Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: rickjames on September 29, 2015, 11:09:00 AM
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This is tomorrow, correct?
Not going obviously but look forward to seeing what's on offer for a first time bat purchase...
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Seems a strange time to have a cricket trade show about a week after the season ends. Suppose the thinking is general trade (B2C) will be quiet so hopefully businesses can attend without it impacting on customers.
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Seems a logical time to me?
Season has ended, so release next years range nice and early, and more importantly have it on sale before Xmas, simples...
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I am sorry to say that work is getting in the way of me gatecrashing the event this year :(
For those going, have a great time.
Please post pictures.
Also I would really like New Balance to do some high quality playing trousers so an update on that please!
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQGbbbAXAAAbnto.jpg:large)
Don't see any whites...
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Where is everyone?!?! This is madness...
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Newbery just put this on Facebook
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/12045662_941413539267059_1902694919506477158_o.jpg)
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Urgh....not sure about that :S
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Why would you put that grip on??? Why change it?
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I like it. Bats, stickers and grip all look good to me.
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We're surviving on bread and water here...
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Stickers are definitely an improvement from Newbery, they're starting to texture them and make them all 3d
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Personally think the new Newbery stickers look awful compared to the previous ones.
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Definitely not a fan of those stickers.
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I guess they're making them more trendy, and doing the same thing what M&H did when Craig started endorsing his Ck22 - Rather than using the old stickers they made a sticker that would be appealing in t20s
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Quite a few pics of the Newbery range (Kudos, profile of Merlin, Sev7n T20) from It's Just Cricket on twitter...
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I am sure the 3D embossed stickers will look great on the telly. Less so on a rainy Sunday in late April.
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I think the Newbery look of the brand has diminished of late, used to look really classy but think they just look cheap and not well designed. Can only assume they are chasing a younger demographic. Bat profiles still look nice though
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Few more pics from IJC - big fan of the Chase bats and the Slazengers definitely look better than before (edit - still not a fan though haha). No comment on the Salix offering...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQKIub4WEAAHsa0.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQKIFokWEAA3lOF.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQKL0M9WcAAx4Ak.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQJ9oi5WEAAGOuO.jpg)
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Not liking the new Chase design (very Adidasy)
The slazenger look like cheap replicas of Kookaburra
The Salix is almost minimal and my favourite of the three posted. Smaller stickers taking up less of the face wouldn't be a bad thing though...
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Chase - eww!!!
Salix - really like that look, but can see how some might find it boring
Slaz - look a little retro, think it's a good look and their best for some time
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Yes like the minimalist look on the Salix would look better with a white grip
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ergh what have Chase done
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not sure about the 'Raw' on the Salix bats doesn't look right.
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I quite like the Gray Nics Supernova luggage though
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Personally, I dislike the sailx most, then slaz, then chase. Chase are a bit too much, just needed a notch toning down. Slaz are a bit garish and sailx have gone for minimalistic and failed as it looks horrible. Still, I sure plenty will buy all three in their droves
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If the rest of the Chase range were like the 'platinum' I think I would be more pleased.
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I like the chase stickers.makes me think of the Jedi and the sith!
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I actually quite like the Chase, not sure how much though. Think they'd look good from a distance rather than closeups. Slaz haven't had good stickers other than the retro ones for about 10 years, no surprise there.
Salix looks like a GCSE graphics student spent 15 minutes on it, so amateurish. Particularly the 'RAW' is awful'. High quality brand needs some more thought than that. Newbery like a similar student spent maybe an hour on it, they're horrific.
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Saaalix have had a nightmare there surely? you lot need an eye test? :) :)
hope they don't change the whole range
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Who has the prettiest/classiest stickers for 2016 then?
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I still say New Balance, but whatever...
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I still say New Balance, but whatever...
For sure, New Balance and GM are a long way ahead of everyone else for sticker branding at the moment.
Personal other favourites of new bats? H4L Warbird and the new B&S stickers.
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Gm look like they have done quite a good job in comparison to many of their competitors it would seem
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I really like the GM Paragon and the Mana. I quite like the new Slaz stickers too
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NB kit looks very pink, just not a fan of pink in my cricket kit.
