Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: 19reading87 on December 27, 2014, 04:58:37 PM

Title: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: 19reading87 on December 27, 2014, 04:58:37 PM
Please explain you answer...

For me the important thing is the handle shape. It must feel right in the hands above anything else
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: smilley792 on December 27, 2014, 05:07:19 PM
None.

Just something that interests me.


Most off the shelf bats I can find in my weight and pick up. And usually handle configuration.

So I like something to appeal to me. Weather the strange shape of the nemesis. The oversized spine from a giant cleft. Or even the stickers.
If something attracts me, I then specify one in my weight and handle and if it's available buy it!


Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on December 27, 2014, 05:16:05 PM
Profile - needs to have wood behind where I got the ball.

Pickup - not that vital off the shelf, has to feel nice in my hands, but grips and binding can help that so I'm happy to buy blind

Weight - it has to have some  :D

Stickers - not overly fussed, but if there were two bats identical in every other way I'd chose on that...
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: praguetaz on December 27, 2014, 05:17:02 PM
Tough one this poll as it isn't just one thing... profile is important but so is pick up and balance as I have thin wrists... stickers help the overall aesthetics as bats are a thing of beauty and i do spend a lot of time looking, admiring, cleaning and during the season shadow practising in my flat.. not really interested in which pros are using it as I'm unlikely to get hold of a bat in that league...

Least of all for me is probably the shape of the handle as I usually have at least 1.5 grips and play until it feels comfortable in my hands....

The more bats that go through my hands, i believe pressing and response off a mallet and ball is the thing that gives me most confidence along with the way the bat feels and sounds when hitting balls...
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: Northern monkey on December 27, 2014, 05:33:57 PM
If you'd asked this a week ago, I would waffled on about grains,weight,square thick toes,no concaving,handle shape etc etc,
But,,,, picked my new Affinity up this week, after a little finger tap and a waft about with it??

Didn't even have stickers on? Not got a clue what it weighs or anything else,, ,,I even asked Marcus to sticker it up in whatever he chooses
And if Marcus had said it was £500, I still woulda bit his hand off
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: wayward_hayward on December 27, 2014, 05:37:53 PM
I would say it's a combination of a majority of these but I plumped for the company. I want to put my faith in a reputable brand who produce high quality gear.

Who would chose a bat with the perfect profile and weight on the net from Bob or Dave Cricket Bat Co. who has no reputation or history?
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: praguetaz on December 27, 2014, 05:55:41 PM
I would say it's a combination of a majority of these but I plumped for the company. I want to put my faith in a reputable brand who produce high quality gear.

Who would chose a bat with the perfect profile and weight on the net from Bob or Dave Cricket Bat Co. who has no reputation or history?

Someone had to for all our custom brands on this forum... obviously marketing whether by local players or advertising will help, which might be where the combination of profiles and stickers may come into play before reputation based on performance and service is properly established...
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: jamesisapayne on December 27, 2014, 05:56:03 PM
I would say it's a combination of a majority of these but I plumped for the company. I want to put my faith in a reputable brand who produce high quality gear.

Who would chose a bat with the perfect profile and weight on the net from Bob or Dave Cricket Bat Co. who has no reputation or history?

I kind of understand your point but how would you ever try anything new?

For me it's handle feel, pickup/balance, looks and price in that order.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: joeljonno on December 27, 2014, 06:29:59 PM

Profile - needs to have wood behind where I hit the ball.


