Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: SOULMAN1012 on September 06, 2014, 09:34:48 AM
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Hi guys just looking for people's thoughts on L&W bats. I have never owns or used one but for some reason have always wanted one.
The only thing stopping me is are they worth the hassle? I have to order from abroad so it I'm. It happy I'm kind of stuck with it and there also seems to be a lot of issues with weight gain and bats not arriving at anywhere near required weight.
The other point is though that you hardly ever see them for sale so the simple part of me thinks well they must be gun bats! So to those that have them are they worth the expense?
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My laver is a beauty, you've seen it I think, keeps getting better and has never noticeably fluctuated in weight.
I am thoroughly pleased with it.
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I have a private bin which is an absolute gun, probably far too good for a player of my ability, you just have to lean on your drives. I got it July last year ordered 2.9 arrived 2.95 and has not gained any weight since other than the extra grip I put on it as the handle was a bit thin. I have to admit I would not spend that sort of money on a bat normally but it was an engagement present from my then fiancé, now wife, but having said that I reckon I would definitely have another!!
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L&W do have some offers from time to time - check their facebook page. Also they have a special offers section on the website, might be worth checking out to see if there is something that fits what you are after.
I think they are great bats from experience, definitely worth considering. I am not sure about the weight issue (since I haven't experienced it myself), but others seem to have this problem. Their service is top notch and James can do some pretty amazing things with a piece of willow.
Whether it is worth getting bats from NZ when you have so many choices in the UK is another question.
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Great bats, great after sales, only let down by the guaranteed weight increase of 1-2 ounces after 6-12 months. I have a signature for sale in the for sale thread. It has put on an ounce in the last year. Currently there is an issue with custom charges which they are trying to get around. Roughly around £25 as they only value the bat at £50
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The same question can go for most premium brands except the weight gain issue. I will personally wait for a bargain used laver than buying a brand new. That way you will be losing little or no money if you don't like it.
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I have a special reserve which I love, no real issues with the weight, I've battered it and it just keeps going, even needed re-handling, it is a gun!
I also have a private bin "bradman" which is amazing, there are lots of amazing bat makers on here though
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Best bats I have ever owned hands down. Best service Ive experienced from a bat maker.
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I don't understand the weight talk tbh - IMO it misses the point by a long stretch. Granted, you want something in a certain weight, but an oz or 2 is really very little. If it picks up and plays well, that weight means nothing. They do seem to get an inordinate amount of flack for it, though I also fail to believe it's just them that have the phenomena.
Are they worth it (and associated risk/hassle of buying something blind/afar)? Can't say tbh. I ADORE their stickers and brand profile - probably my favourite of them all (traditional, bespoke AND innovative/forward thinking) - but is the product (the piece of wood) head and shoulders amongst anything you can source here? I'm not so sure.
I bought one as I was seduced by the Ultra profile, and it genuinely had a physics defying pickup and the wood placement was the perfect blend of an "MMI with shoulders". On the evidence of that bat I will say they can definitely shape something special, and that's one thing I'd say not everyone could do to that standard.
The service is second to none though, and as a company they are one of the most pleasant people in the industry to deal with. The one experience in Cricket that was close to having a bespoke suit made!
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Surely for that money you're looking at a top end Salix or Millichamp and Hall. For a less classical brand Affinity are an obvious choice. With so many home grown brands who pride themselves on the product they give (e.g. anyone on the forum) it's almost a crime not to buy something British (no offence Hammer). That said if you have a dream bat it's hard to shake it. There's no point in spend a few hundred quid and then thinking "f*ck, I wish I'd bought that one...."
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Surely for that money you're looking at a top end Salix or Millichamp and Hall. For a less classical brand Affinity are an obvious choice. With so many home grown brands who pride themselves on the product they give (e.g. anyone on the forum) it's almost a crime not to buy something British (no offence Hammer). That said if you have a dream bat it's hard to shake it. There's no point in spend a few hundred quid and then thinking "f*ck, I wish I'd bought that one...."
Ridiculous comment...Buy them all ;)
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They certainly seem to be at the top end of the market and have their niche.
Think about the car market, there is the good local product and then there is the import. Sure you can find the same quality locally, but it's the brand name that you want.
If someone rocks up to the game with a L&W I'm certainly going to go and have a look, pick it up and appreciate the craftsmanship.
That said if a B3, Aldred, B&S or any of the others on this forum are at the ground I'll be doing the same.
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Can't comment on how they play, as I've not used one.
The keeper in my team last season had one. He had a pretty bad season with the bat.... But that wasn't anything to do with the bat.
One of my other team mates got stuffed around by L&W on a particular bat, ending in dispute with L&W. If you are not in this position and just buying one off the shelf, this shouldn't be an issue though.
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They certainly seem to be at the top end of the market and have their niche.
Think about the car market, there is the good local product and then there is the import. Sure you can find the same quality locally, but it's the brand name that you want.
If someone rocks up to the game with a L&W I'm certainly going to go and have a look, pick it up and appreciate the craftsmanship.
That said if a B3, Aldred, B&S or any of the others on this forum are at the ground I'll be doing the same.
Played against a guy with a L&W signature last week. First ball he caned me over the top for 4 before I nailed him LBW second ball - so did not see much of it but the 4 was off middle but seemed to go miles!
I asked to have a look at it, he said no. Shame really as from a workmanship standpoint, I like. However, for the price... Salix, Newbery and M&H are as good, if not better - however in the UK, L&W and Screaming Cat demand a premium because they are rare.
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Here in South Australia all those brands are very rare including L&W.
It's all GN, GM, Kookaburra, Spartan and Puma. There are Bradbury's, New Balance, Slazenger and a few others at the Greg Chappell Cricket Centre (GCCC)but they are only new to Adelaide.
So if I want one it's the same deal, minus the weight gain I assume.
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I Own couple of Lavers over years. I have seen my Laver gaining weight but I think its not just Lavers. Beautiful piece of willow and great customer service. I do notice though that these days, products might be a little off the mark as they started making bats for other small time boutique brands( massive increase in production) and also I observe that user specs are not met. Again their customer service compensates this. Overall If I have a chance would definitely get Lavers in future.