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NB kit looks very pink, just not a fan of pink in my cricket kit.
I see red and yellow and black and orange? If there pink I better go back to spec savers.
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I seem to be almost at the point where I don't actually like any of the mainstream bat brands stickers, must be getting too old and grumpy!
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I seem to be almost at the point where I don't actually like any of the mainstream bat brands stickers, must be getting too old and grumpy!
mate i'm hearing ya. most of the stickers are GOD AWFUL
fancy a pint of bitter I've got the flat cap and whippet and a thousand stories of when it was better in the '80's
hahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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the new slazenger stickers look a little bit Spartan-esque to me
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If that is the Salix range I think I will try hitshard instead
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If that is the Salix range I think I will try hitshard instead
Apparently that is the t20 range, which is available in varied blade lengths
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I'd say Slaz look a bit like the new TON range of stickers - one of them is a dead ringer for the magnificently named 'Gutsy'
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I went it was ok nothing made think wow but then again I think once your in the trade it takes some thing very special to make you think that sorry to be like that
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See I really like the Chase stickers, and the Newbery ones are better than the boring repetitive ones on nearly all the other bats, but that just shows how bat manufacturers are targeting younger markets, like me
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See I really like the Chase stickers, and the Newbery ones are better than the boring repetitive ones on nearly all the other bats, but that just shows how bat manufacturers are targeting younger markets, like me
Assuming 99 is referring to the year you were born, the 5 year gap in our ages must push me into the old git category!
The chase stickers have lost their classic look, which to me is a real shame.
With Newbery I prefer the "boring repetitive ones" to the new offerings, which aren't horrific but I think they're a bit try hard and busy.
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I see red and yellow and black and orange? If there pink I better go back to spec savers.
might be the old mince pies, but pic on page 1 is very pink to me.
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Assuming 99 is referring to the year you were born, the 5 year gap in our ages must push me into the old git category!
The chase stickers have lost their classic look, which to me is a real shame.
With Newbery I prefer the "boring repetitive ones" to the new offerings, which aren't horrific but I think they're a bit try hard and busy.
I would like to say 99 is my top score but I'm no where near that yet!
Admittedly the Newbery stickers haven't worked on all the bats, the Kudos range looks horrible with the new ones
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Salix have made a t20 bat, things may never be the same again!
At salix's prices who is going to buy just a t20 bat as opposed to buying a "proper" Salix bat?
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Salix have made a t20 bat, things may never be the same again!
At salix's prices who is going to buy just a t20 bat as opposed to buying a "proper" Salix bat?
Contrary to belief, you won't set on fire instantly if using a shorter blade bat in a format over 21overs
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Salix have made a t20 bat, things may never be the same again!
At salix's prices who is going to buy just a t20 bat as opposed to buying a "proper" Salix bat?
The differences between normal bats and t20 bats - with the original Mongoose as an exception - I don't really see why they should only be used for shorter formats of the game
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The differences between normal bats and t20 bats - with the original Mongoose as an exception - I don't really see why they should only be used for shorter formats of the game
Longer format.. Better bowing for longer.. Usually decent balls that move/seam
If you use a smaller blade you might find you get found out more often.. You might not though!
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Longer format.. Better bowing for longer.. Usually decent balls that move/seam
If you use a smaller blade you might find you get found out more often.. You might not though!
The only difference is 1 1/2 inches from the shoulder - which nobody intentionally uses!
I guess it's just personal preferences really
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Contrary to belief, you won't set on fire instantly if using a shorter blade bat in a format over 21overs
I won't believe such witchcraft
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The differences between normal bats and t20 bats - with the original Mongoose as an exception - I don't really see why they should only be used for shorter formats of the game
I agree but these will be marketed as a t20 bat. Of course you could use it for longer forms but cheaper t20 bats in the real world (aka not this forum) I see will work but at Salix prices I just can't see it working
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Supernova duffle looks really good. Anyone seen pics of the inside?
@Vitas Cricket expect an order!
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The only difference is 1 1/2 inches from the shoulder - which nobody intentionally uses!
I guess it's just personal preferences really
All my bats blades are 1 inch shorter find them easier to swing mind you I am only 5 foot nothing.
