Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Custom Made => Topic started by: JonathanH on April 24, 2017, 06:08:52 PM
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Hello All,
New to custom made bats. I have been using household Indian brands like SS and SG. I am in a kind of a dilemma here. Came across many good hand-made bat companies online and have boiled down my choice to these 4 bats
1. Laver & Wood Special Reserve
2. Blank bats b2 players grade
3. H4L Hattori Grade 2
4. Aldred prestige butterfly or Grade 2
I like the profile of these bats because I am a front foot batsman and the bounce in the pitches I play is not much. Thus, I like a bat with mid to low swell position.
As I live in US, I cannot test these bats personally :(. I would really appreciate your feedback from personal experience of using any of these willows and your recommendation. Also, if you have any other custom made bat in mind or some other profile of bat which could suit me, please do let me know.
Thanks a ton,
Jonathan
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What are the weights of your current bats?
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Current bat weights after putting an extra grip, anti scruff sheet, and toe guard are SS TON Silver edition - 2.13 lb, MRF Grand Edition - 2.14 lb and SG RSD Select - 2.11 lb.
I like the weight of the SG RSD select the most as its light, but the pickup of SS TON is good too. I use the MRF bat only towards the end of an innings. So preferable weight range after putting extra accessories should be between 2.10-2.13 lb.
Thanks
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I also reside in US and have used all the 4 bats you mentioned in the similar weights. I would recommend a L&W MEGA profile for low middle.
You can also get a H4L G2 Hattori handpicked by @Vitas Cricket for much lower price.
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@jd163 Thanks a lot!
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My main experience with those brands is Aldred and H4L, and based purely on bats I'd go Aldred every day, mine and teammates' have been really superb performers. By all accounts the customer service can be more helpful with H4L or any of the forum retailers that stock them though.
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I have a G2 Hattori and it is a lovely bat! Feels like a wand in the hands and has a surprisingly long middle.
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Thank you for the feedback @Calzehbhoy and @edge. It's really helpful.
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My h4l NV is excellent, my Aldred supreme is excellent. Personally not had much experience of the other two but never heard a bad thing about them. You could also consider red ink. I have one and the other 4 I have seen have also been fantastic.
Whichever choice you make I'm sure you will be pleased as all the companies make fantastic products.
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Thank you! :)
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...
As I live in US, I cannot test these bats personally :(. I would really appreciate your feedback from personal experience of using any of these willows and your recommendation. Also, if you have any other custom made bat in mind or some other profile of bat which could suit me, please do let me know.
Thanks a ton,
Jonathan
@JonathanH , it is interesting that I wrote this post nearly a year ago. Have a look: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=38744.msg614763#msg614763 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=38744.msg614763#msg614763)
Let me know if you have any questions. :)
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PS: Check the shipping cost of sending a bat back to the batmaker from the US if it doesn't meet your spec. Money and time are the two factors that can sour the experience.
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Great advice. Thank you! I will take into consideration what you wrote. :)
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An Elite Edition G2 bat inc delivery to the US is £204.99 if you use voucher code EASTER10 that's valid until the end of this week.
http://www.ayrtekcricket.com/product/elite-edition-bat-8-g2-2-10oz/ (http://www.ayrtekcricket.com/product/elite-edition-bat-8-g2-2-10oz/)
Bats are UK made and the weight inc toe guard and single grip, you can. Add a scuff sheet as well 👍
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Nice. Thank you @Ayrtek Cricket
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Nice. Thank you @Ayrtek Cricket
No problems, just thought I'd throw the option in for you should it be of interest as I've got a few bats in stock in your weight range ATM 👍
Should you have any questions please feel free to give me a shout.
Cheers
Tom
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I prefer my Dunamis over my H4L (my honest personal preference) at the moment... That weighs 2.14.
Just and option...
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I have used multiple laver and wood along with a couple of H4L. I am from US As well.
I would defenitely recommend Laver and wood, they seem to last long compared to other brands in my experience.
Mega in laver wood is a good front foot profile. Do reach out to me in case of any questions.
