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Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Newbery => Topic started by: SOULMAN1012 on July 19, 2017, 03:00:58 PM

Title: Newbery Phantom
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on July 19, 2017, 03:00:58 PM
Here is my Newbery Phantom. I purchased this from Its Just Cricket as I have always been a fan of Newbery bats, I guess a little like M&H for me in that I have not liked shapes, marketing etc at time but never owned or seen a bad Newbery, I'm also past spending £300,£400,£500 plus on bats these days as with the great sponsors on here we can get gun bats in lower grades as well as good looking bats.

Anyway I saw Paul's Review of these in May via YouTube and contacted him about a 2.8 one he reviewed but that had sold, Paul told me he would be visiting again in late June and that he was happy to pick me one. So asked for 2.9 and as he was hand picking a good looker and performer. Well in my opinion this is both of those especially for £120. Now I have no doubt this is one of the Indian made bats and certainly not a U.K. Or TK made bat.

Bad Points - the stickers must have been fitted by a child as they were hanging over the edges and I have had to take a Stanley blade to trim them down espicially  the edge ones and even slightly hanging over the shoulder, the toe guard must have been applied with pric stick as was already coming away and peeled off like a butter lid and the tape around the grip was industrial electric tape, minor cosmetic but again a bit like M&H bats the finishing touches that have long been associated with a Newbery were not there in this bat.

Good points - for a G3 bat I think she is a stunner 11/12 grains that are mainly straight certainly in the playing area and for me now iv removed the toe guard are straight through the toe, 35mm edges with what I would describe as gentle concaving, gentle bow with a full spine into the toe. I have had this knocked in by IJC and I must say the performance on this bat is superb, middle is long and bat has a lovely deep sound when tapping up the ball.
2.9 bang on with a really light pick up, oval handle that's perfect for my 1 grip set up.
Personally I like the purple black colour scheme and the Newbery logo and graphics on there range at present time the grip will be changed to a white chevron but that's just my choice and I will add a Newbery hammer edge sheet as well

The only thing to figure out now is how to stop these pictures coming out so big so I'll just share a couple until I do

(http://i.imgur.com/Syk2Nht.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/IknZXvK.jpg)
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: iand123 on July 19, 2017, 03:17:26 PM
@SOULMAN1012 edited the picture size. Modify the post and you'll see but essentially you add width=800 (or whatever width you want) int he IMG tag

So it becomes (deliberately ignored the square brackets) IMG width=800 inside the square brackets
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: play-yourself-in on July 19, 2017, 03:18:21 PM
Great stick!!!!!
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: mrazvi on July 19, 2017, 03:22:40 PM
This grading business is mind boggling. Why is this not a grade 2 or better? Very nice bat!
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: adb club cricketer on July 19, 2017, 03:23:59 PM
Stunner for the price!! I thought they would be pretty bad looking with 4 grains types when I heard the price, but am pleasantly surprised..
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: LBWCandidate on July 19, 2017, 04:10:23 PM
Great looking bat for that price. Should have been graded higher but that wouldn't have been good for you.
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on July 19, 2017, 04:23:22 PM
This grading business is mind boggling. Why is this not a grade 2 or better? Very nice bat!

I guess to a degree when manufacturing is outsourced the grading can be variable and that's when hand picking does become a benefit. I know so far Paul has only picked 4 Phantoms from his two visits to Newbery so I would imagine the majority have been not the best looking but agree in this instance grading looks like my gain in terms of looks vs price. 
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on July 19, 2017, 04:25:30 PM
Great looking bat for that price. Should have been graded higher but that wouldn't have been good for you.

I just don't believe that a G1 means Better performance and as stated if many say this and indeed most of my collections the mass would think they were all G1 or G2 or even that non existent G1+++ rubbish but that's where in my mind we are fortunate with the sponsors and those that visit to handpick or have good relationships to get the best of all grades for us
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: chrisbd on July 19, 2017, 09:25:20 PM
Yes - these are Indian made ones, but the other 3 that Paul picked have all been very nice too!

He did tell me that the majority of them have been "as you'd expect" for bats of this price, but I think this goes a long way to proving the importance of handpicking!

I must admit I have to eat a slice of humble pie as I recommended against stocking them (unsure about finishing etc from Newbery for this low price Indian made stuff), but Paul has really proven me wrong with the ones he's picked.

Lovely stick - hope it gets you a lot of runs!
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: Wills on July 19, 2017, 10:08:26 PM
Yes - these are Indian made ones, but the other 3 that Paul picked have all been very nice too!

He did tell me that the majority of them have been "as you'd expect" for bats of this price, but I think this goes a long way to proving the importance of handpicking!

I must admit I have to eat a slice of humble pie as I recommended against stocking them (unsure about finishing etc from Newbery for this low price Indian made stuff), but Paul has really proven me wrong with the ones he's picked.

Lovely stick - hope it gets you a lot of runs!

May I ask if that's part of the reason why your Platinum is not being made by Newbery this year?
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: Woodyspin on July 19, 2017, 10:36:05 PM
Friend has one, lovely bat for the price
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: chrisbd on July 19, 2017, 10:39:25 PM
May I ask if that's part of the reason why your Platinum is not being made by Newbery this year?

Without going too much into it, Newbery were incredibly generous to us in years past (we ask a lot as a retailer!), and perhaps realised they were overly generous, so wanted to change the terms of things a little bit (e.g. taking away the option for us to handpick), so whilst we still sell their other bats, we wanted to look at and explore other UK made options for the Plat!
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: delazy on January 08, 2018, 10:53:05 AM
old topic but anyways...have taken a liking to the phantom...have tried messaging itsjustcricket in relation to purchasing a 2lb8 clean stick without much luck...any other retailers holding stock?
Title: Re: Newbery Phantom
Post by: Windowshatter on April 16, 2019, 08:36:10 AM
Managed to pick one of these up a couple of months ago direct from Newbery when they were selling off the remaining 2018 stock for £65. Absolute bargain at that price. Wouldn't have been disappointed if paying the full price either tbh.