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Quite liking the new Newbery stickers, modern tweak without being garish. The stickers on the Platinum Chase look lovely but not too keen on the red/green ones. Salix let down by the Raw sticker. Slazenger continue to disappoint with their branding, really cheap looking. They've dropped standards a long way since the early 2000's when I first got into cricket.
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Quite liking the new Newbery stickers, modern tweak without being garish. The stickers on the Platinum Chase look lovely but not too keen on the red/green ones. Salix let down by the Raw sticker. Slazenger continue to disappoint with their branding, really cheap looking. They've dropped standards a long way since the early 2000's when I first got into cricket.
I am surprised the Slazenger still remain in the cricket market.
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I am surprised the Slazenger still remain in the cricket market.
Yeah, me too. Don't see many people using their kit now either professionally (baring Anderson and Rashid) or at club level.
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I am surprised the Slazenger still remain in the cricket market.
Sports Direct! Without the dirt cheap slazenger stuff for clueless kids/parents to buy I doubt they would be.
The real shame is they make some nice kit, but the bargain bin range has somewhat tarnished the name.
If I see someone walking out to bat using slazenger, I just know the keeper will chime up with something like "(No Swearing Please) gear and no idea" or "it's nearly the end, the tail enders have ram raided sports direct"
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Yeah, me too. Don't see many people using their kit now either professionally (baring Anderson and Rashid) or at club level.
You can't even get Slazenger gear anymore in Aus/NZ. I thought they had gone under.
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You can't even get Slazenger gear anymore in Aus/NZ. I thought they had gone under.
Isn't there some link with Spartan down under?
I may be wrong but I thought they had the same owner (or it might've been distributor) so as slazenger vanished, Spartan emerged
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Yeah, me too. Don't see many people using their kit now either professionally (baring Anderson and Rashid) or at club level.
Steven Finn as well?
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Steven Finn as well?
Isn't he with New Balance now?
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I don't think the Chase decals will be very visible or get maximum exposure when televised. I don't think they would have gone this route if they had more players playing international cricket.
That said though I do love the design and especially the platinum. Also still a fan of the white FLC range.
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Such a shame with Slazenger. only a handful of companies that have been in the market for more than a 100 years. love the panther logo
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Isn't he with New Balance now?
I know for definite Mark Wood is with NB but I wasn't sure on Finn
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Hmm, now that I think on it I vaguely remember Paul from IJC doing a review on a G1 and seemed to rate it.
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Slazenger is actually owned by sports direct, hence the majority of their kit being aimed at that market.
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I'm a massive fan of Chase bats, but those new stickers are awful. Is Slazengers top of the range stuff still made in the UK?
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Slaz, Salix & Chase have appalling stickers for the 2016 season imo, but the worst has to be Slazenger, the stickers kinda look Asian to me and they have lost their retro look which i liked
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didn't salix stickers used to always be like that?? or am i having a mind screw, i though there was a range where that was the main sticker - in the early 1990s??
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i think it was the venom? anyone remember or know?
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I'm a massive fan of Chase bats, but those new stickers are awful. Is Slazengers top of the range stuff still made in the UK?
I think it was only the v12 which made in the UK
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didn't salix stickers used to always be like that?? or am i having a mind screw, i though there was a range where that was the main sticker - in the early 1990s??
early preastantia models yes they did and Salix did a 'whacker' model which had very similar stickers on. Yes....early '90's from memory.
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I am surprised the Slazenger still remain in the cricket market.
Slazenger is owned by Mike Ashley. Mike Ashley owns Sports Direct. Sports Direct are the UKs biggest Cricket retailer by sales.
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Mike Ashley is a very clever and extremely rich businessman - with not a single interest in Cricket, hence the absolute dog turd that is sold in Sports Direct!
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"it's nearly the end, the tail enders have ram raided sports direct"
One of my personal favourites haha, may have been used on a number of occasions...
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Paul at IJC did a writeup http://bit.ly/1MIBUl5 (http://bit.ly/1MIBUl5)
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Slazenger is owned by Mike Ashley. Mike Ashley owns Sports Direct. Sports Direct are the UKs biggest Cricket retailer by sales.
