Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: jonny77 on January 19, 2019, 09:29:06 PM
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Anyone know anything about these guys?
http://www.worldclasswillow.com/ (http://www.worldclasswillow.com/)
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Their grading seems ‘generous’!!!!
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Their grading seems ‘generous’!!!!
World class grading eh
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Based in Plymouth apparently
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If any of you have access to Aldred's facebook group, I'd suggest having a read of this - probably tells you all you need to know about "World Class" willow...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/501028869922616/permalink/2953250341367111/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D (https://www.facebook.com/groups/501028869922616/permalink/2953250341367111/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D)
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Unfortunately not on Facebook. What’s the general gist??
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Sometimes in life sadly your generosity and friendship is used and abused. Someone I got to know who was interested in bats and was ex forces injured etc which grabbed my attention straight away. So we befriended him invited him in to our house and friendship, introduced him to the taverners, travelled down the country to go and teach him about willow grading as well as about bats, introduced him to one of the big companies as what he wanted to do was beneficial to both of them, they shook hands on a great deal, then he negated big time on them big time, went to ground and as I was trying to see if all was ok told me he had a serious illness. So benefit if the doubt I tried to keep in contact worried for him, no replies on a constant basis. Then you begin to hear snippets but think nothing of it.
Now I was notified of a tweet yesterday of someone setting up a bat and willow business. Well amazingly it’s the same person. I have no qualms with anyone setting up a business good luck to them. But to lie and deceive and use someone’s friendship in the course of it and jeopardise that persons honesty generosity and kind deed for me stinks. I hate lies and deceit. You can have all the willow in the world, in fact you can have world class willow it doesn’t suddenly make you a bat maker or willow supplier.
I am honestly appalled at this person and for me if he’s prepared to have that much dishonesty with befriended people they won’t have any qualms about screwing the public.
Yes this is a rant guys but a very very angry and let down one. I personally put my heart in to friendship and hate being let down in this way.
I won’t state who it is he knows and perhaps that’s why he’s never been in touch again.
One thing though from now anyone wanting advice from me re bat making etc will, if I decide to give it, will be charged a fee. This really is the final straw for me. As I say I hate dishonesty and most of all honesty and loyalty. Good to luck to you and it’s a long life with certain things on your conscience. I do believe in karma
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Obviously take it with a pinch of salt given the source
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Charging a fee!!! Blimey Paul, tar everyone with the same brush why don't you!
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Sorry cant see any willow on the website..
Just something bout a mobile app???
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That's two threads with Plymouth mentions this week... are they related?
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Obviously take it with a pinch of salt given the source
Not sure why anyone would put something like this on FB if it wasn't true. Obviously something happened. I just wondered if anyone knew the company that was all. Out of curiosity more than anything, I wasn't intending to buy any of their gear.
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Our league have a fbook page for players and one of them has posted a link to the website on it, claims to be a friend of his that set it up. So I could do a little more digging. Went on website myself and was just a link to an app and live scores, I'm happy with ESPN app ta
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If any of you have access to Aldred's facebook group, I'd suggest having a read of this - probably tells you all you need to know about "World Class" willow...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/501028869922616/permalink/2953250341367111/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D (https://www.facebook.com/groups/501028869922616/permalink/2953250341367111/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D)
I was wondering who it was that had upset Mr Aldred so much!
So it is genuinely good quality willow then. I assume that they’re doing their own pressing, etc.
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The fee would be worth it though, he’s obviously a magician to make a 2.12 bat feel 2.9!! ;)
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Not sure why anyone would put something like this on FB if it wasn't true. Obviously something happened. I just wondered if anyone knew the company that was all. Out of curiosity more than anything, I wasn't intending to buy any of their gear.
You could give someone the benefit of the doubt if it was s one off, but rants about someone or something are s near weekly occurrence as is hiding behind secrecy and refusing to name names
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As I’m Nottingham based, Aldred is probably the closest manufacturer of bats by hand to me (I’m not sure if Charlie French is still going), so I often think about messaging him to see if I can visit, just to observe him at work. My philosophy is very different to his, but he’s obviously a skilled craftsman. I think his latest tirade has completely put me off though - particularly when you compare his persona with the generosity of other makers on here.
