Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => SF => Topic started by: dudeduke on March 07, 2014, 10:28:45 PM

Title: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 07, 2014, 10:28:45 PM
I am planning to buy a bat, and after talking to online stockist, he has suggested me to look into SF bats, as it suits my requirements. I have never used SF brand before. Has anyone used their bats before. How do they compare with Sareen sports? I have basically three options in SF.

1) SF platinum
2) SF Sapphire
3) SF power bow 20-20

price wise SF Platinum fits just perfectly in my budget, other two are slightly higher(both the same price), but still doable. Here are the pictures of the bats. Can someone suggest me which one should i get? Also online stockist is suggesting me SF platinum as he thinks it has really good profile, ping and price. I am concerned as you can see in the pictures that it has dark uneven grains in the middle. I am not sure what it means and does it affect anything.

The person at online stockist said that it is due to uneven bleach.

Please help me out here...  Thanks a lot
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 07, 2014, 10:40:34 PM
was not able to add picture... trying again

(http://i.imgur.com/ifOscLx.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ILYWIqM.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZrtFz8x.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/N1mvJvs.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/IfT2cYo.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ekU6IBH.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/1ui8OHC.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Zwt5u7Y.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/TzJGYFr.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/MUgz0ZI.jpg)
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: mattw on March 07, 2014, 10:51:50 PM
Wow, those stickers on the back of the bats are a complete rip off of the GN Oblivion(which I assume came first).
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: Vic Nicholas on March 07, 2014, 11:11:08 PM
SF are made in the SAME factory as SS.

The managing director is the brother of the managing director of SS.

You can see a video review here:

Massive SF Cricket Bats New in Stock! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Odb_rTTPZY#ws)
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 07, 2014, 11:27:55 PM
thanks a lot Vic,,,, that was very informative... can you tell me which one of the ones in pictures you would go for.. and why?
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: alee on March 08, 2014, 01:32:53 AM
I think Mahela Jayawardene is using SF bats currently. So must be good bats i assume.

Also i read an article about a SF Platinum Bat which apparently had great reviews about it.

The bat test was done in England. Cannot find the article anymore but they had high regards for the SF Platinum.

hope that helps,
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: VKS on March 08, 2014, 01:48:10 AM

SF are made in the SAME factory as SS.

The managing director is the brother of the managing director of SS.

You can see a video review here:

Massive SF Cricket Bats New in Stock! ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Odb_rTTPZY#ws[/url])


They are most definitely not made in the same factory. SF (Stanford) and SS (Sareen) are two independent companies with no shared production facilities.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 08, 2014, 03:04:19 AM
Yes, i think the owners both the companies are brothers . thats all..

I am still waiting for some advice on the bats that i posted... I am more interested in comments about the SF Platinum in the pictures. Does anyone know what are there darker uneven grains in middle? I am still newbie when it comes at knowledge about willow..

Any advice will be helpful...
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: alee on March 08, 2014, 05:38:53 AM
Can you get another SF Platinum Bat? I am sure the dark line is nothing to worry about. Just a discolouration of willow. nothing major,
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: petehosk on March 08, 2014, 10:51:57 AM
The sapphire looks the nicest and cleanest willow!!
The others don't look impressive at all!!  :(
But the only way to tell is to visit and actually have a feel of the bats and see how they feel in your hands!
Also tap them up as the quality of pressing accounts for a large proportion of the performance!
If you but from OS then you can't do this, plus some have good experience whilst others have some bad experiences from them! So you take the risk fella! If you are buying blind then the sapphire looks the cleanest which us all you can really go on!
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: trypewriter on March 08, 2014, 11:04:54 AM
The sapphire looks the nicest and cleanest willow!!
The others don't look impressive at all!!  :(
But the only way to tell is to visit and actually have a feel of the bats and see how they feel in your hands!
Also tap them up as the quality of pressing accounts for a large proportion of the performance!
If you but from OS then you can't do this, plus some have good experience whilst others have some bad experiences from them! So you take the risk fella! If you are buying blind then the sapphire looks the cleanest which us all you can really go on!

I agree. - The brown line on the Platinum could have been caused by root damage - see JS Wright's site under products - imperfections in willow - they reckon it won't affect performance.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: petehosk on March 08, 2014, 11:13:29 AM
I agree. - The brown line on the Platinum could have been caused by root damage - see JS Wright's site under products - imperfections in willow - they reckon it won't affect performance.