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Mike Ashley is a very clever and extremely rich businessman - with not a single interest in Cricket, hence the absolute dog turd that is sold in Sports Direct!
Ah I see. In Aus they have disappeared. They must be separate entities.
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Paul at IJC did a writeup [url]http://bit.ly/1MIBUl5[/url] ([url]http://bit.ly/1MIBUl5[/url])
Good read but I can't help imagining the image of Paul getting hustled away by the GM bouncers!
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Good read but I can't help imagining the image of Paul getting hustled away by the GM bouncers!
To be fair, they were quite polite about it. More a case of not wanting to waste their time showing me the range than having a personal gripe, but they have clearly been leaned on by others, and even admitted that, which makes them look a bit weak imho!
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Enjoyed the first two LinkedIn posts Paul, hopefully there will be more to come (the best bit is it looks to my boss like I'm actually working whilst sat on LinkedIn ;))
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Good read but I can't help imagining the image of Paul getting hustled away by the GM bouncers!
tbf I did find that bit amusing. sad that a company feels so threatened by opinions
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tbf I did find that bit amusing. sad that a company feels so threatened by opinions
They don't. They get fed up when retailers complain incessantly about their terms of business and about not flexing them specifically for one retailer. They have a policy. It works for them and they sell thousands of bats every year. They don't flex it for the biggest or smallest retailers. You make your choice and then live with the consequences. I don't buy the hard done by retailer act I'm afraid.
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I miss those days when these threads were full of pics, loads and loads of pics.
@ItsJustCricket when are you getting the GN stock in? I want that supernova duffle :-[
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They don't. They get fed up when retailers complain incessantly about their terms of business and about not flexing them specifically for one retailer. They have a policy. It works for them and they sell thousands of bats every year. They don't flex it for the biggest or smallest retailers. You make your choice and then live with the consequences. I don't buy the hard done by retailer act I'm afraid.
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Couldn't agree more! I'm sure I am not the only one who finds IJC's vocal views on GM very boring. They've had their say and GM have responded in the past - move on. When all said and done I would imagine that the only people losing out here are IJC, I doubt GM will lose much sleep over it.
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They don't. They get fed up when retailers complain incessantly about their terms of business and about not flexing them specifically for one retailer. They have a policy. It works for them and they sell thousands of bats every year. They don't flex it for the biggest or smallest retailers. You make your choice and then live with the consequences. I don't buy the hard done by retailer act I'm afraid.
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Absolutely agree with you Tim. The story of the fox and the sour grapes come to mind...
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I miss those days when these threads were full of pics, loads and loads of pics.
@ItsJustCricket when are you getting the GN stock in? I want that supernova duffle :-[
probably mid-late November... Good choice! :)
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its between the gn supernova or maybe the kook pro players duffle for me but not seen both side by side
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They don't. They get fed up when retailers complain incessantly about their terms of business and about not flexing them specifically for one retailer. They have a policy. It works for them and they sell thousands of bats every year. They don't flex it for the biggest or smallest retailers. You make your choice and then live with the consequences. I don't buy the hard done by retailer act I'm afraid.
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Which is why I haven't mentioned it for over a year now! But I didn't think a write-up of the Lord's Trade Show would be complete without a section on one of the biggest brands in cricket, so I'm sorry - I could no longer avoid the subject.
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its between the gn supernova or maybe the kook pro players duffle for me but not seen both side by side
The Pro Players duffle has been discontinued for being too fat! They have replaced it with with a slimline version, as you can see in the article I wrote. The new one is a very expensive duffle (£75 RRP!)
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Yeah that seems pricey but is it different from the GN?
First fortay into duffles so I need to have a look whats out there
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The Pro Players duffle has been discontinued for being too fat! They have replaced it with with a slimline version, as you can see in the article I wrote. The new one is a very expensive duffle (£75 RRP!)
Too Fat?????? I love my pro players duffle and the size is great. Who is telling Kook its too fat, certainly not me!
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Does the Supernova have any ventilation of any kind? Failing New Balance having a bag it looks like it'd be right up my street.
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Too Fat?????? I love my pro players duffle and the size is great. Who is telling Kook its too fat, certainly not me!
