Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Vic Nicholas on July 08, 2015, 05:26:44 PM

Title: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 08, 2015, 05:26:44 PM
Hey guys, what I have been given by a generous person is a bat that is purportedly one of a batch made for an English test player to his specs that went unselected by said player.

Is it the real thing?? Is it an unbelievable fake?

I don't honestly know.

What I do know is, that a person whom I consider a friend who has always been honest and up front with me, generously gifted it to me. So what doth it profit a man to fool a friend?

I have no reason to doubt the veracity of this guy and the bat, that is, without exaggeration, the best pinging bat I have ever laid hands on.

It is pressed softer than any bat I have ever laid eyes on. I have tested it with the mallet again and again. Cross referencing with my Lam and my top of the line (No Swearing Please) kicking SS bats. And this wins hands down ping wise.

SPECS:
Weight: 2.9
Picks Up Like: 2.7-2.8
Edges: 40mm
Ping: Better than all my top of the line SS bats and Lam (previously the gold standard for me as far as ping goes).

Not a great looking bat grains wise etc, but still looks good enough.

Anyway, I will let the pictures do the talking:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/cooldewd/BellBat2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/cooldewd/BellBat4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/cooldewd/BellBat5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/cooldewd/BellBat11.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/cooldewd/BellBat10.jpg)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: joymarvin on July 08, 2015, 05:42:02 PM
Looks like a Gun.
Pro bats are special.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 08, 2015, 06:19:19 PM
Looks like a Gun.
Pro bats are special.

I always suspected that pros get better willow, and this has confirmed my suspicions.

Is it the wood? Is it all in the pressing which appears softer?

I am not an expert...but this bat is my match bat this summer.

It was love at first sight....
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: iand123 on July 08, 2015, 06:37:55 PM
Which player was it for?
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 08, 2015, 06:41:05 PM
Which player was it for?

Not too hard to figure out I would have thought!
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: iand123 on July 08, 2015, 06:45:39 PM
Bell, Ali or buttler then judging by the stickers?
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: King pair on July 08, 2015, 06:52:24 PM
Isn't he australian? My guess was maxwell
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 08, 2015, 07:02:57 PM
Isn't he australian? My guess was maxwell

Made to the specs for an English batsman.

He didn't select this one. The mind boggles at just how good the three or so bats he DID select are!

Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: GarrettJ on July 08, 2015, 07:29:50 PM
I was lucky enough to play with one of sachin's bats, still wasn't any better!!!
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: joymarvin on July 08, 2015, 07:42:12 PM
I always suspected that pros get better willow, and this has confirmed my suspicions.

Is it the wood? Is it all in the pressing which appears softer?

I am not an expert...but this bat is my match bat this summer.

It was love at first sight....

Based on my opinion, it has to do with the soft pressing which pro's prefer.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Seniorplayer on July 08, 2015, 07:52:40 PM
Based on my opinion, it has to do with the soft pressing which pro's prefer.

Yes premium willow softly pressed
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: 19reading87 on July 08, 2015, 08:25:24 PM
Carberry
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Maverick79 on July 08, 2015, 08:26:55 PM
Whoever's it is, it's a cracking looking profile!
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: skip1973 on July 08, 2015, 11:42:52 PM
Do you know who made it?
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 09, 2015, 04:03:11 AM
Do you know who made it?

Head bat maker at SG apparently.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Alvaro on July 09, 2015, 06:29:50 AM
Lovely looking bat.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: sanredrose on July 09, 2015, 06:51:48 AM
Very nice bat ... profile looks stunning !
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: amritpremi on July 09, 2015, 09:32:44 AM
Looks like I do not have good enough friends. :-[
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 09, 2015, 09:38:20 AM
Ding Dong! That looks a belter  ;)

On a different note, I need to find some new friends...
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: shoab68 on July 09, 2015, 08:44:01 PM
Looks like I do not have good enough friends. :-[
Haha well said
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: shoab68 on July 09, 2015, 08:46:05 PM
That stunner is surely Ian Bell.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Bat and Ball Cricket on July 10, 2015, 02:12:56 AM
The shape looks similar to the Aldred Sovereign Gold to me.....
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 10, 2015, 04:07:45 AM
That stunner is surely Ian Bell.

