Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Cricket Manufacturers / Brands => Hell4Leather => Topic started by: AndrewS on September 23, 2014, 12:48:19 PM
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After being away from cricket for a while, I'm finally able to get back in to it next year. I've been picking up some kit during the sales for winter nets after a short bout of umming and arring, picked this up from Paul at IJC. Since I last played, the profiles have changed quite a bit and I was a bit unsure of what I wanted - I had spotted the Tempo but liking a lighter bat, assumed it would be a bit meaty for me but after a few emails with Paul, decided to go for it.
So, before the pics - a few observations until I can get some proper use in November. The bat has 7 grains with a touch of heartwood on the inside. The bat came in at mid 2'9 on delivery but after adding the scuff sheet, shoe goo, a couple of coats of oil to the rear and a new grip (supplied snake grip was fine but prefer chevron) it's just over 2'10. I've spotted other reviews saying that the handle was a bit thin. I did originally swap to a white chevron grip that I had but the quality of the grip was relatively poor and it was pretty thin and just didn't feel right - the orange on the bat at the moment is a bit thicker and just feels much better.
Pickup surprised me, I wouldn't say it feels much less than a 2'10 bat but it's very well balanced. Edges are around 28mm with the spine being around 66mm (roughly measured).
I agree with what others say in that it does feel quite soft and a few of the grains have already opened vertically during knocking in so I look forward to seeing what it can do.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1901.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1909.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1903.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1902.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1905.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1908.jpg)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4869445/bat/IMG_1910.jpg)
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Look at the spine on that thing, that's a nice looking shape
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Seeing this wants to make me actually use mine next season, fingers crossed injuries don't get in the way again.
Nice light weight that for a Tempo too
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That's a proper bat
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Each review I see of Tempo or any H4L bat they become more tempting. Now I am debating between Tempo and Hittori. I wonder which of the H4L bats have low and largest hitting area.
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Each review I see of Tempo or any H4L bat they become more tempting. Now I am debating between Tempo and Hittori. I wonder which of the H4L bats have low and largest hitting area.
The Hattori is definitely the lowest. Largest is less obvious as they are all very large really! It's probably between the Tempo and Hattori...
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Very nice indeed. That's a serious spine height!
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Great post, lovely photos of the bat. Hope it serves you well fella
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Each review I see of Tempo or any H4L bat they become more tempting. Now I am debating between Tempo and Hittori. I wonder which of the H4L bats have low and largest hitting area.
The hattori I had was the best bat I ever owned, the thing was all middle!
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Another option to throw into the mix is getting an oversized cleft and getting it made custom to what you want!? You can score a bargain if you don't mind not having the h4l stickers!
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Thought I'd just update this as I had my first dabble with it in the nets.
Pickup is excellent and works well with my back lift (cock of the wrist type), the handle is very comfortable even with a single grip and the hitting area is huge with a great response - especially as it was the first run out. The feel through the handle was like I was middling everything. Good for the confidence.
When I picked it up I had expected it to predominantly excel in cross bat shots but it's very good on the drive too due to the vast hitting area.
Overall I'm happy. Does make me want to try some more from H4L though!
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Another option to throw into the mix is getting an oversized cleft and getting it made custom to what you want!? You can score a bargain if you don't mind not having the h4l stickers!
This made me chuckle. Suddenly we are paying for H4L stickers, as if they one of the big brands now and massively overpriced?! :o #onlyonthisforum
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This made me chuckle. Suddenly we are paying for H4L stickers, as if they one of the big brands now and massively overpriced?! :o #onlyonthisforum
That may we'll be the case but now we have a forum sponsor effectively slagging off the forum :/ #renemberwhereyoucamefrom
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That may we'll be the case but now we have a forum sponsor effectively slagging off the forum :/ #renemberwhereyoucamefrom
Couldn't agree more mate
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That may we'll be the case but now we have a forum sponsor effectively slagging off the forum :/ #renemberwhereyoucamefrom
He was hardly slagging off the forum...bit of an overreaction?
Very much doubt you can get a "bargain" by getting someone else to make a Tempo shape using an oversized cleft. Either you will get a slightly inferior product for a bit cheaper, or a similar product for basically the same price. Not sure anyone offers oversized clefts on the cheap..?