Presumably the same person who's telling them that no one wants top level sausage fingered gloves. I too love my pro players duffle. It may be fat, but it fits everything in. Easily.
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Presumably the same person who's telling them that no one wants top level sausage fingered gloves. I too love my pro players duffle. It may be fat, but it fits everything in. Easily.
That describes a woman I know...
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That describes a woman I know...
Clearly we've attended the same rodeo...
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I think it was only the v12 which made in the UK
The slazenger retro bats are Uk made plus the low end bats.
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the £75 Kook duffle is as organised as you can get, and the materials used are top notch, but the Supernova seems a tad roomier and looks nicer for me too. Ventilation etc. I will need to check again later (unless Arvind or someone else who is there today can answer quicker)?
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Does anybody know if the Newbery Merlin is a regular length blade . Can't be doing with these longer handles and shorter blades like the kudos
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Are Newbery now pressing bats all in the new kudos2 style?
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Are Newbery now pressing bats all in the new kudos2 style?
Yes...... Mainly as it was marketing (No Swearing Please) to begin with.....
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From what I have seen so far, nothing for 2016 has wowed me. I'm undecided on the new Newbery stickers, although I do like that they are a distinctive design and shape.
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Are Newbery now pressing bats all in the new kudos2 style?
apparently not, Ian. They told me the Kudos2 remains unique in that area. It is mysterious, I admit, but I feel it's best not to question it tbh.
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apparently not, Ian. They told me the Kudos2 remains unique in that area. It is mysterious, I admit, but I feel it's best not to question it tbh.
It sounds like dark forces are at work.
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They don't. They get fed up when retailers complain incessantly about their terms of business and about not flexing them specifically for one retailer. They have a policy. It works for them and they sell thousands of bats every year. They don't flex it for the biggest or smallest retailers. You make your choice and then live with the consequences. I don't buy the hard done by retailer act I'm afraid.
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I find GM to be amongst the friendliest, and most accommodating people in the business. Their terms are their terms, as discussed before I don't see handpicking as a major loss if it is not (and never was, maybe never will be) an option, providing quality control etc is top notch, cant say Ive ever had a bat from GM that we felt wasn't up to scratch in terms of indicated grade.
It boggles the mind how someone can fall out with these people. They are brilliant and always bend over backwards to help. They are very trade focused, wanting a healthy relationship that works not just for them, but the retailer too. This can't be said for everyone in the industry.
I'm not surprised they chose to decline a viewing of the range from a closed account, this would potentially allow (and i'm not saying IJC would do it) the brand to be criticised by someone who has no incentive to sell the product*, possibly even grounds to poo poo it given the nature of the fall out.
*This is me freely admitting that yes, when a retailer had products to sell of course they are going to say the products are brilliant, best we've ever seen and will help you score a million runs. I like to think I'm fair though, if i don't like something i will always say so (my tastes aren't reflective of everyones but it can be helpful for those buying blind) and will always recommend an alternative/better value option if i think something isn't right for the customer.
Spent most of the show catching up with old contacts and making new ones, I'm sorry to say to those of you wanting a boat load of pictures, Lords really isn't about that. In all honesty we had seen (and in the case of some of the bigger brands, ordered) much of the stuff well in advance of the show. Many brands want to control their image releases themselves and we must respect that. They are spending money hiring venues/photographers etc, as well as arranging dates with their players who are on increasingly packed playing schedules, yet someone with a smartphone may post their products all over social media before they get the chance to release their professional pictures. At best it just doesn't sit right, at worst it means potential customers make a decision based on a low quality photo of a sample thats been battered around a trade stand all day.
Very impressed with the show, much more professional display stands overall and a more trade focused feel to the whole event. No (or far less) hangers on/members of the public. No fly by night brands with decorators tables covered with stickered up bats made by a white label supplier like TK/B3/India/insert your batmaker here. Most importantly, no lack of brilliant people from this crazy industry of ours to chat to.
A brief rundown of the actual launches themselves, the ones i can remember anyway (may have had some beers...)