Yes - this is the problem with going to an unproven retailer like OS!
You can ONLY go on looks! So with only that to go on, and looking at the photos, I would plum for the sapphire.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: The Palmist on March 08, 2014, 04:10:39 PM
Have you checked IJC thread about SF bats. Will certainly be a safer option than OS unless you are getting super good deal.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: smilley792 on March 08, 2014, 04:12:15 PM
That sapphire looks a lovely shape and size for a 2.9
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: abdulwq on March 08, 2014, 08:15:20 PM
bought SF in last season so only had 6matches with it scoring 200+ runs....Wood is 2nd grade but the ping is nice as well as balance.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 09, 2014, 05:09:36 AM
Thank u all for your advice... Sapphire is already sold... so that is out of question..

i am in US so i can only buy from OS. I have another option in platinum,. its same weight 2.10, but it has a smaller profile and more concaved... It seems it is made of a denser willow. here are the pictures.

its the right most bat in the pictures, OS is suggesting the the the other bat with dark grain is better, and it is only cosmetic. The other bat profile is similar to that middle powerbow. so you can compare with it..

What do you guyz suggest ...whcih one ? this one or the old one.

(http://i.imgur.com/ed7yOLm.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/BDgDF57.jpg)
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: Buzz on March 09, 2014, 07:35:10 AM
given that you are in north America, can I suggest you speak to one of our forum sponsors - you will get the postage back in most cases due to not having to pay vat and will get a hand picked bat with proper after sales service
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: Cedrictoad on March 09, 2014, 07:45:09 AM
With the defects, dense clefts and poor bleaching just about all of those bats seem to be rejects.  I would steer clear of all of them.

If you buy a bat from the UK, the VAT savings are significant and you know you will be getting a good piece of willow.

If you have your heart set on OS, then tell him you'll wait until he gets new stock in... those bats should be avoided (obviously one of them could turn out to be a real gun but by looking at them that seems somewhat unlikely).
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: shoab68 on March 09, 2014, 08:06:37 AM
Except for the saphire which is now sold none looks impressive. You can easily get far better bats than those.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: VKS on March 09, 2014, 08:10:10 AM
We have a selection of SF bats in stock and as Buzz has said we can deduct the VAT and arrange for the delivery etc.

Pls feel free to email me on vinay@vks.com and we can discuss this further.

Regards

Vinay
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: uknsaunders on March 09, 2014, 01:26:59 PM
Distance selling I would go with a somebody you have 100% confidence in. If that is OS then fine but personally I think our forum sponsors are 100% trustworthy and will give you an honest answer.

Sent from my Lenovo B6000-F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on March 09, 2014, 02:21:17 PM
SF are made in the SAME factory as SS.


Not much imagination going on in choosing a brand names?
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 09, 2014, 03:49:13 PM
I guess they are not top quality bats.. but it seems that these were the best bat for my budget...

I am getting it for 100 Pounds delivery included to USA.

If you think I can find something better in same range then I m open to suggestions..

Thank u all
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: uknsaunders on March 09, 2014, 03:53:57 PM
Have you tried Jason at cricketstoreonline? He is based in the USA and a forum sponsor on here under his hammer brand.

Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 09, 2014, 03:57:07 PM
Yes, I have already looked it. And their prices are really jacked up, and I haven't heard really gud reviews about them..
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: uknsaunders on March 09, 2014, 04:17:20 PM
Your money but os has a set of mixed reviews on here. In that price range and style have you tried asad at Uzi sports?

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Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: Hammer Cricket on March 09, 2014, 06:20:05 PM
Yes, I have already looked it. And their prices are really jacked up, and I haven't heard really gud reviews about them..


If you've only read bad reviews, i recommend you start doing a bit more reading. Cricket Store Online has a 95% customer satisfaction rating. ( Verified by Zendesk )

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29119.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29119.0)
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 09, 2014, 06:52:49 PM
Hammer,

I didn't mean that about ur bat quality and customer service. Believe it or not I hv seen almost all ur reviews and they r the most informative on the web.. I would always listen to ur advice in those videos, just that ur prices are really high if u comare the same equipment somewhere else. I know that you hammer bats are really good, I won't even debate that.

Hope u understand where I am comming from
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: amritpremi on March 09, 2014, 07:32:59 PM
I bought one of my bats from Ajit (OS), I can vouch for quality, if he is recommending buying 1 of the bats out of 2/3 others in same range (even when it has cosmetic issues) that one would definitely be better (on performance). The downside with buying from him is delivery issues sometimes. I asked for some custom specs and it took him longer than promised, took me 2 weeks to receive the bat rather than 1 as discussed but quality was good. If he's showing the pics of the bat that means they're available with him so most likely delivery won't be an issue.

And guys as is usually considered these days I'll like to clarify I am nowhere involved with OS, just wanted to help dudeduke making up a decision. I would also like to say sponsors here are great help as well.
Title: Re: Need help selecting a SF Bat
Post by: dudeduke on March 09, 2014, 08:00:16 PM
Amritpremi,

Thanks for ur reply.. I m not in super hurry.. so I will try and ask Ajit if he can find another one to my liking