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Best form your own opinion Luke after you have payed the man a visit.
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As I’m Nottingham based, Aldred is probably the closest manufacturer of bats by hand to me (I’m not sure if Charlie French is still going), so I often think about messaging him to see if I can visit, just to observe him at work. My philosophy is very different to his, but he’s obviously a skilled craftsman. I think his latest tirade has completely put me off though - particularly when you compare his persona with the generosity of other makers on here.
I was talking to Charlie just before Xmas, by the way, so he's definitely still around and is always welcoming in my experience. Just call first to check he's actually in.
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As I’m Nottingham based, Aldred is probably the closest manufacturer of bats by hand to me (I’m not sure if Charlie French is still going), so I often think about messaging him to see if I can visit, just to observe him at work. My philosophy is very different to his, but he’s obviously a skilled craftsman. I think his latest tirade has completely put me off though - particularly when you compare his persona with the generosity of other makers on here.
Same with me. His bats are rated by a number of people but I wouldn't give him my business because of the way he conducts himself. Small brands are inextricably tied to the person running the business.
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Best form your own opinion Luke after you have payed the man a visit.
I would, but now I’d have to pay him for the privilege.
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As I’m Nottingham based, Aldred is probably the closest manufacturer of bats by hand to me (I’m not sure if Charlie French is still going), so I often think about messaging him to see if I can visit, just to observe him at work. My philosophy is very different to his, but he’s obviously a skilled craftsman. I think his latest tirade has completely put me off though - particularly when you compare his persona with the generosity of other makers on here.
Pretty much sums it up.. reason I haven't purchased an Aldred even though I was pretty keen at one point looking to buy a butterfly bat... If I was you I'd just go to Charlie French! Or buy GM or B3! The chaps at B3 seem pretty friendly!
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I have a bat from Paul, probably the best bat ive ever brought, I went to see him to have it made in front of me so i got exactly what i wanted (in May 2018). Top bloke and honest in my opinion. So if hes tried to help people and then had it thrown back at him i can see why hes a bit annoyed. Anyone whose able to give big discounts/offers etc clearly is selling at to high a cost to begin with. (i do work in the industry)
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Have to say I agree with you here. For whatever reason prime I hate tend to bag him quite a bit and I'm sure they've got their reasons, but sounded like he offered someone help and advice, then that person let him down and potentially lied. Not sure how he's to blame for that. I've never tried his bats but they look good and he puts some decent info online imo.
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I think Paul probably a fairly honest bloke who makes a very good cricket bat, but his rants about various things don't really do him any favours, and neither do his double standards about companies that just label up bats, or soft pressing.
For me he'd do a lot better just getting his head down and making bats. You might be mad about something but a long rant followed by telling other people they'll have to pay for advice from now on doesn't really benifit anyone IMO.
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I think the Facebook group echo chamber of diehard fans has really not helped with the rants, I'm sure dissenting opinions used to be dealt with in more friendly style a few years ago before Paul lost his temper with the forum. All a bit of a shame really.
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Back on topic I noticed WCW had a bat in the Cricketer good gear test yday.
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYyXGJD4/DC78-E301-4341-478-E-96-C3-121-E95-C88508.png) (https://postimg.cc/v4X2X7jd)
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Back on topic I noticed WCW had a bat in the Cricketer good gear test yday.
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYyXGJD4/DC78-E301-4341-478-E-96-C3-121-E95-C88508.png) (https://postimg.cc/v4X2X7jd)
Will be interesting to see how it fairs - I can’t help feeling that you set yourself up for a fall with a name like that! It’s a shame that all the others seem to be from some of the big brands. The exposure would be great for some of the independent companies (I get that it’s their choice to pay and send products in, but still).
To return to the off-topic portion, I don’t think anyone is doubting Paul’s skill and ability to produce a good bat but, as previously hinted at, his forthright attitude could/does/will put lots of folk off.
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Will be interesting to see how it fairs - I can’t help feeling that you set yourself up for a fall with a name like that! It’s a shame that all the others seem to be from some of the big brands. The exposure would be great for some of the independent companies (I get that it’s their choice to pay and send products in, but still).
