Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: dynamiccoins on June 23, 2015, 01:19:06 PM
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Hi,
My two sons have started going to some cricket sessions and I am now at the stage of needing to buy them some kit a bat included.
I had a quick look around but as someone who doesn't play cricket I wondered if anyone had any advise on a first purchase for them. Is it worth paying extra for English willow at this stage - they play with a mixture of hat and soft balls. I am wary of buying too cheap as I think its false economy but at the same time I suspect it would be a waste of money to pay too much.
They will both need size 3.
Any suggestions or help would be great. I live near Colts Cricket and Fordham Sports so was thinking of popping down there at the weekend bu thought I would see what the experts thought first.
Thanks alot for any help
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Probably worth taking a look on ebay. Can pick up cheaper junior bats than going to a retailer.
Doubt most of them have too much use either
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Visiting a reputed retailer such as Fordham would be advisable. They will be able to size up your sons so as to see what the correct bat size is for them.
Then they will be able to let you try out a variety of Kashmir and English willow bats. You can then make a decision as to what suits you best.
eBay may be cheaper, but you get what you pay for and I don't think you'll get the same quality of advice and expertise.
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Probably worth going to a store so they can wave the bats around.
I think it was Paul @ItsJustCricket did a video showing that kids size bats are inconsistent between brands.
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Probably worth going to a store so they can wave the bats around.
I think it was Paul @ItsJustCricket did a video showing that kids size bats are inconsistent between brands.
He did indeed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQL4w1vG3nE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQL4w1vG3nE)
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Thanks for all the prompt replies and an interesting video.
I have to say I was expecting a load of second hand it on Ebay but there isn't much and as noted I'd rather spend a little more and use a supplier who can give me advice.
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I think the most important thing is the weight. I see too many kids on a Sunday morning using bats that are far too big and heavy for them.
When I took my 7yo to get a bat this year I blindfolded him (looked a bit odd I'll grant you) and made him choose a bat on the pick up only. It's natural for them to go for looks/sponsorship so thought this was the best way.
He still got a Kook mind you but it's a fine little bat!
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I run kids cricket at my club and a fair few of them turn up with size 3 Kashmir willow bats. there are 2 reasons for this
A. Sport direct bats seems to start at size 3
B. Kashmir willow is cheaper.
however, these bats tend to be quite heavy, particularly bottom heavy.
At this age they don't need a 'gun' of a bat, but something light and preferably something with a thin handle to match their small hands.
When I was looking for a size 2 for my daughter I went to Somerset county sports and there they had a good selection of kids bats. the Spartan and SS were particularly good as although they were Kashmir, they were relatively light and had thin handles. They were priced at £28.50 so I looked online to see if this was a good price, I couldn't find any comparables. At the time a second hand English willow size 2 bat came up on eBay so I bought that instead. It is a good bat, significantly lighter and responds well too.
I got a gun of a size 4 GM Duelist from the shop at the municipal tip. they always have a few bats there and they only cost a few quid.
For training I mainly use plastic bats for the kids in the 6-8 age range as they are significantly lighter. I got those from upfront cricket online for a tenner each posted. I am sure the sponsors on here do them too.
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Wouldn't personally pay to much for children's bat as they soon outgrow them and we are already halway through the cricket season.
Also the key here is you need to buy from somewhere where they can have a swing with the bat to ensure the bat handle is not to thick and the bat is not long or to heavy for them good tip is to get them to hold the bat with just there top hand in the pickup if it makes thier wrist ache tthe bat is to heavy.English willow is best and it is not as heavy as kasmir but at the stage they are at I agree it would be a waste of your money to pay to much.
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I bought a bat from msr then took a chunk out if the toe, thinned out the handle and shaped it to fit my son. Then put stickers on it to match my bat.
That way you get something cheap and ideal for you kid.
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I got my boy's kit from Jake at Vitas, he was ace, very helpful I needed a size 2 & 3, he recommended the gray nics power bow as they were light and English willow, they both ping which is brill as they have progressed to hard balls this year.
The bats were £35, so not too expensive, but will get dearer next year as eldest moves to size 4.
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I would recommend
http://uzisports.com/junior-cricket-bats/Graynicolls-junior-bats?product_id=1158&filter=37 (http://uzisports.com/junior-cricket-bats/Graynicolls-junior-bats?product_id=1158&filter=37)
we also have Plain English Willow bats which we are selling in the shop for £44.99
I will have a look if there any others which may be suitable for your son
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I can't count the number of times I have seen boys turning up at cricket with kit that their parents have paid good money for but is the wrong size - it costs no more to get fitting kit than not.
The trouble is that most parents rely on the "experts" at Sports Direct or the local school uniform shop; whilst I am sure they have the best of intentions their guidance is poor and in many cases just plain wrong. As the forum advises take your money and go to a proper cricket shop (Vitas, Uzi, VKS etc) they will give you great advice and it wont cost you that much more, if anything. Unfortunately, as I have leaned to my cost, this is just the beginning, you can't buy cricket kit to grow in to and as your boys grow so will their desire for a bespoke G1 "gun". Good luck and enjoy the journey!
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I can't count the number of times I have seen boys turning up at cricket with kit that their parents have paid good money for but is the wrong size - it costs no more to get fitting kit than not.
