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Forum News and Suggestions => Old Advertisers => Admin Board => It's Just Cricket => Topic started by: ItsJustCricket on October 20, 2015, 09:56:27 PM

Title: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 20, 2015, 09:56:27 PM
All,

Today we visited H4L, and got a very good look at their 2016 range, fulfilled some pre-orders, took some stunning bats for our stock, and had a generally great time chatting cricket bats with a very knowledgeable bat maker! The plan on this post is to give the ordinary customer the opportunity to experience the day, and to be as close as some may get to visiting the manufacturers! If you want any information about the range, send us an email or a PM, if not, our YouTube channel will be very busy on Saturday, so check in there...

I have a few observations about the 2016 range, and have detailed them below, with the pictures below this...

Softs

Only very limited numbers of the softs are available now, more will be available in December. The thumb on the Pro glove was my only slight criticism, I feel they dig in slightly too much, a bit like the old GN Legends, but again that is incredibly niche! They do look absolutely stunning though! Having two gloves in the range which are Pittards palms is also very impressive - not a lot of companies do that. Further, I absolutely loved the Grade 1 gloves, they are possibly the most flexible sausage finger gloves I've ever seen! The Custom pads and gloves are worth all the hype they've been generating on here - I can't wait to give them to Chris to review, I think he's absolutely going to love them!

Bats

The major change is obviously the addition of the Warbird. I found it to be incredibly well balanced, with a feather light pick-up (the counterbalanced handle helped a lot here I think). Check the photo below to see the stunner we picked in Pro grade! The blade is a tiny bit shorter, with a marginally longer handle, very similar to something like the Newbery Kudos.

The NV and Hellfire remain the same bats but with slightly updated decals. The Hattori has a slightly rounded face, and updated decals, but remains the same distinctive, lower middle. The Tempo has been dropped from the range completely - whilst the decals across the range are now all fully embossed.

The Custom Bat is going to be listed on our website, and will be entirely made to order for the customer. This really is a good showcase for Matt's batmaking skills, and I'd encourage anyone to utilise H4L for their custom made bats. They will all be the absolute pinnacle of the willow!

I think all that remains is to have a look at the pictures!

Paul

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%204.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%204.jpg.html)

Matt really has an impressive, (if somewhat untidy) set up - Great British manufacturing at it's finest! 

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%207.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%207.jpg.html)

Here you can see the press, where he tests out each bat individually to make sure they are at their optimum performance levels!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%208.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%208.jpg.html)

The new range in all it's glory. All of your favourite colours are catered for!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2010.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2010.jpg.html)

An up close of the stunning new Warbird decals!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2011.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2011.jpg.html)

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2012.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2012.jpg.html)

The beautiful Custom gloves, including a detailed shot of the stunning white on white H4L branding! So subtle you can barely see it is there - art in it's best form!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2014.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2014.jpg.html)

This Warbird Pro is one we have taken for our stock. We will be reviewing it on Saturday, and remember - if it is ordered during October, it will qualify for free knocking in! It plays as well as it looks! 2'10 but with the counterbalance it picks up more like a 2'8.5!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2018.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2018.jpg.html)

A bit more info on some of the profiles

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2020.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2020.jpg.html)

H4L do everything themselves, and that starts with the raw clefts

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%2021.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%2021.jpg.html)

And finally, where the magic happens. The craftsman's bench is a sacred place, and I myself, using a Hellfire, have a lot to thank the man who does his work here for!

(http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad145/thebd11/H4L%20Visit%205.jpg) (http://s930.photobucket.com/user/thebd11/media/H4L%20Visit%205.jpg.html)

Hopefully that post has been informative, stay tuned later in the week for our Newbery visit...

Paul
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: hell4leather cricket on October 20, 2015, 10:06:05 PM
Thanks Paul , good to see you today !
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: potzy248 on October 20, 2015, 10:43:33 PM
How much for a Warbird minus VAT sent to NZ Paul?

Thanks mate.
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 20, 2015, 10:55:29 PM
How much for a Warbird minus VAT sent to NZ Paul?

Thanks mate.

What grade?
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: TangoWhiskey on October 21, 2015, 08:24:51 AM
Those gloves are beautiful.
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: northernboy1987 on October 21, 2015, 09:12:36 AM
Drool. I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear, I do not need any more H4L gear.........................................................
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: Akewstick on October 21, 2015, 09:26:32 AM
From the varying heights in Warbirds I'm wondering are they available in LB?

I know part of the point of them is this slightly shorter blade which makes me doubt myself but I really want one and I want to use LB.
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: roco on October 21, 2015, 09:54:22 AM
i have a h4l lb so cant see why matt wouldn't knock one up
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 21, 2015, 10:37:31 AM
From the varying heights in Warbirds I'm wondering are they available in LB?

I know part of the point of them is this slightly shorter blade which makes me doubt myself but I really want one and I want to use LB.

Yes, all H4L senior bats are available in LB.  I didn't pick any in this size yesterday, but we can always get one made to order for you on request.  I too have a LB H4L bat and love it!  :)
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: Lwesty143 on October 21, 2015, 04:21:29 PM
Gear looks amazing love seeing pictures of bat makers workshops as well
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: Northern monkey on October 21, 2015, 06:01:43 PM
That warbird pro!!!!!
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: GoldenArm on October 22, 2015, 09:51:44 AM
That warbird pro!!!!!

Is the any chance we could see a bit more of this Warbird please? I'm seriously considering getting one and I'd like to hear a bit more about the profile etc... I'm guessing there's a video coming soon?
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 22, 2015, 10:31:09 AM
Yes! We are filming the video on Saturday so look out for it then....
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ridhuan on October 22, 2015, 12:12:59 PM
and video on Custom Pad too, comparison to GN legend pad please.
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: kaartman on October 23, 2015, 02:23:59 PM
How much for a G2 War bird?
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 23, 2015, 02:31:54 PM
How much for a G2 War bird?

£199.99 - I picked at least two of these, can't wait to get the finished articles from Matt next week!
Title: Re: IJC Visit to H4L! (Photos inside...)
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 24, 2015, 09:57:39 PM
Just to let everyone know, I believe we are now the first (and only!) place you can buy the H4L custom gloves online. People have been raving about these and if you click on the link you'll see our YouTube review and you'll see why they are probably the most highly sought after gloves for 2016!

http://www.itsjustcricket.co.uk/cricket-batting-gloves-c20/hell4leather-hell4leather-custom-batting-gloves-p1360 (http://www.itsjustcricket.co.uk/cricket-batting-gloves-c20/hell4leather-hell4leather-custom-batting-gloves-p1360)

Chris