF0E0B6E-207-0000000A7565468E_zps031ac8b2.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/72B4297A-7A1B-4B7C-A075-95C0D3E2FFB1-207-0000000A6F1C22CF_zpsa5fc1156.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/6316DCA4-D1A4-43DF-837C-BE72FD52DA53-207-0000000A68E874DB_zps0887e832.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/B6054452-BABA-4B94-8461-0FDF772705AF-207-0000000A622D59DD_zps4bc6e674.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/884C2390-BC7C-48D0-9E62-0FD2FAD862A6-207-0000000A54BE1AC9_zps714f6cab.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/6AC8A709-BA9C-4294-8DD5-18C51456BFDE-207-0000000ABFC4F18D_zps72904250.jpg)
After a bit of saving and a lot of pondering I finally made the purchase.
Spec as follows: 2.9, counterbalanced handle, oiled and knocked in
Having emailed Charlie my preferences I received an email telling me that I was going to get a beauty. Two days later she arrived. First impressions are excellent. The branding and stickers are first class and easily challenge Salix and Newbery for the crown of best looking bats - my kook ricochet looks garish in comparison. The finish on the wood is as good as a salix - the lines are smooth and clean and there aren't any marks or scratches as you can sometimes get on the rear of a bat. The edges have been rounded off and the face has a nice hint of roundness to it.
I decided to go for a counterbalanced handle on the advice of Charlie - it adds about 1.5 lb to the weight. I usually like bats that have a 2.8-2.9 feel with mid position middles. As shown this bat comes in at 2:10.6 but in the hands it doesn't feel heavy, instead it feels reassuringly 'meaty' whilst still giving me the ability to move my hands swiftly. The pickup feels closer to 2.9 than to 2.8 but the bat remains balanced and poised through a few shadow cricket strokes I have done.
Performance-wise I haven't had her in the nets for any throw downs but I have tapped her up with a mallet and the ping is epic on a massive sweet spot. A few bounces on the blade with an old soft ball have proved very encouraging.
I have treated her to a hammer edge sheet and will update this once she's seen some action in the nets......
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Looks a beauty, and agree the finishing and decals are top notch on blackcat bats.
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Absolutely brilliant, lovely lovely stick!
The finishing and decals are top notch as d7bow said.
Seeing yours sadden me as I now regret selling mine! :(
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That should be illegal! Top looking bat fella. Bet that goes like an absolute rocket!
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That's a beautiful stick there mate and agree that the finishing is top notch as well! I've been taking my time knocking-in my Joker and the mallet response on that is awesome as well. Looking to get it into the nets this weekend. Please keep us posted on how your Shadow plays!
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(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/phwoar.png)
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Been waiting to use this for a while....
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/i12breakfree/Pep166-23_zps275f18a4.jpg)
Courtesy of i12breakfree
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Lovely looking bat that. Can we see a picture of the counter balance ? Interested to see how they work.
Thanks
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I am so jealous!!
Thats looks an absolute gun of a bat!
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Amazing looking bat! More pics of the handle please, interested to see what it looks like
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Very impressive looking bat!
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There was me thinking I'd decided on a h4l, then you post this. Then there is safe, or h4l or BC, or saf.........
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For those of you interested in the handle i'll post some photos tomorrow using my ricochet as a comparison - not that you can see much as it is taped up beneath the grip. Essentially the end of the handle is weighted with metal to counterbalance the blade weight. I think there's a discourse on this on the forum somewhere - don't some bat makers fill the handle core with weight to produce a similar effect?
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For those of you interested in the handle i'll post some photos tomorrow using my ricochet as a comparison - not that you can see much as it is taped up beneath the grip. Essentially the end of the handle is weighted with metal to counterbalance the blade weight. I think there's a discourse on this on the forum somewhere - don't some bat makers fill the handle core with weight to produce a similar effect?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read somewhere that there used to be a handle with a compartment at the top, where metal ball bearings could be slotted into place to change the balance of the bat to your liking. I think it was TK who had done that, but I can't be 100% sure. I think that it exists though, as there is no way I could have made that up. :P
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Looks awesome mate well done.
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That bat looks incredible!!
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Oh My :o
Nice...
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read somewhere that there used to be a handle with a compartment at the top, where metal ball bearings could be slotted into place to change the balance of the bat to your liking. I think it was TK who had done that, but I can't be 100% sure. I think that it exists though, as there is no way I could have made that up. :P
Yep that's true kind of weighted coin shape, you unscrewed the top of the handle and could take out or add-one of the more friendly teams I played for had one in the kitbag. Pretty annoying when you were tapping the ground.
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(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/F71C77EB-16A7-4D50-912B-19B5C3B3DCB1-777-0000007C8EA351EC_zps9c8a26d3.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/0BD4D70F-F296-4D4D-8830-9A4FBBEAF29E-777-0000007C9D54F44C_zpsb4395d54.jpg)
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj614/cowcorner/527EC6DA-198E-47AB-AE21-668A712B89A0-777-0000007CA2F6DD3D_zps44a97807.jpg)
As requested fellas! No annoying rattles with this one.....
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Looks ok, not too pronounced. Would like to try one with and one without of the same weight to see/feel the difference
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Is that built into the handle ? Or is it just lead tape wrapped around ?
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Is that built into the handle ? Or is it just lead tape wrapped around ?
You'll have to ask Charlie - it's taped up quite well - also I haven't had a look to see if there's anything under the top handle sticker but I would suspect there is something as the counter weight is in the region of 1.5 oz.
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Looks ok, not too pronounced. Would like to try one with and one without of the same weight to see/feel the difference
It sits quite nicely on my top hand with plenty of room to alter my grip and the position of my bottom hand. It's certainly worth a go!
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That stick looks a beauty.
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Looks like lead tape around handle.
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I have finally netted with the bat and can report that the sweet spot is massive and the rebound is legendary. A simple block sent the ball like a rocket back at the bowler so needless to say I'm very happy!!
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You've done well looks and sounds like a superb stick :)
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Looks like a cracker! It is Batporn!
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Used my team mates shadow last week. Best bat ever used. Also seen the great reviews on here so time to email Charlie and get one for myself!
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read somewhere that there used to be a handle with a compartment at the top, where metal ball bearings could be slotted into place to change the balance of the bat to your liking. I think it was TK who had done that, but I can't be 100% sure. I think that it exists though, as there is no way I could have made that up. :P
James @Lekka ?
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this just looks edible.....fantastic work.
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beauty of a bat! regarding the bat weight on the handle. most bats i use i add some lead tape. bought two rolls of wilson tennis tape. weighs about 2.5 oz's and really seems to help the pick up but you don't feel the extra weight.
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Wow. What a lovely stick. Im dribbling at the pics. How much would this bat set you back?