Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Cricket Manufacturers / Brands => blankbats.co.uk => Topic started by: alba caerulea on March 05, 2016, 11:00:14 AM
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So after a couple of years of putting cricket on the back-burner I decided that this year I wanted to play properly again. And of course that means some proper willow. So I got in touch with the gentlemen at Blank Bats to find what would be my 4th bat from them. It ended up being numbers 4 and 5 as you will soon see!
Now most people upon joining this forum become more specific about their bat requirements, go through custom/bespoke experiences etc. And why not? Its a wonderful option for the club player to go and have a new bat made to their exact specifications.
I however have gone the other way. Now I was never the fussiest about bats anyway, the first two hundreds I scored were with a borrowed bat, but had tried loads of different shapes and weights from various off the shelf and custom brands since joining CBF. Since I had my first Blank Bat though (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=15725.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=15725.0)) I have tended to specify 3 things to Tai and asked for the best performing bat with those specifications. No real interest in profile/edge size/grains etc. Its all about performance
I trust him to meet my requirements and I've never been unhappy. Just a few phone calls or whatsapp messages and the bat is on its way. The first time was buying blind but everything after that is just about trusting the company/product
That first BB above was my match bat for 2 years and the best performing bat I've ever had. The 2nd was the T20 model which again I used in cup games for 2 years before selling to fund some travel. The 3rd became my best mates match bat for 2 seasons and will be again this year. Below are the latest two, numbers 4 and 5.
I asked for something around 2.9 with a mid-placed middle and the standard BB oval handle. It was around the time when there was alot of interest in the 'net' bats from BB and I managed to get one of those at 2.8 aswell. Im sure the more eagle-eyes forum members will recognize the shapes. Apologies for the quality, usual iPhone problems
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/AF8EA026-2274-4A23-92A8-E8894A0303AA.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/AF8EA026-2274-4A23-92A8-E8894A0303AA.jpg.html)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/5CD838E7-0CA6-404A-B011-A2F99F18DCE3.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5CD838E7-0CA6-404A-B011-A2F99F18DCE3.jpg.html)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/EB99ED5F-B646-4AB0-9175-8BFB50CA4C69.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/EB99ED5F-B646-4AB0-9175-8BFB50CA4C69.jpg.html)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/9710BB7A-3F1E-47D4-808C-50A52C9C4A34.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/9710BB7A-3F1E-47D4-808C-50A52C9C4A34.jpg.html)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/C90B67C6-F47D-4422-AB09-B10DC8AA3608.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C90B67C6-F47D-4422-AB09-B10DC8AA3608.jpg.html)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/EACF124C-0BD8-4993-B6FB-E882474D7508.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/EACF124C-0BD8-4993-B6FB-E882474D7508.jpg.html)
First impressions - quality finish to both bats, prefer the black colour scheme in the flesh. Cant find my mallet but have an old ball here and the middle seems longer on the L.E (black stickers) as I guess you would expect. Both these bats have the lovely deep almost soft thud that I have only experienced from the soft pressing of the BB bat-maker. Overall I'm delighted and it certainly softens the blow of moving from 30 degree sunshine to 4 degrees of wet misery in the last 24 hours
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Very nice, that LE looks superb! I need to be quicker with the next set of net bats
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Very nice bats!
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Thanks for the review Jimbo.
Hope u enjoy using them during the summer.
(I bet bird man is jealous.)
Tai
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So, being a bit dumb - which one is the net bat?
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So, being a bit dumb - which one is the net bat?
Red sticker / grip mate
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Oh gosh, that black one is a lovely shape!
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Good looking bats
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There are very few brands who's gear when displayed pictorially makes my wallet want to empty itself.
I've got a serious "I need a BB in my life again" itch. MUST BE STRONGER
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Set about the net bat with the mallet in the last 48 hours. Did an hour on the toe yesterday and 30 minutes on each edge this evening aswell as the obligatory few smashes in the middle. Its really feeling and sounding great already, the sweetspot seems to extend up the bat a long way
It picks up really nicely in the hands and theres every chance I could walk out to bat with this in my first league match in April
A little more work with the mallet before Wednesday and it can have its first outing in the nets :)
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Looks a very nice bat and you have prepared it properly but taking a new bat to nets scares me.
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Confront your fears and you will lead a much fuller life
Did around 45 minutes on the L.E this afternoon and wow it feels great off the mallet!
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So after seeing my stash and getting some serious bat envy one of my mates has got in on the act with this bundle. I only took one picture before he came and picked it up. Will post some feedback after hes had a net with the softs. Bat felt lovely in the hands, Hulk shaped and meaty
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/James_Starkie/Mobile%20Uploads/C0EB3DC0-3515-4C9F-8B3C-E604B9F757FD.jpg) (http://s1115.photobucket.com/user/James_Starkie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C0EB3DC0-3515-4C9F-8B3C-E604B9F757FD.jpg.html)
This is the 6th Blank Bat I have purchased now. When I purchase my 6th cup of tea in McDonalds I get a voucher for a free one ...... just a thought ;)
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Oh (No Swearing Please)!! Softs that I really, really like - that's not good news!
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Those bat stickers are very similar to the NB TC stickers
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
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Similar colour perhaps but very different style
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@Blank Bats @alba caerulea - what's the score with the softs, I looked on the website a week or so ago and must have missed them..
Are they new or pre-release?
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I'll let the @Blank Bats personnel answer that simply because Im not sure of the answer. I asked for a kit bundle, showed the pictures to my team mate and he ordered.
Feedback after 1 net is good, pads very comfortable with a smallish tophat
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Hi FC
The website hasnt been updated as yet. Still in the process of getting this sorted.
If you need anything in particular, please get in touch via pm
Cheers
Tai