Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => RNS Larsons => Topic started by: JTtaylor145 on June 13, 2016, 03:33:52 PM
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Hi everyone,
I’m a long time viewer of the forum and very infrequent contributor. I’ve owned and used many, many bats over the years from the major brands such as Gray Nichols, Kookaburra and GM to custom brands like B3, Hell 4 Leather and Aldred. Like a lot of people on this forum I’m always searching for that ‘perfect’ bat with ultralight balance and amazing grains. The last few bats I have bought have been from UK custom bat makers but I’ve decided to go in a new direction.
I was scanning the forum and I came across the RNS Larsons thread. Reading through the topics I noticed that they had a Facebook page. A quick look on Facebook and I saw lots of pictures of great bats that had been posted. The photos of the bats look fantastic and I was impressed by the overall layout of the page itself. I decided to take the plunge and I contacted them through their Facebook page. I received a quick response (inside of an hour) and I was asked to contact them directly through ‘WhatsApp’. A lengthy discussion took place over WhatsApp and I was sent many, many profiles and had the opportunity to ask numerous questions. I was extremely impressed with the knowledge of the person I was dealing with. He made some bold statements about who he has made bats for and I was of course very skeptical at first.
I will admit that I was taking a big risk in even considering buying blind and from overseas. The cost of the bat was ‘reasonable’ so I decided to take the plunge and order. I was sent tracking information and updates throughout the process. The communication was nothing short of excellent. The cost of the bat was the big draw when ordering overseas. I understood that if there were any issues with the bat the protection I would receive from the supplier would be limited (zilch).
The bat arrived from India after four days. The bat was well packaged and came with a couple of free anti-scuff sheets as well as a free ripple style grip. The bat’s profile is the popular ‘Kohli’ shape. It weighs approximately 2lb 8ozs and has 11 grains with 40mm edges. Anyway enough of the script, here are some pictures (I’m afraid the anti-scuff was fitted prior to dispatch. I may remove it).
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image1_zpsc7r48gf2.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image1_zpsc7r48gf2.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image9_zpsljbri1f2.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image9_zpsljbri1f2.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image8_zpsd5tvxjx0.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image8_zpsd5tvxjx0.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image2_zpsafidzxct.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image2_zpsafidzxct.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image3_zpsfnd5t4dt.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image3_zpsfnd5t4dt.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image4_zpsrkcgbmfd.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image4_zpsrkcgbmfd.jpg.html)
The bat wasn’t overly responsive at first but having knocked it in for a few hours with my Lignum Vitae mallet it is starting to sound much better and the response tapping up with an old ball is excellent. The bat picks up well and I’m happy with the service and the product. So happy that I ordered two more.
The stickers are definitely not to my particular taste but they can be removed, of course. The two additional RNS bats are approximately 2lb 9ozs. There were a few dinks on both bats, one significant dink was on one of the edges but hopefully I can reduce the indentation when I start rounding the edges. If customers are looking for an alternative to UK based custom bat makers then it could be worth considering contacting RNS. They are certainly very competitive when it comes to price.
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image1_zpsmtl1t7lr.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image1_zpsmtl1t7lr.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image2_zpsvtc8jdxo.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image2_zpsvtc8jdxo.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image3_zpsonbqapad.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image3_zpsonbqapad.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image4_zpsjawjnpdp.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image4_zpsjawjnpdp.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image5_zpszjefkkbj.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image5_zpszjefkkbj.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image6_zpspbmjsmc4.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image6_zpspbmjsmc4.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image7_zpsaxkepblc.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image7_zpsaxkepblc.jpg.html)
(http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j401/JT77145/image8_zpsd5tvxjx0.jpg) (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/JT77145/media/image8_zpsd5tvxjx0.jpg.html)
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Very nice looking bats..RNS has been advertising lot of VK profiles in 2.8ish weights..
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What was the cost of the first one?
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I've liked their Facebook page and they always seem to have amazing bats and really good prices.
Just seems too good to be true but by the looks of it you've kinda proved me wrong.
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Has that top bat been pressed? It looks as if you have hammered a hole along the middle!!
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Has that top bat been pressed? It looks as if you have hammered a hole along the middle!!
Confidence in his ability. Don't need to knock the edges in. Just the middle.
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Confidence in his ability. Don't need to knock the edges in. Just the middle.
I do the opposite, spend ages knocking the edges and don't touch the middle...
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Does the razor thin handle bother you ???
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Great writeup and some good looking bats.
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What was the cost of the first one?
About £170 inc delivery
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Confidence in his ability. Don't need to knock the edges in. Just the middle.
Or I could be in the process of knocking the whole bat in still :)
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Does the razor thin handle bother you ???
Does a massive fat handle bother you? I've had a couple of Aldred's and couldn't stand the fat bulbous handles he puts on his bats. All messing about aside no it doesn't bother me particularly. You can always add a grip or two.
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Does a massive fat handle bother you? I've had a couple of Aldred's and couldn't stand the fat bulbous handles he puts on his bats. All messing about aside no it doesn't bother me particularly. You can always add a grip or two.
This! It's much easier to make a think handle feel thicker than to reduce a handle that's too thick. If you knew it wasn't going to be spot on you'd go for a handle that was too thin rather than too thick every time
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a handle that's too thick.
What is this mad concept?
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What is this mad concept?
Something those of us with girly little hands struggle with!
If I think of the money I can save by buying youth size gloves though...
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Don't forget thinner handles also often mean thinner (and therefore weaker) shoulders. You cant correct that with an extra grip or two.
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I think as a consequence of bat weights going up, the handle thickness has had to increase to compensate
I'm not a fan at all of big thick oval handles, I don't buy into the bottom hand argument either
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Hope they play well for you but my RNS is bitchly soft makes me crazy although have knocked it for the last 4 months but still feel vibrations when ball hit near toe. Anyway the thin handles are a waste of power transfer.