There was actually little in terms of 'wow' factor that really made me stop and stare. Many of the most innovative products i had either expected (due to customer demand, big duffles, stemguards, duckbill profiles) or had already seen (adidas boost, NB super sturdy bowling shoe, kookaburra light bat range)
Many brands had T20 style shorter blade offerings, but this isn't a new idea particularly, and i always reserve judgement until i see actual stock. Some of these bats are huge, and unless overdried, too narrow, or miracle clefts, will be simply too heavy for most of the potential bat buying public. Thats not to say we don't like them or won't stock them, but they would have been headline grabbers 5 years ago.
I still save a softspot for Gray Nics, but as Paul touched on, as a retailer who made his 2016 order in July 2015, GN 2016 already feels a little old, though the fact i wont see it again from now until November, and the magic of the visit to Robertsbridge means it will be firmly atop my personal shopping list.
GM I'm sure everyone has seen already as they have launched publicly and i love their range, can't find fault anywhere really, and i'm very sorely tempted to drop my long held affiliation with GN.
Kook have a wealth of shapes and colours as always, the slight lack of sausage gloves has been noticed already by the public, even with the limited imagery available. Good range, their new top duffle will sell out before the Summer if this years one is anything to go by. Their lightweight range, which is also a shorter blade, will go down very well with the younger crowd.
Salix are largely unchanged save for a few tweaks, why change something so well received this year seems to be the message, and we completely agree.
Spartan, as always great fun and terrific banter with the human whirlwind who owns the brand, the one man marketing machine Kunal Sharma. Spartan are learning, perhaps a little too slowly for my liking, that bats attached to players aren't a great long term plan. The Steel, Sparta and other models have moved to address this but the range needs more cohesion and streamlining in my opinion. First priority must be stock levels and distribution, we were left lacking this year. Best cricket brand sunglasses ive ever tried though, made in Italy!
New Balance, the un-ignorable powerhouse. Still a little clunky and obviously learning, but to go from no cricket presence at all, to a pretty average range (shoes aside) to where they are now in such a short period is impressive. To my mind they need at least one more range to accommodate the number of players they have. Very few brands with such a stable of players will have multiple players attached to the same model.
Adidas, now made by Sareen, meaning huge improvements in their softs. We are still likely to only stock helmets, clothing and shoes in the short term.
Masuri, the most impressive display stand i've ever seen. Little that was new, aside from the potential for a greater wealth of customisation options, and ourselves and selected other retailers will be able to offer a much faster turnaround on embroidered lids. The accessories range has finally launched, meaning you can buy the new ear foams with the yellow clips if you want, even to fit an early vision series model. Swoppabands, chin cups etc. Most notably, sizing foam to help micro adjust the fit for those of you too big for a standard but too small for a large.
Aero, not much to report really. They are the best at what they do, improvements and tweaks mostly along with a revamp of their cricket range, grades to follow the P3/P2/P1 with colours to match. The top bat is UK made. They now have the distribution deal for CLADS.
Hunts, little change really, the main excitement comes from the business they also run, incredible cricket company, who have launched 2 bowling machines to rival the paceman original and pro. Of course, anyone wanting a UK made bat from one of the most experienced hand makers in the business, please get in touch as we are more than happy to arrange.
There were a smattering of others, Horizon socks, Sunwise sunglasses and Crazy Catch off the top of my head, and some brands we don't deal with and don't really have an intention to, i'll leave those to be mentioned by others.
Some positives:
The new top of the range Adidas shoe with the boost foam sole and no spike, i've already ordered a pair for myself having seen the 2016 Adidas range in the Summer.
Bigger, better duffle bags. GN Supernova, Kook KD500, improved GM Original, and perhaps most intriguingly, the Wheelie/Duffle crossover from TON, the Elite Duffle Wheelie.
Stemguards, great to see one in the flesh finally. I like the design and the simplification of models compared to the original idea that was promoted in the Summer by Masuri. GM also have their own version to fit their helmet at a lower price compared to Masuri. It won't be white as seen in the catalogue photos, and is a great wallet friendly option, it will be possible to get more than enough change out of £100 to have a net in our shop when you buy a GM lid AND Neck ProTect.
The Hunts County owned and run Incredible Cricket Company have their own version of the paceman which they launched this Summer. They have now released a twin motor version capable of firing real cricket balls or proper heavy bowling machine balls at up to 75mph, very exciting!