;)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: InternalTraining on July 10, 2015, 05:41:23 AM
Chris Rogers?
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 11, 2015, 07:57:08 PM
Chris Rogers?

Comprehension...ENGLISH player (allegedly)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: edge on July 13, 2015, 08:57:11 PM
Looks a nice bat, but the shape is very unlike anything any of the England test players sponsored by Kook use! That could be why they didn't choose it, who knows...
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: btotts on July 14, 2015, 02:41:19 PM
looks like an offset edge?
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Spanky on July 14, 2015, 05:02:29 PM
Are the stickers genuine? Wasn't the silver section a mirror finish on the genuine stickers, where it looks matt on these (like eBay fakes).
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: uknsaunders on July 14, 2015, 09:25:30 PM
Bell, Ali or buttler then judging by the stickers?
Not Bell as his bats are made by Hawk allegedly.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Alvaro on July 15, 2015, 08:55:58 AM
Or he gets a bat from here and a bat from there...
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: sgcricket on July 15, 2015, 09:34:37 AM
Bat looks good Vic. I need some friends like that as well ;)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Phoenix on July 16, 2015, 01:01:38 PM
She's a beaut! Wish I had a few friends like yours  ;)

Why do a lot of forum users who get 'bats made for a pro' never mention exactly who it was made for?  ??? Does it just ad to the intrigue or something?

Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 16, 2015, 01:07:32 PM
@Phoenix if you have a Ring-A-Ding-Ding through the posts, you should have a Ding-Dong moment the cryptic clues reveal who it was made for!  ;)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Phoenix on July 16, 2015, 01:20:37 PM
I don't think you have ring-a-ding-donged my question  :D
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 16, 2015, 01:21:37 PM
I may have just replied to be a Bell-end to be honest with you mate...  ;)
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: uknsaunders on July 16, 2015, 01:39:12 PM
Fine bat as it is, it wasn't destined for a Pro as he never selected it. Something wasn't right (can't see what though!) so it's sat on a shelf somewhere. Nice story, nice bat and nice gift for Vic.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Vic Nicholas on July 17, 2015, 08:32:33 PM
Fine bat as it is, it wasn't destined for a Pro as he never selected it. Something wasn't right (can't see what though!) so it's sat on a shelf somewhere. Nice story, nice bat and nice gift for Vic.

I cannot quantify that it is/was a bat made for (insert test players name here).

What I do know is that having taken off the stickers the bat appears to be an SS without the TON stampings.

Who was it made for? A test player? A Ranji player?

I don't honestly know for sure.

Buuuuuuut, this bat has the BEST ping I have EVER come across. Not "just about the best" or "nearly the best"...it is THE BEST.

My SS Gladiator does not come close - and it is a brilliant bat.

It is way better than even my lam - and I never thought it possible that a one piece bat could top that beauty...but tis bat does.

All I can say is this...I am certain this bat was intended for SOMEONE of test/first class level. As it appears to be hand crafted, but to the identical design/contours of recent SS bats.

This bat has usurped ALL my other bats to be my match bat this summer.

The chap who gave it to me has 5-6 other "pro" bats that were earmarked for other Indian players...and in one case, an Aussie biffer.

I have no reason to doubt this guy as he has a bat collection numbering in the 3 figures AND has some cracking connections in India (no it is not Brimble before you ask).

I do not want to appear to be a spokesperson/salesman for this guy, as I am aware that would be against the forum rules. But, I can say this bat - irrespective of where it is from, is the real deal. I can understand how guys can play a defensive stroke that goes for 4 as with this lightly pressed bit of willow, it is easy to see why.
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: Phoenix on July 18, 2015, 12:21:08 AM
Haters are going to hate I suppose. As long as you are happy with it is all that matters
Title: Re: A GIFT FROM A GREAT GUY!
Post by: amritpremi on July 21, 2015, 03:47:40 AM
Hey Vic we must go for a few beers with your mate (I need a bat)