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I had a bloke buy a H4L custom pro in NV profile, Laver Mega Reserve Bin, Blank Bat BOZ, Phantom Custom LE and a Aldred Silver Sovereign.
I reviewed them and knocked the BB and the Aldred. Jake at Vitas Knocked the H4L and Phantom. Laver came prepared if he purchased upon quote.
https://youtu.be/JpVG_D0U8Pw (https://youtu.be/JpVG_D0U8Pw)
https://youtu.be/dnBWjGB_1V0 (https://youtu.be/dnBWjGB_1V0)
https://youtu.be/1xbtGcVRNmk (https://youtu.be/1xbtGcVRNmk)
https://youtu.be/xMsgV8HqHeE (https://youtu.be/xMsgV8HqHeE)
https://youtu.be/s0JdBxGyxhk (https://youtu.be/s0JdBxGyxhk)
Message me on my page if you want more information.
https://www.facebook.com/MarcsCricketBatPrepInformation/ (https://www.facebook.com/MarcsCricketBatPrepInformation/)
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Thank you @Ayrtek Cricket. Sure will contact you once I decide. Thank You @Woodyspin and @hkvuppala. @sarg thank you for the reviews.
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For what you get vs what you pay my vote is BB hands down, and not because they are a forum sponsor!!
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^ @tushar sehgal , I am curious about your experience. Blank Bats' prices seem on par with other brands, no?
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Hello All,
New to custom made bats. I have been using household Indian brands like SS and SG. I am in a kind of a dilemma here. Came across many good hand-made bat companies online and have boiled down my choice to these 4 bats
1. Laver & Wood Special Reserve
2. Blank bats b2 players grade
3. H4L Hattori Grade 2
4. Aldred prestige butterfly or Grade 2
I like the profile of these bats because I am a front foot batsman and the bounce in the pitches I play is not much. Thus, I like a bat with mid to low swell position.
As I live in US, I cannot test these bats personally :(. I would really appreciate your feedback from personal experience of using any of these willows and your recommendation. Also, if you have any other custom made bat in mind or some other profile of bat which could suit me, please do let me know.
Thanks a ton,
Jonathan
I was actually in your boat a couple of years ago. I live in Canada so fell for the allure of boutique bats made in England. I have tested 5 H4L bats and don't understand what the fuss is about really - the last one I tried was a custom Pro and it was actually disappointing. I used one blank bat and it was good but not amazing. I havent used an Aldred or Laver & Wood.
My advise is to pick out an SS, CA or SG gem. They are making excellent bats at the moment and most of them are for front foot play (I'm a front foot player too). You live in the US so I'm sure you would have a good enough selection of bats to go through from these brands. If you go through 15-20 bats you would definitely find a beauty. There is nothing like actually feeling the bat and then testing the response. If you order from any of the 4 above you are not guaranteeing yourself performance. My 2 cents.
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Thank you @Righthand. I have been buying Indian brands and I test them out before purchasing. I have never brought a bat online, so am seeking opinion of everyone in this forum.
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Go to a shop and buy one to like. I have a bb bytheway. Best bat I have owned
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BB or H4L, I would always go for a BB based on less stickers equals more wood and who presses it.
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Go to a shop and buy one to like. I have a bb bytheway. Best bat I have owned
Here in US we have probably 10 or less retailers with actual shops. So we either ask someone to handpick from india/pakistan or trust UK retailers like VITAS & IJC to handpick one for us.
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I have had a few of each of these bats, all are very good indeed. My favorite bat of all of them is my Laver. just a wonderful little bat. However the other three are as good. I think it is a case of which bat suits you, and only you can decide that. I found that the Aldred and Lavers arrived with slightly lower middles than I requested and therefor felt slightly heavier in there pick-up, they also come an ounce or two heavier than what was ordered. The H4L hellfire has a really good pick up but if you like lower middles then the Hattori is the best bat of the H4L.