To return to the off-topic portion, I don’t think anyone is doubting Paul’s skill and ability to produce a good bat but, as previously hinted at, his forthright attitude could/does/will put lots of folk off.
Most will be made in same places probably :) So do we actually know who makes these bats? Or are the made by World Class Willow?
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I think Paul probably a fairly honest bloke who makes a very good cricket bat, but his rants about various things don't really do him any favours, and neither do his double standards about companies that just label up bats, or soft pressing.
This is the crux of it for me, he makes a big play about his business being about honesty, integrity and putting principles before profit, whilst taking Newbery's cash to make bats for them to sticker up and bang on about heritage and legacy.
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This is the crux of it for me, he makes a big play about his business being about honesty, integrity and putting principles before profit, whilst taking Newbery's cash to make bats for them to sticker up and bang on about heritage and legacy.
As much as Paul's rants can be frustrating I don't see what's wrong with him making bats for Newbery. Newbery have the heritage and legacy but not a bat maker anymore, so at least some of their bats are being made by an english batmaker which I don't think has anything wrong with it.
In today's world enormous amount of work is subbed out or outsourced. Do you want the best for your money or do you want the tags and buzzwords...
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As much as Paul's rants can be frustrating I don't see what's wrong with him making bats for Newbery. Newbery have the heritage and legacy but not a bat maker anymore, so at least some of their bats are being made by an english batmaker which I don't think has anything wrong with it.
In today's world enormous amount of work is subbed out or outsourced. Do you want the best for your money or do you want the tags and buzzwords...
He does have a lot of rants against sticker merchants etc. IMO It's then a little bit of double standards to supply for one of them.
He'd also posted a few (perfectly correct) videos about the nonsense of soft and hard presses, but then along come newbery and offer exactly that with their Legacy range at crazy prices.
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He does have a lot of rants against sticker merchants etc. IMO It's then a little bit of double standards to supply for one of them.
He'd also posted a few (perfectly correct) videos about the nonsense of soft and hard presses, but then along come newbery and offer exactly that with their Legacy range at crazy prices.
Oh ok I see, I had stopped watching or more so listening to videos a long while ago even though I do follow him on FB.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovNLO4yuKPA&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovNLO4yuKPA&feature=youtu.be)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bolaXSKgOYY&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bolaXSKgOYY&feature=youtu.be)
Doesn't really match with Newbery offering aldred made soft, medium or hard pressing on their top of the range bats.
Not saying you can't do what he's done, and fair play for building up his business and being in that position, but when you preach something strongly you have to expect a bit of criticism when you go against what you believe in for a cheque.
I'll leave it at that, don't really have anything against the guy, just not a huge fan of double standards like that, especially in throse who are fairly vocal in their criticism of others.
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The bloke from World Class Willow features on the latest Cricketer podcast - only interesting thing was how they fit the handle - use a U-shaped join instead of the traditional V - reckons it provides a tighter fit and has improved power. No idea how true that is and I'd assume Keeley etc would have tried all sorts of different ways of fitting a hande.
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The bloke from World Class Willow features on the latest Cricketer podcast - only interesting thing was how they fit the handle - use a U-shaped join instead of the traditional V - reckons it provides a tighter fit and has improved power. No idea how true that is and I'd assume Keeley etc would have tried all sorts of different ways of fitting a hande.
Yeah, heard that and the part about the splicing, interesting theory but didn't sound like there was any science behind it when he just talked about getting more feel/feedback from the bat.
Oss they have an app and no website and even that seems to be mostly a place to repost cricinfo stories with equipment sales almost an afterthought.
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Still yet to see any evidence this guy actually makes bats? Hell if I made my own I’d be posting pictures left, right and centre showing so!
Would be good to see this U shaped splice too, first I’ve heard of anything like that being done
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use a U-shaped join instead of the traditional V - reckons it provides a tighter fit and has improved power.
Does it (No Swearing Please).
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Does it (No Swearing Please).
Like most things Simon Hughes says it’s a probably a load of BS! How he is still in a job is beyond me.