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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Steveo1000 on November 08, 2013, 04:11:33 PM

Title: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 08, 2013, 04:11:33 PM
This could be one for the batmakers/willow experts.
I have owned a large number of bats over the years from G1 to G horrible. I have owned bats with an array of marks and imperfections, but I have never seen the mark below on a bat until I got this one. It almost looks like a leaf!
Does anyone know how this is caused and/or what it could mean in terms of the quality of the wood?

(http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a501/steveo1000/20131108_160158_zps86847ac9.jpg)

Thanks
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: TangoWhiskey on November 08, 2013, 04:31:21 PM
I have no idea what it is, but I also have a peculiar mark on the back of my Newbery. I think it's pretty and adds character, so I'm not too fussed about it.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Number 11 on November 08, 2013, 05:16:20 PM
Could be anything from starting growth of a branch to a scar/split just under the bark or just natural growth change.
You shouldn't be using that part of the bat so it won't affect performance at all.
Does look pretty though.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 08, 2013, 08:20:52 PM
I agree, it does look pretty nice and makes me want to keep the bat (Amplus), just really curious as to what caused the mark.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Wickets-then-runs on November 08, 2013, 09:37:38 PM
I recently noticed a strange mark on the very middle of the face of my Spartan MC. It was a mark I had never seen before on one of my bats. I took it back to where I bought it from and they informed me it is called a "cherry" and is the mark left when you actually hit a ball...  :D
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 08, 2013, 10:35:31 PM
Had a look on the JS Wright website and they have a whole section on willow imperfections, but no mention of the imperfection I have. Based on the limited responses I guess it's not particularly common or well known.
 
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on November 08, 2013, 10:43:42 PM
try knocking in that mark with a mallet. You'll find it is very hard and if you hold the bat up to a light at a certain angle you may notice that even a press has not been able to compress the mark to the levels of the willow around it.

I have no idea what it is, but i've knocked in enough bats with that sort of mark to know they are very hard. Great news if you have one on the face of the bat, they are generally on the edges/high up the blade.

Jake
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 08, 2013, 10:50:40 PM
Thanks Jake,
You are spot on in terms of the location of the imperfection, high up and on the edge.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: ogroupleader on November 09, 2013, 12:43:57 AM
I recently noticed a strange mark on the very middle of the face of my Spartan MC. It was a mark I had never seen before on one of my bats. I took it back to where I bought it from and they informed me it is called a "cherry" and is the mark left when you actually hit a ball...  :D
Might be time for another new bat. Not used to seeing your bats with anything but a clean face. ah ha ha ha. yeah I laugh until i see the ball disappearing over the boundary.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Number4 on November 09, 2013, 12:53:26 AM
I have seen them a few times. I have 2 on the edge of my laver. A type of graping I believe.

(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x406/number414/image_zps812d0da6.jpg) (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/number414/media/image_zps812d0da6.jpg.html)
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: i12breakfree on November 09, 2013, 01:05:07 AM
Don't worry about the mark mate and post some pictures of the face and profile ;)
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 09, 2013, 10:06:03 AM
A few pics of the bat.
Always wanted an Amplus after having a hit with one last season. So when Barrington were selling them at around £300 (still a huge amount for a bat I know), and they had one at 2.8 which I haven't seen many of I decided to take the plunge.
It is massive for 2.8 with edges around 37mm (not flat faced) and probably the best balanced bat I have ever picked up.
There are a few marks and imperfections which I'm sure some will find inexcusable in a G1 bat at this price, but in this case I guess you are paying for a rare piece of willow and (potential) performance.

(http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a501/steveo1000/20131109_093501_zps5984aa77.jpg)
(http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a501/steveo1000/20131109_093544_zps70f22ad5.jpg)
(http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a501/steveo1000/20131109_093724_zpsce56dd8f.jpg)
(http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a501/steveo1000/20131109_095157_zps0c98382d.jpg)
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on November 09, 2013, 11:21:43 AM
A few pics of the bat.
Always wanted an Amplus after having a hit with one last season. So when Barrington were selling them at around £300 (still a huge amount for a bat I know), and they had one at 2.8 which I haven't seen many of I decided to take the plunge.
It is massive for 2.8 with edges around 37mm (not flat faced) and probably the best balanced bat I have ever picked up.
There are a few marks and imperfections which I'm sure some will find inexcusable in a G1 bat at this price, but in this case I guess you are paying for a rare piece of willow and (potential) performance.

And of course the brand name  ;)
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Number 11 on November 09, 2013, 03:25:17 PM
My Amplus is the same, looks wise I suppose some would call it a G2, performance wise probably A1+++++++ :D
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: patriotscreen on November 09, 2013, 05:38:08 PM
I don't think i've ever had a bat that didn't had that kind of mark on. Bats are natural material afterall.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 09, 2013, 06:37:51 PM
I don't think i've ever had a bat that didn't had that kind of mark on. Bats are natural material afterall.
I know they are natural, just curious as to what caused it. 20 years of buying and owning bats and I've never seen it before.
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: hell4leather cricket on November 09, 2013, 06:44:25 PM
Its a 'shee' or 'grape 'mark caused by rapid growth in the tree
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: Steveo1000 on November 09, 2013, 07:22:19 PM
It a 'shee' or 'grape 'mark caused by rapid growth in the tree
Thank you
Title: Re: What is this mark?
Post by: patriotscreen on November 09, 2013, 07:54:18 PM
Being that it is so hard I would assume it won't ever get damaged though which is a good thing. Should strengthen the edge theoretically?