Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Reviews => Topic started by: cd0070 on February 27, 2010, 10:44:03 AM

Title: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: cd0070 on February 27, 2010, 10:44:03 AM
Congrats Norb!!

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Zej9zDkOBhc/S4j2EQTJ_WI/AAAAAAAAAuc/Z2bNVIeg83c/s800/AOC%20-%20SAF.jpg)

Matt also got a nice review..
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Zej9zDkOBhc/S4j2Es3dweI/AAAAAAAAAug/FR4IWlazPhs/s800/AOC%20-%20H4L.jpg)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: harrystokoe on February 27, 2010, 11:10:43 AM
Congrats Norb!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on February 27, 2010, 11:11:19 AM
speechless....

how the heck did you get hold that so early and who is Graeme Hick :D
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on February 27, 2010, 11:15:04 AM
ooh, do you know the top 10?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: peplow on February 27, 2010, 11:24:07 AM
says i need username and password :S
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on February 27, 2010, 11:30:36 AM
Top 10 are:
SAF Premium
Easton Maximum
Hawk X10 Original
Salix Praestantia
Chase Finback 175
Duck and Run
Warsop Stebbing Platinum
Puma Kinetic 6000
Hell4Leather 666
BAS Guru

Our CoR3 got a special mention saying "The bat produced furious performance and a resounding thundercrack" none of them liked the pickup of that particular bat though...
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: peplow on February 27, 2010, 11:32:11 AM
mongoose get a good rating??
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on February 27, 2010, 11:36:59 AM
Top work Andy and Matt with those 2 reviews....seems the Pros know what they are talking about! Snap up the SAF bats on the for sale section quick as im sure popularity will rise after reading this!!!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on February 27, 2010, 11:37:21 AM
Yeh we had a very good write up from them last week too on the CoR3.

There's a section on page 82 also on "10 Batmakers you haven't heard of but should" Black Cat are prominent in that (with a larger bat pic) along with most other small brands on this forum and elsewhere
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: steelcouch on February 27, 2010, 11:38:00 AM
congrats Norbs, that is an awesome review!
(what happened to that particular bat? PM me!!)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on February 27, 2010, 11:42:04 AM
Yeh we had a very good write up from them last week too on the CoR3.

There's a section on page 82 also on "10 Batmakers you haven't heard of but should" Black Cat are prominent in that (with a larger bat pic) along with most other small brands on this forum and elsewhere

where are you getting the info from?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: will5210 on February 27, 2010, 12:00:45 PM
Wow! Graeme Hicks favorite! Awesome stuff indeed!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: cd0070 on February 27, 2010, 12:25:31 PM
I can try and print the page and attach the pdf of each page a bit latter today if anyone is interested.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Jamieh on February 27, 2010, 12:26:52 PM
well done guys! Brilliant stuff!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: procricket on February 27, 2010, 12:31:17 PM
not a bad achievement mate well done is that Peter Such in the picture
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: cd0070 on February 27, 2010, 12:39:32 PM
Vantage Players gloves got a highly recommended..
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: niceonechoppy on February 27, 2010, 01:16:14 PM
Is the mag in the shops yet? Or is it just a online review?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: 19reading87 on February 27, 2010, 03:09:41 PM
when is the magazine in the shops??
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Beachcricket on February 27, 2010, 03:22:37 PM
Well done, richly deserved.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: petehosk on February 27, 2010, 03:35:37 PM
Well deserved and great result for all the batmakers on here!
In particular, well done Andy and Matt! But on page 82 it shouts the praises of all the 'little' batmakers on here!

Awesome results!  8)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: ianbuchanan on February 28, 2010, 12:29:55 AM
Well Done Norb! Great result, should get a lot more publicity from this, congrats to all the other guys who got a mention, good to see that smaller companies are being recognised.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Talisman on February 28, 2010, 07:32:24 AM
Congratulations to Andy and Oscar, the best 2 batmaker's in Oxfordshire and now the world, all those months locked away in the Pub have finally paid off. I know Oscar doesn't drink but surely he will break that rule this once.

