Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: GarrettJ on September 19, 2013, 09:57:50 AM
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Does anyone actually care about blemishes on the face of a bat? I've been told that it sometimes improves performance.
As some of you may know I am not fussy on the look of a bat if it feels perfect in my hands and has a nice response. However if I was to pay for a £300+ bat I would be disappointed to see any blemishes at all.
I have the most beautiful grained bat that has a blemish on the bottom.
Its like buying a ferrari with a dent in the passenger door ........
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There's something appealing about graping or a butterfly stain.
But I agree, if you pay the top dollar for them, I expect them to be spotless!
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I think given that buying a bat is not really something one can 'try before you buy' aesthetics play a major part in the decision.
There is a perception that clean straight grains equal good willow/ playing properties but in reality I, as I'm sure many others, have had bats which are not aesthetically pleasing but play really well.
I was just thinking the other day that all my bats of late have been bought at arms length (online, etc) rather than going into a shop and getting a feel for the bat/ tapping it up. As a result I have had some lovely looking bats that I just haven't gotten on with.
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Does anyone actually care about blemishes on the face of a bat? I've been told that it sometimes improves performance.
As some of you may know I am not fussy on the look of a bat if it feels perfect in my hands and has a nice response. However if I was to pay for a £300+ bat I would be disappointed to see any blemishes at all.
I have the most beautiful grained bat that has a blemish on the bottom.
Its like buying a ferrari with a dent in the passenger door ........
Stick a pic up John
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My Bradbury has 2 butterflies on either end of the middle, love the look, and you hit one it flies!
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My Bradbury has 2 butterflies on either end of the middle, love the look, and you hit one it flies!
This is what I heard to.
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not the greatest picture.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HvI3-YLs2SA/Ujr5Gc0JAxI/AAAAAAAAACc/agll7IuFL4k/w166-h753-no/20+bat+20.jpg)
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My last bat had a buttefly stain just below the middle and that also flew when the ball hit it. I dont mind blemishes at all and they add a bit of character to the bat. Having said that I have never paid more than £150 for a bat so would never expect a perfect blade for that price. Of all the bats I have seen and used I can safely say that perfect straight grains make very little difference to performance in my experience other than looking nicer.
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Looks lovely that bat. Obviously not a butterfly stain but a blemish there wouldn't be an issue for me. What weight is this going to be?
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not the greatest picture.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HvI3-YLs2SA/Ujr5Gc0JAxI/AAAAAAAAACc/agll7IuFL4k/w166-h753-no/20+bat+20.jpg)
Lovely bat. Shame the handle wasn't put in the opposite end though.
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it seems that blemishes are just ignored these days unless they are an unsightly brown knot
I'd be disappointed if i got this as a top of the range
(http://cricketgearreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSC04683.jpg)
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For top $$s the bat should be pingtastic and definitely beautiful as well. I haven't seen many international pros playing with a blemished bat (if it's said that it improves performance)
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I'd be more pissed off if I got a bat with that cricket store online sticker on it
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amrit agree 100%
I think what may happen is batmakers see the blemishes when they plane the face and know instantly that a bat wont sell for top dollar. They then press it harder so it lasts longer so invariably a bad looking bat wont see its way into the hands of a pro and just end up in the cheap bin. They really arent given a chance and often why people buy a lower grade bat and it turns out to be a real performer.
When you get wavy grains, knots and blemishes then they deservedly go as a lower grade.
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I'd be more pissed off if I got a bat with that cricket store online sticker on it
I think that is added to the image .... if not its nearly half way down the bat!
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Don't mind the odd bit of graping and butterfly blobs here and there. My aspect on bats has changed though over the years. I know when selling abat it has to look good as well as play, aesthetics will always play a large part for the customer. Personally, I couldbt care less what a bats face looks like anymore. As long as the ball clears the ropes when I slog to cow corner I don't mind :) my LE has 10 perfectly even grains and to be fair goes like nothing else I've had... It's better than my RPC which takes some doing. But... I've got a six grainer that has a few marks here and there and that s no slouch :) if it picks up nice and plays how you want there shouldn't ever be an issue.
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2nd best bat i have ever used was a County reflex 5 star. After most games someone either asked if i was selling it or where they could get one from. My Dad just went into the local sports shop and picked it up for my older brother on the recommendation of the shopkeeper based on the price range ....... it was a long handle though!
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I don't care about blemishes on my bats or the number of grains, as long as the bat feels right and has a good middle.The CA bat i brought is not the best looking but it feels good and goes like a train.
I do put the fiberglass sheets over the face of my bats so can't really see grains or blemishes.
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amrit agree 100%
I think what may happen is batmakers see the blemishes when they plane the face and know instantly that a bat wont sell for top dollar. They then press it harder so it lasts longer so invariably a bad looking bat wont see its way into the hands of a pro and just end up in the cheap bin. They really arent given a chance and often why people buy a lower grade bat and it turns out to be a real performer.
When you get wavy grains, knots and blemishes then they deservedly go as a lower grade.
From experience of at least one master pod shaver this would never be the case, it may not make top grade to a shop to go on there shelf but it will remain top grade from them at the factory. This is because when someone makes a personal visit and feels the response from the mallet the appearance becomes irrelevant a lot of the time.