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Easy answer, is buy one of each, and sell what you don't get on with
All four are highly regarded batmakers
I'd be very happy with any of them
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Btw is it true the top of the line BB bat is made by TK
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Btw is it true the top of the line BB bat is made by TK
I believe they are all tK made
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Easy answer, is buy one of each, and sell what you don't get on with
You end up losing money that way.
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Great point @InternalTraining. As these bats are expensive, selling them also becomes little difficult than a cheaper alternative.
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^ @tushar sehgal , I am curious about your experience. Blank Bats' prices seem on par with other brands, no?
Yes they have gone up a bit but if you you compare to bigger brands for bats from similar origin BB are a bit of a deal. I'll be honest though all BB's I have had have been G2 or lower or on some kind of a special offer except one that was a G1 for a mate, so may be my perception of great bats and excellent prices is skewed by prices that I paid under special circumstances!!
There are some brands that I would go back to over and over again (RPC & BB are the only forum ones, no disrespect intended towards others) because of #1 quality of product is always what I expect. I have been waiting for some kind of a special offer to come up on BB for a while now, they don't seem very active on the forum lately, so that I can quench my desire for another one :)
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Btw is it true the top of the line BB bat is made by TK
Are you saying the rest aren't? I thought they all came from the same place!!
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Great point @InternalTraining. As these bats are expensive, selling them also becomes little difficult than a cheaper alternative.
Don't buy 4-5-10 bats to try and then sell them on, i have done this and you never recover your money and are left with huge buyers remorse. If you are in the US you can go to a store pick out a bat that you like and then keep an eye out for a deal on here. If one of the brands you like has a special offer buy a G2 or G3 since the magic is in the pressing and shaping, as i am told, so you don't spend a lot of money and get to experience if you that brands product. In future once you determine what you like you can invest in higher grades if you want to pay for looks....
I have tried all brands on here other than Ayrtek and Aldred, spend thousands of dollars and I know now what "I" like. 1 Indian brand and 2 UK ones!!
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Don't buy 4-5-10 bats to try and then sell them on, i have done this and you never recover your money and are left with huge buyers remorse. If you are in the US you can go to a store pick out a bat that you like and then keep an eye out for a deal on here. If one of the brands you like has a special offer buy a G2 or G3 since the magic is in the pressing and shaping, as i am told, so you don't spend a lot of money and get to experience if you that brands product. In future once you determine what you like you can invest in higher grades if you want to pay for looks....
I have tried all brands on here other than Ayrtek and Aldred, spend thousands of dollars and I know now what "I" like. 1 Indian brand and 2 UK ones!!
This is very good advise.
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Great advice @tushar sehgal. I have Indian brands and love my bats. Just want to try out a UK hand made Grade 2 bat.
On a similar note, what is the best time to buy a bat from UK, meaning the time when sales/discounts are going on in bats?
Thanks
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Great advice @tushar sehgal. I have Indian brands and love my bats. Just want to try out a UK hand made Grade 2 bat.
On a similar note, what is the best time to buy a bat from UK, meaning the time when sales/discounts are going on in bats?
Thanks
In my experience, best time for all round sales is towards the end of season. That being said some sponsors have year round forum special rates. Sponsors also often release offers first to the forum members before the general public. Timing of these special offers vary, so you have to be on the look out and quick to order when you see something of interest as quantities can be limited!
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Great advice @tushar sehgal. I have Indian brands and love my bats. Just want to try out a UK hand made Grade 2 bat.
On a similar note, what is the best time to buy a bat from UK, meaning the time when sales/discounts are going on in bats?
Thanks
Laver did an Easter Sale last year, and have the odd Sale bat on their Facebook page. Might be worth emailing them and asking.
http://www.laverwood.co.nz/spoffer.php (http://www.laverwood.co.nz/spoffer.php)
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Fyi That Laver Mega I reviewed 8 months ago just went on sale tonight on Facebook. Netted maybe twice.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MarcsCricketBatPrepInformation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1582395712064563 (https://www.facebook.com/pg/MarcsCricketBatPrepInformation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1582395712064563)
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Thank you for the helpful information @sarg , @jblowe, @bostoncricketer