I trust that bat will be framed and mounted on the wall in there, next year you must aim for a perfect 500. My willow prices however are due to increase dramatically over the next few days due to a rise in my greed ;)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: keysersolze on February 28, 2010, 08:42:40 AM
Well Done Norb good to see the all out cricket top bat award too!!! Which is in my limited opinion the best due to it being a blank test. We have one of your bats in our disabled cricket team that you donated and it went down a storm and is well liked by all!! Congrats fella good to see you sticking it to the big boys.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: FattusCattus on February 28, 2010, 09:37:43 AM
Nobby-tastic - see these Chertsey CC boys know a bit about good willow!

Am I missing something, or is there just 1 x 'Big Brand name' in the top 10?

If there is, then that's a fantastic victory for the small to medium 'batmakers'.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on February 28, 2010, 10:01:22 AM
thanks to all slowly sinking in

I knew the pub routine would benefit me it is all about thinking outside of the box and having a trusty dog as a side kick... The dog bit seemed to have worked for Andrew Kember I just introduced Cider to the Mix.....  I trust I will be getting discount via association :D Seriously though, no better service then Talisman

Keysersolze thanks, was my pleasure like I said to you bought up in Devon and always like to my bit.

FattusCattus cheers mate ugly betty will be even more infamous now
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Liam-SCCC on February 28, 2010, 10:16:14 AM
Congrats Norb, good to see only the one 'big brand' in there. Although the 2010 pumas seem to be getting good reviews.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Jamieh on February 28, 2010, 10:18:57 AM
Is there any where we can see the winning bat? :-)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Washington on February 28, 2010, 11:05:39 AM
Yeah congrats to Norb, Matt and Dan well done guys made up for all of you! Best thing is we get to talk to you guys everyday if we want, so not only are we getting a fantastic product but also fantastic before and after sale service! What more can we want??

Im a proud owner of 9th best bat, a H4L 666 LE, so im sure after this review people will be asking 'where did yiu get it?' . . .'Give us a go!!' haha
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SillyShilly on February 28, 2010, 11:45:02 AM
Big up to the Norb and Matt Massive!!! Good work boys - some bloody  decent exposure and recognition!
That £1000 you gave hicko really paid off then.....i laughed at first but you proved me wrong!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: hell4leather cricket on February 28, 2010, 10:13:38 PM
Congrates to norb! great to see us smaller brands getting some exposure ,we all work hard to get our products out there and all these sorts of things build the brand name up.
The only downside for you norb ,is theres going to have to be less time in the pub and more time at the workbench !
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: niceonechoppy on February 28, 2010, 10:20:25 PM
Great results for all of the forums batmakers, well done to Norb! When is the AOC issue with full results out?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: hell4leather cricket on February 28, 2010, 10:23:48 PM
is there a link all the pages? how many bats entered?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on February 28, 2010, 10:28:23 PM
It only shows the Top 10 and then a couple of others get mentioned like the CoR3 and Willostix.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on February 28, 2010, 11:37:28 PM
thanks Matt....but just back from the pbu ubp ummm pub :D

One of the top 10 got assigned Test no. 65 so a few I think

(http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1460/43913612.jpg)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Talisman on March 01, 2010, 07:53:02 AM
I saw one at 89.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: tommy2tink on March 01, 2010, 08:24:02 AM
In the AOC it says there were initially about a hundred and then they cut it down to 40 to test on the day.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: andeke11 on March 01, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
will the results come out on the internet or not?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: thedon on March 01, 2010, 02:36:41 PM
Norb, did the bats on tesst have your new handle in them?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 01, 2010, 03:08:37 PM
nope
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: sykesy on March 03, 2010, 06:04:04 PM
hi all, sykesy from aoc.

first off, thanks for those who picked up on the security issue with our digimag! and thanks for your interest in the gear test. it's something we've done for the past few years and we think/hope it's getting better each year. the pros had a great time smashing all those balls, and all of us at the mag were particularly impressed with the willow (and softs) on the market in 2010.

for anyone interested in seeing the real thing in all it's glory, aoc issue 66 is on sale from tomorrow. it's a real belter.

feel free to fire over any suggestions regarding what you'd like to see in the mag going forward, thanks

sykesy

Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on March 03, 2010, 06:06:17 PM
Sykesy...couldnt find the last issue anywhere :( who are your usual stockists? WHSmiths, Asda, Sainsburys all let me down!