There would be no point pressing the blade harder as then you have an ugly plank and that's the reputation that customer could/ would have. If that customer for example happened to be a member f a forum like this then the review would be awful and the brand reputation would be damaged.
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I don't think smaller brands do it and especially not Salix that you are referring to
I have an ugly GN bat and it is pressed like concrete and do is my brothers sports direct Slazenger. I've seen and used other GNs that are the same and Adidas
They would never press and straight 10 grainer legend clefy like that.
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For me on blemishes - graping is good everything else, especially pin knots I try to avoid.
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whats the issue with pin knots? My MH Distinction had one on the face near the edge, didnt seem to be an issue.
Do they weaken the blade or are they just basically dead wood?
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I have had a couple of bats which I felt were dead around the area of the pin knot and even when on the edge it still impacted across the blade.
Having said that, it equally have been the pressing, or most likely the user...
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it depends where the blemish is
in the right place they can strengthen the blade.
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So what do you guys think about this blemish on the bat, it's a butterfly stain and my best ever bat has had one; so when I went to pick up a new bat I didn't dismiss it because of the looks. I could have gotten a 14 ruler straight and even grained bat however it didn't feel as nice when I picked it up and played a few shadow shots....pinged just as good mind! So do you guys dismiss bats if they don't look nice but ping and feel amazing? Just out of curiosity to be honest...here's the bat I bought from a select bunch - may I just add its huge for its weight!
(http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u419/toenails97/null_zpsa4c26195.jpg)
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Looks stunning to me?
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Looks stunning to me?
Same to me just I'm sure people would dismiss it without giving it a chance because it doesn't have 30 straight and even grains!
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No doubt that the bat looks awesome, but when buying a top of the range cricket bat people expect it to be fully clean, no stains or marks on it !
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No doubt that the bat looks awesome, but when buying a top of the range cricket bat people expect it to be fully clean, no stains or marks on it !
Yeah I can see where your coming from but sometimes I think you've got to go more for feel
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Don't you think it would have looked better if the handle was fit on the other side of the cleft?
Just the aesthetics, I'm sure it's a great bat.
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Don't you think it would have looked better if the handle was fit on the other side of the cleft?
Just the aesthetics, I'm sure it's a great bat.
I think it's because the grains run straight through the toe however near the splice they curve of...which would have made the toe strength poor
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If you get wavy grains through the toe it is more prone to splitting.
I would be disappointed to pay £300+ for a bat with looks like that although I think less than £225 and I'd be ok if it is a big bat for its size and it feels nice
I think what most people feel about blemishes is that a £250+ bat should be clean.
What about performance, that's what I was aiming this thread at when I started it.
Interesting about the pin knots Buzz mentioned, I will look into that.
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250+ bat in any case should have performance, looks though important come second. Having said that 250+ bat should look good as well. Give some discount on a blemished bat (with performance still there) and I am in for it.
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Does anyone actually care about blemishes on the face of a bat? I've been told that it sometimes improves performance.
As some of you may know I am not fussy on the look of a bat if it feels perfect in my hands and has a nice response. However if I was to pay for a £300+ bat I would be disappointed to see any blemishes at all.
I have the most beautiful grained bat that has a blemish on the bottom.
Its like buying a ferrari with a dent in the passenger door ........
I love butterfly stained willow it seems to make the bat last longer and it seems to always sound nice I Remember taking a old gray nick tough coat bat stripped it back and it had 8 nice grains but a big butterfly mark near the top crazy it was such a good bat
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I have an old GM Maestro (20+yrs) that has some beautiful butterfly marks around the middle and it was a fantastic bat, the bat hitting the ball always felt hard in a good way. I certainly wouldn't hesitate buying a bat with similar markings. Where the butterfly markings are about the only part of the bat that hasn't cracked or been repaired.
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I have to say I am not a real fan of butterfly stains or any marking on my bat - especially if I buy the top of the line bat. I recently purchased a Spartan SVR, and while not marketed as top of the line, I came close to not buying it as it has a butterfly stain just under the splice stickers. The saving grace for the bat was it picked up so damn well I couldn't walk away from the shop without buying it...
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Will all due respect but how would a blemish near the splice affect the playability of the bat. If it was a butterfly stain, it would've added strength to the area in any case.
As long as there isn't a movement in the grain you should be fine with most blemishes. This is where the biggest bargains lie in my opinion.
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Boycott used to swear by butterfly blemishes - better rebound in his opinion.
I think we are too obsessed by what looks good on TV.
If you asked all the pros what they would prefer - nearly all would put their preference heavily on performance.
Most have Grade 1 due to the density being slight less in those clefts due to lack if heartwood - prob beneficial when you are trying to smash 90mph bowlers back over their heads! ;)
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Put a blindfold on the pick up and feel is more important every time.
Blemishes grains mean bugger all
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Most pro know there bats will perform in there hands it pick up and feel in the hands
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Looks lovely that bat. Obviously not a butterfly stain but a blemish there wouldn't be an issue for me. What weight is this going to be?
2.8.5 is the weight