Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 03:09:36 PM

Title: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 03:09:36 PM
Hi guys,

I am looking for a new bat but I want a light weight bat that pings well. I remember back home when I used to play about 15 yrs ago we never cared about number of grains just the balance and weight had to be good. Now I see everyone is crazy about grains and willow grades, just want to know whats the real difference in grade 2, 1 and 1+ apart from looks? any difference in performance and life?

Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: ajmw89 on June 24, 2015, 03:12:41 PM
Just the amount of heartwood/blemishes.  No real difference in performance if pressed right and there are some schools of thought that lower grade willow will perform better and last longer than top grade willow due to the inperfections
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 03:18:09 PM
Ok so there is no real need to spend £400 on a bat then...ok and any difference in UK and Asian bats quality? I know asian bats are cheaper, player grade is available for £250 from most of the companies.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Cin88 on June 24, 2015, 03:28:06 PM
When it comes to willow grade there's no difference from what I can tell. I only spent 100 pounds on my bat for this year, grade 3 willow with a ton of imperfections but its an absolute gun. But, it doesn't exist according to the forum because I haven't put pictures up.

As for the difference between UK and Asian made, i've heard from some people that Asian bats are drier and therefore more brittle and likely to be damaged. Although i've never actually used an Asian bat so they might just be talking a load of rubbish.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: arv7421 on June 24, 2015, 03:41:55 PM
willow grade doesn't effect the performance of a bat. personally my bats had a few imperfections to the look but always been a gun to own.

Yes, there is very fine difference in Asian bats and English bats and it is mainly because of the climate difference. Asia as we all know is far drier than UK. Hence if a cleft sits there for a while, it tends to loose more moisture than it may in UK.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Gurujames on June 24, 2015, 03:49:48 PM
I have a butterfly grade bat and its performance is absolutely fantastic. I also have a grade 1 and its performance is fantastic. I have an Asian made grade one and it's a bit of a plank. The main difference I can see is the looks. However, a well pressed bat will perform well regardless of the willow grade, and any quality maker will press their bats well. If you think it's important for your bat to look good then pay double (or more) for a higher grade bat. If you want performance and have some change leftover get a lower grade bat made by one of the sponsors.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Seniorplayer on June 24, 2015, 04:00:39 PM
Bat Grades between manufactures do vary
What I look for is
1 quality of the willow
2 quality of the handle
3 quality of the pressing
Weight distribution
Maximum feel
Maximum performance
Correct Shaping with weight in the correct place.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: gaurav23 on June 24, 2015, 04:05:09 PM
James here must have had a one off experience with the Asian bat. No one sane can deny Asian bats the quality they actually are. It's a forum - you are bound to have 'for & against' with everything. No one can present a rational explanation for their disliking to the Asian brands.
They deliver similar performance for half the price in most of the cases - just a personal preference & nothing more to it.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Gurujames on June 24, 2015, 04:10:33 PM
James here must have had a one off experience with the Asian bat. No one sane can deny Asian bats the quality they actually are. It's a forum - you are bound to have 'for & against' with everything. No one can present a rational explanation for their disliking to the Asian brands.
They deliver similar performance for half the price in most of the cases - just a personal preference & nothing more to it.
It may be a one off and Asian made bats do indeed offer good value. However, for the same price you can buy a custom made, lower grade bat, which, in my experience perform brilliantly. Or, a grade one Hunty County bat through Vitas.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: gaurav23 on June 24, 2015, 04:24:56 PM
Custom made lower grade is an off the shelf higher grade - like I said comes down to personal preference.
Hunts custom G1 is for 175 quid right ??
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: gaurav23 on June 24, 2015, 04:25:47 PM
Plz replace is by Or.
Apologies
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 04:50:13 PM
So how's hell4leather hellfire? I think it's around £220 or something for g2.



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Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on June 24, 2015, 05:46:24 PM
So how's hell4leather hellfire? I think it's around £220 or something for g2.



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£195 with free UK delivery from us.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Gurujames on June 24, 2015, 08:13:40 PM
Custom made lower grade is an off the shelf higher grade - like I said comes down to personal preference.
Hunts custom G1 is for 175 quid right ??
p
This is simply not true. If it was I would not have had to wait 2 weeks for my Aldred to be made.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 09:12:29 PM
£195 with free UK delivery from us.

