Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Other Gear => Topic started by: it's_a_pudding on February 07, 2017, 11:57:01 PM
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Hi guys I conducted a bit of a test recently in regards to cricket balls. After long searching to find topics about what's a good ball to buy for personal use etc. I decided to buy 8 balls in total 4 from one well known website which was a reader county supreme ball total cost £47.95. The other 4 from a different well known retailer these were Dukes Special County total cost £74.96. Both have now been used for 7 indoor net session on 2 different types of surfaces one a hard rubber type mat and the other a more ruggy style surface. Each session was 2 hours long and was used for sidearm, spin bowling and medium pace with 1 other friend.
Dukes
The ball swings and hasn't stopped swinging from ball one it also regularly Seams about as well as bounces a lot more. The ball condition is remarkable the ball is still very hard and doesn't play much differently from when it was new if anything it has maybe lost a touch of pace but that could be a number of factors. The balls also spins and bounces a fair amount. This is for someone that has only bowled spin for a limited amount of overs.
Readers
The balls had a slight swing for first couple of net sessions then stopped. But last session they suddenly started swinging a lot more and quite late as well. The ball doesn't tend to bounce out of the norm though and occasionally keep low. Ball condition is average neither ball has been shined at all other than the odd occasion it was used for dibbley dobbly bowling. The ball when used for spin doesn't turn very much and bounce is normal.
I do have concerns the dukes are bat breakers they sound odd off the bat and seems to leave the occasional seam marks of the ball on the bats and when they do leave a cherry on the bat it's like a smudge. Whereas the readers doesn't leave any seam marks and the cherry looks normal? The dukes is very bright red in colour the readers is a darker red.
Has anyone else had experience with these balls? Recommend or name and shame other balls?
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Have a read here: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=37798.45 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=37798.45)
Tiflex mid series are the Windsor, I trialled the white ones, and once you get over the cheap laquered style, its actually a nice ball. Good shaperetention and the laquer stands up to a beating. Swings and seams for reasonable time. Retails at under £15 :)