Lovely new linings and lighter materials in many pads and gloves, particularly those brands who use TON as their supplier.
The TON range in general. They said themselves the graphics for the likes of the Gladiator were looking a bit dated, a revamp has completely removed the notion that TON were maybe getting a little old hat.
Notable absentees and negatives:
Shrey and Albion not present. No BSI passing products to market perhaps? Or in the case of Shrey, still on the outside of the industry looking in after the ugly business with one of the biggest names, Masuri? Speculation, of course.
Nike. Nike have severed ties with worldwide distributor Aero, and appear to have pulled out of the cricket market everywhere except India. Their shoes arrived in May this year and were already outdated thanks to internationals on TV, including England players, sporting the Lunar Dominate and Accelerate 2, rather than the first generation model us retailers had been given to sell. Aero did not provide these players with their footwear so their origins are a little mysterious.
Puma were there, but i regard them as an absentee. Last year they stated they weren't looking to take on new accounts after showing us the range, nothing much seems to have changed this year so why did they bother turning up?
Asics were not present (unless i missed them, a few beers and their notoriously small display stand may have contributed here, apologies Asics if you were there!) but have not really changed much for 2016 and i imagine like us, most retailers made their orders months ago to guarantee christmas delivery. We were taken aback when we first learned of footwear brands working 6 months ahead, but it feels like the norm now.
I'm not sure about the footwear from any of the cricket brands having now seen them all. They have gone a bit high end to try to compete with real shoe brands, and have produced very comparable products, but i always maintain if someone is going to spend Asics/NB/Adidas money, they will buy one of those brands over GN/Kook/GM. The main sellers from these brands will of course be their more reasonably priced offerings and as always these are great. Sensible rubber, spike and multi function offerings as well as enough jazz and colour to keep the kids happy.
NO FREE BAR/REFRESHMENTS ASIDE FROM WATER, HUGE NEGATIVE! ;)
Overall a great day as always, really looking forward to the next couple of months, visiting the suppliers to see their facilities and of course pick our stock is always a great time of year.
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Nice little review there Jake thanks for taking the time to write it - personally I'm intrigued by the sturdy NB bowling boot
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Great write up Jake, thanks.
Can't wait to get my mitts on a new duffle!
P.s. you can't expect the members to cough up for free roast beef sandwiches when we have to pay for them!!
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I really enjoyed the feedback provided by Paul and Jake. Always interesting to hear the views of people in the industry.
The absentees from such a big show facinates me and possibly just an indication of different priorities or strategies for different companies.
Consistent good feedback for NB shows that they might be here to stay.
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Any interesting takes/styles/designs on softs this year?
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I really enjoyed the feedback provided by Paul and Jake. Always interesting to hear the views of people in the industry.
The absentees from such a big show facinates me and possibly just an indication of different priorities or strategies for different companies.
Consistent good feedback for NB shows that they might be here to stay.
Yep always decent a decent read for us the uninformed.
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Vitas - Care to expand on what you mean by...
'No fly by night brands with decorators tables covered with stickered up imports/TK/B3/insert your batmaker here'
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Vitas - Care to expand on what you mean by...
'No fly by night brands with decorators tables covered with stickered up imports/TK/B3/insert your batmaker here'
just a guess but brands who just buy in bats, sticker them up etc... That's how I've took it anyway
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just a guess but brands who just buy in bats, sticker them up etc... That's how I've took it anyway
That's how it read to me too
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Me too. A simple statement that many of the smaller brands are stickering up fully made bats, supplied to them by another source who is willing to contract out their batmaking.
Many of these brands appear with a blaze of marketing and hope, and then disappear again. Some don't even change the makers generic shape, and some have in the past been particularly shady about 'their batmaker' on their website.
Probably pees the odd retailer / trade insider off from time, to time.
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Yeah.
I presume he meant companies like redwood, boom boom, hammer black eds, who just buy bats from people and sticker them up.
India/tk/b3 being the suppliers not the fly by night brands.
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that's how I took it also, but in that it could read as though B3 is one of those brands who sticker up imports?