Missed out on reading your version of the kit guide which was a shame as sounds like something we would want to throw out kit into the mix for next year...is there anyway of getting hold of a copy?

Cheers

Tom
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 03, 2010, 06:09:36 PM
Will all the bat reviews and scores be on the website?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 10:22:52 AM
Posty up the road my AOC magazine is almost at my door woohoo!!!!!!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: mdl_1979 on March 04, 2010, 10:30:24 AM
I shall be walking up to town at lunchtime to purchase, then I will be spending most of the afternoon avoiding doing any work whilst I read about cricket kit!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Buzz on March 04, 2010, 10:40:57 AM
Posty up the road my AOC magazine is almost at my door woohoo!!!!!!
I assume you will be getting two copies, one to read and the other to be framed for the workshop!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SillyShilly on March 04, 2010, 10:50:47 AM
I'd imagine he'd cut out the page and replace the picture of the twins in his wallet with the AOC article - just like any proud batmaker should!

I need to shifty down to smiths on my break as well - be interested to see the top 10, whose included and whose omitted from the illustrious list???

Are people of the opinion that the AOC review is fairer and more detailed than the wisden?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 10:55:51 AM
keeping Oscar kids are out of the wallet

WH Smiths will be empty!!!!

Need one for my Local as well :D
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 11:13:06 AM
check me out with all of my wotsits thingymajigs now I've pimped up my profile, hahahahaha :D
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on March 04, 2010, 11:14:44 AM
Love it Andy!!! Pimped to the Max get ur 12 months value out of them mate
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 11:15:16 AM
Have you got a framed certificate though Andy? Wisden gave us one  8)
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 11:18:50 AM
Damn you Tom :D

I'll make my own

Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Buzz on March 04, 2010, 11:21:24 AM
cracking pimping - please can your new bat branding/website be pimped in this way too!!!

With your photoshop skills, you can pick up some card from WHSmiths while you are buying the AOC mags and you can pimp your certificate way beyond the Wisden one!!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 11:23:13 AM
Buzz website is done.... this pimping is taking up a lot of space though on these threads so it may have to go :(
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Buzz on March 04, 2010, 11:24:12 AM
Buzz website is done.... this pimping is taking up a lot of space though on these threads so it may have to go :(

Can't you just shrink the images in photoshop?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SillyShilly on March 04, 2010, 11:25:12 AM
You got best value as well, congrats!! I thought Solitaire's grade 1's were the best value bat on the market :D
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 11:29:28 AM
Shrink the images so they're tiny and use them as emoticons. If anyone mentions another bat with professional ping and test match pickup up pops Norb with his Best Bat, Best Value and Editor's Pick emoticons and advises an SAF would be better.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 11:41:52 AM
If only I knew what professional ping was!!!!!  :o

I am repimped.... :D
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SillyShilly on March 04, 2010, 11:49:59 AM
It makes a sound like a xylophone/stylophone - not a kettle drum :S
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: hell4leather cricket on March 04, 2010, 04:09:20 PM
I want a blue aoc highly recommended thing to put on my profile too! :-{
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 04:26:56 PM
pm'd you mate
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 05:06:12 PM
Sykesy,

I like the Top 10 format you have done and I'd be interested to read reviews/summarys of the 40 bats reviewed.

My suggestions for the future would be:

- I'd suggest the players are bowled at in the future tests. Throw downs on the half volley will suit some bats more than others and in games we don't face throwdowns.
- Would be interested to give bats a road test, in magazines like Top Gear for cars they give the car to someone for 6 months to review.
- Give a rough specification/idea for the manufacturers to make to. If Graeme Hick likes a 3lber but someone sends him 2lb 6oz does it mean the bats bad?

Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: tommo256 on March 04, 2010, 05:15:15 PM
I ordered the magazine through my village shop and they say they didnt get it today :(
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: peplow on March 04, 2010, 05:17:51 PM
Sykesy,

I like the Top 10 format you have done and I'd be interested to read reviews/summarys of the 40 bats reviewed.