@Vitas Cricket  Do you have Spartan CG Authority Cricket Bat in 2.8 with no concaving? if yes then price please?
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on June 24, 2015, 09:21:58 PM
@Vitas Cricket  Do you have Spartan CG Authority Cricket Bat in 2.8 with no concaving? if yes then price please?

If I did it wouldn't be for sale! It would be in my bag.

Bats like that are a rarity. A big full profiled bat like the CG Authority starts around 2'10
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 24, 2015, 09:44:19 PM
oh no so what's the solution? [emoji23]


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Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on June 24, 2015, 10:13:13 PM
oh no so what's the solution? [emoji23]


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In short, there isn't one. In the specific case of the CH Authority, they are supposed to replicate the players bat, so many of the earlier ones were around 3lb. They changed quite quickly and went closer to 2'10 with the bats but the lightest one I've seen is 2'11

Generally speaking, you can have a big bat, or a light bat. To have both is a big ask.

Occasionally a very big bat is available in a light weight, we had a huge Cadejo at 2'9 in stock for a long time earlier in the Summer for example, it isn't something I can simply order 5 of, if we come across one then great, and usually it sells immediately

You can get a custom made bat from a low density cleft but these pieces of wood are very rare. I saw a handful at Hunts today for example and have sold two already. I would be happy to send some photos and discuss if you want to email jake@vitascricket.co.uk

There is a another way that in my experience many Asian brands use. They can over dry the willow to the point where it is capable of making a very big bat but is very brittle and won't last long. The bat can sometimes not be full size or full width, I see many badts with a combination of all 3. There's a CA I am repairing currently that is incredibly dry, Harrow sized and only 104mm wide.

Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on June 24, 2015, 10:56:55 PM
The other thing with really dry bats is that wood takes on moisture in its surroundings.
Asia is hotter and dryer than England, so their bats will naturally have a lower moisture content out of the factory. When they get over here they can gain moisture, the moisture obviously weighs something so the bat puts on weight.

(This isn't just Asian brands either, Laver & Wood bats put on weigh when they reach our shores too)
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: JB on June 25, 2015, 07:00:32 AM
So how's hell4leather hellfire? I think it's around £220 or something for g2.

I've currently got 2 Hellfire's a Pro and a G1 roughly the same weight. The Pro is an absolute cannon, everyone who taps it up or even hears the sound it makes comments! The G1 is the one Jake posted a pic of in his handpicking trip thread that i'm currently playing in. I asked for a big bat for the weight and said I was prepared to wait for it. My requirements were certainly delivered! I'll try to post some comparison pics as the size difference is ridiculous, the G1 is enormous next to the Pro
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 25, 2015, 03:28:39 PM
@Vitas Cricket I've sent you an email as requested.

I like the look for these spartan mc bats, mc 1000 has no concaving, would that be the case for a 2.8 bat as well?
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 25, 2015, 03:57:11 PM
Hellfire looks great too


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Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: sanredrose on June 26, 2015, 03:38:06 PM
@Vitas Cricket I've sent you an email as requested.

I like the look for these spartan mc bats, mc 1000 has no concaving, would that be the case for a 2.8 bat as well?

If you are looking for full profile bats in 2.8 lb range, it would be quite difficult to find. However if you opt for bats which pick up and feel like 2.8 lb then you will have lot more options ...

Just a thought to consider  :) :)
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 26, 2015, 03:42:07 PM
Yeah just ordered with Jake, a custom hunts bat with the best willow they have so there is a chance that I might be able to get a 2.8-2.9 bat with full profile and big edges so lets see how things come along ;)
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: sanredrose on June 26, 2015, 03:45:45 PM
Yeah just ordered with Jake, a custom hunts bat with the best willow they have so there is a chance that I might be able to get a 2.8-2.9 bat with full profile and big edges so lets see how things come along ;)

Aha since jake is involved, you will get a good bat  :). Nice chap, had a wonderful experience dealing with him for a hunts county bat.
Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: icewolf on June 26, 2015, 09:23:23 PM
Yup hopefully it would be awesome.


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Title: Re: Whats the difference in grade 2, 1 and 1++ willow apart from grains?
Post by: btotts on July 01, 2015, 03:58:32 PM
Please people -  keep paying £300 for top grade bats because you are obsessed with the grains and look of a bat so that bat makers can afford to let the rest of pick up bargains in the lower grades  or butterfly that will perform at least as well. ;)