If you like the shape, then just get it from Matt...he's hardly trying to rip people off is he
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I did not mean that they were over priced as per say. But all I mean is that you can get an oversized pressed and handled bat from H4L and send it to a bat maker who would make broadly the same shape for less than it would cost for a full H4L. Would it be the same product? No and I did not mean you would get an identical one, but you may get something broadly the same. And also importantly H4L do not make the tempo in G3, important for some, and also now they do not make the oversized tempo shape!
From what I have seen and heard he makes stunning bats that perform really well and that should be applauded, and you are right that you are not paying for stickers in the same way you would with other brands, it was just a possible different avenue. :)
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It is not a crime for pod shavers to make a profit! If we keep going down this rabbit hole of finding ways to save a few pence at the expense of the craftsman skill then we will soon run out of artisans making our favorite product.
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Yes and so they should make a profit! It was an idea is that not banned on the forum?
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It's a crime for anyone to make a profit according to a few on here.
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Thats not what I am saying at all! People certainly should make a profit! and value for money H4L is right up there! I just had an idea! As I said 'an option to throw into the mix'
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I have no issue with anyone making a profit, it was simply the '#' that got to me a little bit. i felt it was a contradiction to being a forum sponsor to criticise the paying customer. thats all my gripe was, i just think it was slightly odd
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From a retailers point of view I don't understand stocking brands that sell direct I must admit, it rarely works.
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From a retailers point of view I don't understand stocking brands that sell direct I must admit, it rarely works.
The retailers usually sell it at a lower price than going direct, if they didn't what would stop everyone going directly to brand every time?
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From a retailers point of view I don't understand stocking brands that sell direct I must admit, it rarely works.
I don't think that big a % of people would go direct to a brand like H4L, other than people like us on the forum.
A small brand like H4L being in a retailer means a customer can pick up and sample the bat, rather than just see the website and risk their money on a bat they've never seen before
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Small brands NEED retailers more than they'll admit. A small brand will struggle to break into the regional/national areana (unless they spend big on sponsoring pro household name players), unless people see their bets at the local shop.
If you take out the big boys (gn, kook, GM, slaz), every other brand Needs a retailer. Otherwise why on earth would anyone buy direct? Few will risk buying their bat for the next 3-4yrs from a unknown (to them) source.. They'll stick with kook, gn, GM thanks very much.
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A very interesting topic being discussed here're small brands /retailers.
I have always been a strong supporter of retailers as you can see in my very first post on here as a foroum sponsor .
Sadly for B&S after travelling extensively through out the UK and displaying our product at the Lords Show we thought through the feed back from everyone on our pricing our quality and our range it was looking good after a few weeks went by we followed up on our vists to be told sadly that no pre season orders would be required we may stock one or two bats and see a bit later in the season it's a new brand and we have committed to the more popular brands see us next year .We ran with four retailers in the UK and one in America for 2014 and we thank them for trying to support us the total no of sales was not great our chances of survival were slim hence the decision to sell direct we shall see what 2015 holds , there are both pros and cons to direct selling the most important factor for 2015 will be to build up a trustworthy and reliable relationship with all our online customers make sure our stock is quality deliverys on time where possible (once it's left us we do not have much say over the timescale we do trust our current provider I must add ) and give the customer the confidence to come back again it was a very tough decision for us and it may prove to be the wrong one only time will tell
Merry Christmas everyone
B&S
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A very interesting topic being discussed here're small brands /retailers.
I have always been a strong supporter of retailers as you can see in my very first post on here as a foroum sponsor .
Sadly for B&S after travelling extensively through out the UK and displaying our product at the Lords Show we thought through the feed back from everyone on our pricing our quality and our range it was looking good after a few weeks went by we followed up on our vists to be told sadly that no pre season orders would be required we may stock one or two bats and see a bit later in the season it's a new brand and we have committed to the more popular brands see us next year .We ran with four retailers in the UK and one in America for 2014 and we thank them for trying to support us the total no of sales was not great our chances of survival were slim hence the decision to sell direct we shall see what 2015 holds , there are both pros and cons to direct selling the most important factor for 2015 will be to build up a trustworthy and reliable relationship with all our online customers make sure our stock is quality deliverys on time where possible (once it's left us we do not have much say over the timescale we do trust our current provider I must add ) and give the customer the confidence to come back again it was a very tough decision for us and it may prove to be the wrong one only time will tell
Merry Christmas everyone
B&S
Hopefully you have a fantastic 2015 as since b&s came into this forum and my cricketing world I have nothing but praise for everything I have purchased and there's been a lot....