You like bats with big edges then Cam? [emoji2]


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Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2014, 06:43:49 PM
I've lost sight of what/how to pick a good bat. My reasoning is that now I've got a bat that was destined for a pro and I've seen/got what I want, I see how ripped off the 'normal' bats actually are... I trusted bat makers to make me the best bat going (especially for 200+ quid)... Now I know that I just get the dregs as they have more special clefts they give away for free etc.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on December 27, 2014, 06:51:11 PM
You like bats with big edges then Cam? [emoji2]


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#HeKnows  :D
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: i12breakfree on December 27, 2014, 07:20:36 PM

I've lost sight of what/how to pick a good bat. My reasoning is that now I've got a bat that was destined for a pro and I've seen/got what I want, I see how ripped off the 'normal' bats actually are... I trusted bat makers to make me the best bat going (especially for 200+ quid)... Now I know that I just get the dregs as they have more special clefts they give away for free etc.
[/]

What bat do you own now ?
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2014, 07:28:43 PM
H4L from Matt. Bloody awesome
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: praguetaz on December 27, 2014, 08:30:37 PM
H4L from Matt. Bloody awesome

I'd like to know how to get hold of one of these - any tips? a pro bat i mean - i have a lovely repaired 666 which is still one of my fave bats...
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: Buzz on December 27, 2014, 08:40:22 PM
I like bats with shiny stickers. over the years I have scored runs with bats with different shaped handles, different weights and profiles.

I have also made 0's with a load of the above too.

buying a bat is a mental thing, the quality you are able to buy from the sponsors on here means you can buy because of the shiny stickers.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2014, 09:09:21 PM
I like bats with shiny stickers. over the years I have scored runs with bats with different shaped handles, different weights and profiles.

I have also made 0's with a load of the above too.

buying a bat is a mental thing, the quality you are able to buy from the sponsors on here means you can buy because of the shiny stickers.

while I agree that a bat is a bat etc... There is a huge difference in quality between the 'normal' bats and the huge clefts etc
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: tim2000s on December 28, 2014, 10:14:03 AM
while I agree that a bat is a bat etc... There is a huge difference in quality between the 'normal' bats and the huge clefts etc
The only real difference is in your head. I have a very nice, custom,  massive hunk of willow Dynadrive and a butterfly b3. Both weigh the same but one is much less dense. Using both in the nets, I couldn't really tell you that there is a huge amount of difference in performance of the bat itself. Shiny stickers are definitely the way forward...
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on December 28, 2014, 10:22:34 AM
The only real difference is in your head. I have a very nice, custom,  massive hunk of willow Dynadrive and a butterfly b3. Both weigh the same but one is much less dense. Using both in the nets, I couldn't really tell you that there is a huge amount of difference in performance of the bat itself. Shiny stickers are definitely the way forward...

Not just shiny stickers in this case, the funky grooves out the back too!  :D
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: Gingerbusiness on December 28, 2014, 10:35:56 AM
In my view, from being properly sponsored in the earlier parts of my career, the pros do get the best PERFORMING willow, but not necessarily the best looking.

Yes, if you are a test player, companies want to showcase their best looking/performing willow, as it will be on TV more often than not. County players get their pick of bats after this and it is like a pyramid effect, top down as to who gets what from the 'players bin'.

Back in the day (2002), I had a TK pressed and shaped Mjolnir. 10 grains. Perfectly straight, played like a cannon. Would retail now for £450+. I thought I would never find a bat better - funnily enough, when that part of my life was over and I went to uni, I was skint, so brought a £50 MB Zulfi off eBay - performance difference was negligible. I couldn't believe it.

To this day, it's nice to have top bats, but one from Newbery does not necessarily play better than one from Malik.
It all comes down to a lot of knowledge about what suits YOUR game, the batmakers skill and a bit of luck!
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: Seniorplayer on December 28, 2014, 11:41:25 AM
 In order: Handle  pickup tap up ping across  and down the face and if possible nice soft blade with  straight even grains 6 Or more.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: OwzatOllie on December 28, 2014, 03:38:01 PM
It's got to look good, in terms of stickers and finishing.
It has to feel good in my hands, if it doesn't feel perfect then it's not for me,
middle has to be mid to low and handle the right thickness
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a bat and why??
Post by: seedy on December 28, 2014, 03:59:22 PM
Mainly the right sort of weight 2.10 to 2.11, must be a relatively full profile. No high middle bats, prefer an oval handle but would take a round.

Clean face with no blemishes butterfly marks  or pin knots and ideally 8 decently spaced grains.