Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Your Kit => Topic started by: Alvaro on October 09, 2013, 05:53:56 PM
-
Much in a similar vein to Ian's missus, and whose resulting Pod Players looks a beauty, my wife arranged for a bat-buying odyssey (plus an afternoon at Words and Wickets) for my birthday back in September. Now, we set out on a fair Saturday morning and battled the M25 to arrive at the Salix farm and were given a nice little tour of the workshop and shown how a bat is made. Even met Soulman, but didn't realise it was him due to the lack of his many bats in the immediate vicinity. I must say he's a nice fellow.
Anyway, had a discussion with Ben about what I wanted and did the cleft selecting thing. Now, the choice came down to two belters, one beautiful cosmetically, one slightly less impressive looker but boy was it large for the weight in comparison (both were an unmolested 3.8 from memory) and felt pretty damn good with the mallet. So, I went for that one. The cleft was then shaped for me to get an idea of feel and once that was done, we reluctantly left it at that with the instructions to be 2lb 10oz and for it to have a natty turquoise grip. As an aside, the Hits Hard kit looks quality.
About a week later I received the finished bat. I think it's gorgeous - 2.10 on the nose, mid-to-low middle with very little scooping and healthy edges. Having smashed it with a mallet and hit an old ball about it goes. It REALLY goes (patented CBF review superlative checklist: tick) and I'm happy as a pig in excrement. A great day and a great bat - this is what wives are for ;)
Hope you enjoy the pics :):
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/af729757ff4a958310a0426a6fc275b8_zpsa7c8f065.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/93962719cf32beb6d15d8a8696387ce3_zps80d2db14.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/70aad41e136429febef32408600b395a_zpsf48a3311.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/394b09137572b21885162edbcbe78326_zpsd07b3927.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/3c2d8cacd7fcfa7221556d307ed8a680_zpsf5d8b48e.jpg)
-
I am loving all this bat porn!
Great looking bat mate
-
The twitter teasing was enough but this has put me over the edge... :( :( :( I don't think I can look at this anymore knowing I've never had a Salix and likely never will.
Very jealous mate, the profile is the absolute SEX!
-
The profile is serious, I agree. It was based on my Laver PB but there is much less concaving.
Don't give up the hope Liam! HH bats looked good too.
-
I need one of those saving jars that say 'holiday money' but change it to 'salix bat money' hahaha
-
Glad i was of some inspiration. They are pricey but its truly a good experience and the bats are top quality
-
Glad i was of some inspiration. They are pricey but its truly a good experience and the bats are top quality
How much is it? Mrs is coming into some cash and given me some to spend so I'm gonna splash on random cricket stuff I'd not normally buy :)
-
Mine was £380 i believe. That was for the highest grade willow they do
-
If you can make it down to the farm it's worth it to see their setup etc.
-
If you can make it down to the farm it's worth it to see their setup etc.
Yep defo, plus there are some lovely pubs down that way for a spot of lunch if you need to convince the other half
-
Yep defo, plus there are some lovely pubs down that way for a spot of lunch if you need to convince the other half
No need to convince her, she's already transferred the stash :). I might have to take a recce down there though, see what the setup is like. 3 ish hour drive each way :) There are a few set ups I'd like to visit over the winter
-
Its basically on a small farm in Kent. If you are looking to make a day of it H4L and Newbery are the nearest two other companies.
-
If you still fancied a net at some point I could bring this along for inspection?
-
Much in a similar vein to Ian's missus, and whose resulting Pod Players looks a beauty, my wife arranged for a bat-buying odyssey (plus an afternoon at Words and Wickets) for my birthday back in September. Now, we set out on a fair Saturday morning and battled the M25 to arrive at the Salix farm and were given a nice little tour of the workshop and shown how a bat is made. Even met Soulman, but didn't realise it was him due to the lack of his many bats in the immediate vicinity. I must say he's a nice fellow.
Anyway, had a discussion with Ben about what I wanted and did the cleft selecting thing. Now, the choice came down to two belters, one beautiful cosmetically, one slightly less impressive looker but boy was it large for the weight in comparison (both were an unmolested 3.8 from memory) and felt pretty damn good with the mallet. So, I went for that one. The cleft was then shaped for me to get an idea of feel and once that was done, we reluctantly left it at that with the instructions to be 2lb 10oz and for it to have a natty turquoise grip. As an aside, the Hits Hard kit looks quality.
About a week later I received the finished bat. I think it's gorgeous - 2.10 on the nose, mid-to-low middle with very little scooping and healthy edges. Having smashed it with a mallet and hit an old ball about it goes. It REALLY goes (patented CBF review superlative checklist: tick) and I'm happy as a pig in excrement. A great day and a great bat - this is what wives are for ;)
Hope you enjoy the pics :):
([url]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/af729757ff4a958310a0426a6fc275b8_zpsa7c8f065.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/93962719cf32beb6d15d8a8696387ce3_zps80d2db14.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/70aad41e136429febef32408600b395a_zpsf48a3311.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/394b09137572b21885162edbcbe78326_zpsd07b3927.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/fake_street_spirit/3c2d8cacd7fcfa7221556d307ed8a680_zpsf5d8b48e.jpg[/url])
Was nice to meet you as well, when you left and Ben was working on this bat we were both thinking that it was going to make a big bat for the weight. The pick up on this bat in my opinion is like a dream so nice with amazing balance. Made a lovely sound off the mallet from memory as well.
-
Chris,
Out of interest, when are the Hits Hard bats etc going to be added to the Salix website? Are they going to be sold by retailers?
-
Chris,
Out of interest, when are the Hits Hard bats etc going to be added to the Salix website? Are they going to be sold by retailers?
HitsHard is a separate brand so will not be on the Salix Website. We are currently working on the HitsHard website through this winter. Retailers is not something that is in the immediate pipeline but things may change next season.
-
Absolutely stunning bat, but not to forget a concise yet fluently written review which I enjoyed reading :)
Hope it serves you well.
Is the handle standard Salix handle or you got it custom too? I have always found their handles to be thinner than usual.
-
That is a great bat! When you were down there could you decide on pressing i.e softly pressed etc?
-
If that is the least cosmetically pleasing of the two it is still a cracker. A guy that I played cricket with at the end of the season was treated to a Salix experience as a birthday present - I got the impression that he is sleeping with the bat.
-
Absolutely stunning bat, but not to forget a concise yet fluently written review which I enjoyed reading :)
Hope it serves you well.
Is the handle standard Salix handle or you got it custom too? I have always found their handles to be thinner than usual.
Thank you Uzair. I learned from reading yours! (I must say!)
The handle is based on my laver, which I took with me, which is the perfect thickness with a spiral and a hybrid. The handle on my Pod is similar but with one hybrid, so not the thinnest. I suppose Laver handles are really thin too, Ben was surprised at its lack of girth when investigating.
-
If that is the least cosmetically pleasing of the two it is still a cracker. A guy that I played cricket with at the end of the season was treated to a Salix experience as a birthday present - I got the impression that he is sleeping with the bat.
Haha I won't confirm or deny the likelihood of this occurring with mine...
-
That is a great bat! When you were down there could you decide on pressing i.e softly pressed etc?
There was no messing with the pressing.
-
I love how Salix slightly round off the spine toward the toe - very classy. And the finish and those grains ... muuuaaaahhh!
-
Nice review and the bat looks a belter. some good bats being posted on here the last couple of days.