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that's how I took it also, but in that it reads as though B3 is one of those brands who sticker up imports?
I also took it as smiley says "India/tk/b3 being the suppliers not the fly by night brands.".
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Are NB bats made at Sondhi?
I heard they were now being made by Winfield (One for the grown-ups!), I was told this by a faceless man from Asia who is a friend of our pro's brother's cousin, and who carries around a sharpie.
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that's how I took it also, but in that it could read as though B3 is one of those brands who sticker up imports?
Hopefully as everyone has seen it, there are a number of white label suppliers out there, including B3. Absolutely no suggestion that B3 imports their bats and applies stickers, i think you've been about as transparent as possible when it comes to how your bats are made :)
There are so many 'brands' out there now being supplied with bats made by 3rd parties, it is inevitable that some of them will be fly by night. We've had seen it countless times in the past few years. New brand pops up, talks the talk, walks the walk for a short period and then disappears completely.
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I've now edited my post, hopefully a little clearer now.
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It was a serious question. It seems that such mass produced bats causing such drooling is odd. And, if made at Sondhi, it could be argued that they're Slazengers by another name - bit funny given the wrap they get.
I feel that the drooling has been mainly over the (old Blue & Yellow) stickers rather than the shape itself
I heard they were now being made by Winfield (One for the grown-ups!), I was told this by a faceless man from Asia who is a friend of our pro's brother's cousin, and who carries around a sharpie.
A sharpie you say, can't wait for the toe guard free Joe Root editions to start popping up left, right and centre! (Not sure how they'd spell his name wrong though...)
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I feel that the drooling has been mainly over the (old Blue & Yellow) stickers rather than the shape itself
A sharpie you say, can't wait for the toe guard free Joe Root editions to start popping up left, right and centre! (Not sure how they'd spell his name wrong though...)
Roooooooot
Roat
Rot
Rott
I'm surprised no small brand has cottoned onto the popularity of the Blue and Yellow stickers tbh. THey have the capacity to adapt quickly and seize the chance to make some £££.
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I feel that the drooling has been mainly over the (old Blue & Yellow) stickers rather than the shape itself
A sharpie you say, can't wait for the toe guard free Joe Root editions to start popping up left, right and centre! (Not sure how they'd spell his name wrong though...)
Rute
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Well I walked into that one... :-[
To spell Root wrong would have to be deliberate though!
At least with longer, more difficult names Sangakara, Rahane & Smifff they have half an excuse for it
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A sharpie you say, can't wait for the toe guard free Joe Root editions to start popping up left, right and centre! (Not sure how they'd spell his name wrong though...)
R0o0te
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Ruut
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apparently not, Ian. They told me the Kudos2 remains unique in that area. It is mysterious, I admit, but I feel it's best not to question it tbh.
What is different to their Kudos2 pressing?
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What is different to their Kudos2 pressing?
It is mysterious
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mysterious marketing indeed. Plenty of other brands available to buy, pressed as they should be of course
:)
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Looking forward to the Joe Toot edition :)
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It was a serious question.
Don't be grumpy
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I like the look of these
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/i12breakfree/NBMerlins.jpeg_zpsvyyuomhy.png) (http://s1063.photobucket.com/user/i12breakfree/media/NBMerlins.jpeg_zpsvyyuomhy.png.html)
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I like the look of these
([url]http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/i12breakfree/NBMerlins.jpeg_zpsvyyuomhy.png[/url]) ([url]http://s1063.photobucket.com/user/i12breakfree/media/NBMerlins.jpeg_zpsvyyuomhy.png.html[/url])
They look delightful!
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I take it the new Newbery Merlin bat doesn't have the weighted discs in the handle that counterbalance it?
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they look like very nice softs
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early preastantia models yes they did and Salix did a 'whacker' model which had very similar stickers on. Yes....early '90's from memory.
cheers!!!!
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Roooooooot
Roat
Rot
Rott
I'm surprised no small brand has cottoned onto the popularity of the Blue and Yellow stickers tbh. THey have the capacity to adapt quickly and seize the chance to make some £££.
Saw the post on this site about a Jedi cricket offer. The pictures shown in that post showed a Jedi bat with nice blue and yellow decals.