The trouble is that most parents rely on the "experts" at Sports Direct or the local school uniform shop; whilst I am sure they have the best of intentions their guidance is poor and in many cases just plain wrong. As the forum advises take your money and go to a proper cricket shop (Vitas, Uzi, VKS etc) they will give you great advice and it wont cost you that much more, if anything. Unfortunately, as I have leaned to my cost, this is just the beginning, you can't buy cricket kit to grow in to and as your boys grow so will their desire for a bespoke G1 "gun". Good luck and enjoy the journey!
i agree with you with every word you have written
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thought I would put my money where my mouth was so I went to the shop at the dump and picked up these two size 4 bats for £2.50 each. a few minor repairs a sand and re oil and we are done. I re-gripped them with secondhand grips and put grip grip (self amalgamating tape) so the grips won't move when the bottom handed biffers get their hands on them (poor coaching LOL) .The Woodworm weighs 1.12lbs the GM 1.13lbs. the woodworm responds better though the GM isn't bad.
Usually I would spend more time finishing them and I would leave the glue to set for at least 24 hrs, but I thought I would show what you can get for very little money and if you are prepared to spend a day off in the sun sanding cricket bats.
Enjoy
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah231/gurujames1/image.jpg1_zpsid6o9yn4.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/gurujames1/media/image.jpg1_zpsid6o9yn4.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah231/gurujames1/image.jpg2_zps397zu1qp.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/gurujames1/media/image.jpg2_zps397zu1qp.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah231/gurujames1/image.jpg3_zpsmidguj7r.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/gurujames1/media/image.jpg3_zpsmidguj7r.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah231/gurujames1/image.jpg4_zpsqpggrboa.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/gurujames1/media/image.jpg4_zpsqpggrboa.jpg.html)
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I think Sports Direct need applauding for making cricket affordable, I bought my two this and the next 2 years trousers at £3.50 each.
For personal items I really do think advice should be sought, every kid wants a bigger bat, it really throws juniors when I tell them that my bats are made slightly smaller (as I am not 6 foot tall).
Is it as simple as measure the distance from floor to hand when held by the side - that way differences in manufacturers sizes are ruled out??
After that it is all down to the stickers
Maybe just maybe there is an opportunity for the forum to create a hand me down section, with set rules such as a size 3 that is in decent nick is bought for a third of the price, so you can buy a bat for 45 and sell it on for 15? The only down side is postage costs
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I think Sports Direct need applauding for making cricket affordable, I bought my two this and the next 2 years trousers at £3.50 each.
For personal items I really do think advice should be sought, every kid wants a bigger bat, it really throws juniors when I tell them that my bats are made slightly smaller (as I am not 6 foot tall).
Is it as simple as measure the distance from floor to hand when held by the side - that way differences in manufacturers sizes are ruled out??
After that it is all down to the stickers
Maybe just maybe there is an opportunity for the forum to create a hand me down section, with set rules such as a size 3 that is in decent nick is bought for a third of the price, so you can buy a bat for 45 and sell it on for 15? The only down side is postage costs
I agree, they sell clothing at a price which can only be beneficial. My point was that the advice they give regarding kit, and bats in particular, is often wrong. If you know what you are buying then it's not an issue, if however you are not a cricketer you would be better to seek advice from the specialist; this would avoid wasting money on something that was not fit for purpose and possibly impacted the child's enjoyment and ability to play the game. I have seen on a number of occasions where families have ended up buying twice to correct the errors of the earlier purchase.
I like your idea of kids hand me downs. I usually end up giving stuff away at the club but would love to recoup some of the costs as most of the kit is in great condition - just grown out of.
Cheers
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I agree, they sell clothing at a price which can only be beneficial. My point was that the advice they give regarding kit, and bats in particular, is often wrong. If you know what you are buying then it's not an issue, if however you are not a cricketer you would be better to seek advice from the specialist; this would avoid wasting money on something that was not fit for purpose and possibly impacted the child's enjoyment and ability to play the game. I have seen on a number of occasions where families have ended up buying twice to correct the errors of the earlier purchase. Cheers
It is one of our most common junior purchases, a bat to replace an SD bat that is the wrong size, too heavy, or otherwise just rubbish.
Can't compete with their clothing prices at times, but often it is closeout/old stock from the cricket brands, rather than current season (and higher quality) stuff from Adidas, Canterbury etc. I have seen some truly terrible cheap Slazenger whites knocking about too.
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at that age the bat make or performance is unimportant, its all about building technique. Any bat OF THE RIGHT WEIGHT will do, whether it is a Sports Direct plank or a £500 salix.
revert to the old school techniques
stand the kid in his back lift
remove bottom hand
count to 10 and see if he can still lift in position
he will thank you for it in a few years time when the heavy bat bottom hand sloggers from under 10's cant get a bat on it at 13 years old.
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It is one of our most common junior purchases, a bat to replace an SD bat that is the wrong size, too heavy, or otherwise just rubbish.
Can't compete with their clothing prices at times, but often it is closeout/old stock from the cricket brands, rather than current season (and higher quality) stuff from Adidas, Canterbury etc. I have seen some truly terrible cheap Slazenger whites knocking about too.
I agree with most of what you said but "terrible whites"? They're white-ish, they cover my legs up, they're good whites. Is there more of a distinction I'm missing?
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I agree with most of what you said but "terrible whites"? They're white-ish, they cover my legs up, they're good whites. Is there more of a distinction I'm missing?
One slide in the field and they disintegrate :(
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at that age the bat make or performance is unimportant, its all about building technique. Any bat OF THE RIGHT WEIGHT will do, whether it is a Sports Direct plank or a £500 salix.
Couldn't agree more only to add "and size".
The problems that I have seen is that the bats are often too big and too heavy because the guidance given in the shop has been poor to nonexistent. The make and model is just a nice to have and often driven by peer pressure.