My suggestions for the future would be:

- I'd suggest the players are bowled at in the future tests. Throw downs on the half volley will suit some bats more than others and in games we don't face throwdowns.
- Would be interested to give bats a road test, in magazines like Top Gear for cars they give the car to someone for 6 months to review.
- Give a rough specification/idea for the manufacturers to make to. If Graeme Hick likes a 3lber but someone sends him 2lb 6oz does it mean the bats bad?



Thats interesting tom, agree with the made to the same specs in order to be fair. Maybe bowling machine is the way to go because then you can assure all shots can be played from different lengths etc as bowlers would be pretty random what balls get chucked down, again may be all half volleys, or all long hops!
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Buzz on March 04, 2010, 05:21:47 PM
Thats interesting tom, agree with the made to the same specs in order to be fair. Maybe bowling machine is the way to go because then you can assure all shots can be played from different lengths etc as bowlers would be pretty random what balls get chucked down, again may be all half volleys, or all long hops!

possibly, although with a bowling machine you can't judge the contact with the ball as well as you can with a proper cricket ball - I think that you would have to do it as a net format, but that isn't easy if you have to do a review of 40 bats... As with all these things there must be a certain amount of luck involved. Hick and Butcher (the two best batters on the test) picked different bats... which says it does come down to personal taist.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: peplow on March 04, 2010, 05:23:19 PM
Yeah just considered that with the bowling machine balls, its a tough one and is never gonna be 100% accurate, fool proof or thoroughly fair.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 05:31:31 PM
Have you seen the vid Tom?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 05:34:15 PM
Ooh you mean the one on the YUDU link? Yeh saw that one.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: hell4leather cricket on March 04, 2010, 05:36:02 PM
can seem to get the logo uploaded on my profile.... :-{
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: jandgcricket on March 04, 2010, 05:36:27 PM
If i'm honest - There's never going to be a far way to do it, all players prefer different shapes, weight's etc.  Therefore this may influence their decision making.  As with Throwdowns I think that's probably the best way as there is little chance of miss-timing, as with proper shot's people are more likely to miss-time and this may influence their decision on the bat?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 05:38:23 PM
Miss-timing shots would be good as it gives an idea of middle size. Almost every bat has a middle, the differences are in the size of them.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 05:47:35 PM
Ooh you mean the one on the YUDU link? Yeh saw that one.

Ah mine is with Mark Butcher about 5:47 in the sequence just before Graeme Hick hits the camera man
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 10:07:35 PM
Tom what are you views on the Wisden Test as you haven't posted a view / recommendations on that thread?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: hell4leather cricket on March 04, 2010, 10:17:01 PM
where's the video?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: Tom on March 04, 2010, 10:21:48 PM
Tom what are you views on the Wisden Test as you haven't posted a view / recommendations on that thread?
I like the idea of 2 magazines doing different tests, one with pros the other with punters. The suggestions made to AOC would also apply to Wisden. Would also like to see the ultimate best bat from Wisden in addition to the categories.

Both are fantastic ideas though and provide a valuable insight into brands and their bats. It must be particularly time consuming for these magazines to compile and sort out the reviews, which I'm incredibly appreciative of.
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: niceonechoppy on March 04, 2010, 10:27:06 PM
Love the ideas of both companies doing their own thing. As you say tom one with pros and one with punters! Did AOC do a softs review? Tom have you sent that prize of 20 grips yet?
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: SAF Bats on March 04, 2010, 10:30:27 PM
I like the idea of 2 magazines doing different tests, one with pros the other with punters. The suggestions made to AOC would also apply to Wisden. Would also like to see the ultimate best bat from Wisden in addition to the categories.

Both are fantastic ideas though and provide a valuable insight into brands and their bats. It must be particularly time consuming for these magazines to compile and sort out the reviews, which I'm incredibly appreciative of.

:D Genius

An Oscar thread will be starting in a min
Title: Re: All Out Cricket's Best Bat Winner is....
Post by: sykesy on March 11, 2010, 11:34:10 AM
sorry not to have replied sooner

tom, thanks for your suggestions, in reply:

- we found throw downs to be the quickest way to effectively test 40 bats with 5 batsmen over the course of 3 hours
- road test: we did suggest this at an editorial meeting a while back, and actually started one, but it fell by the wayside - i will investigate
- spec bats for each players: this would obviously be preferable but again, is not practical when we're testing 40 bats for five players (and that's only the shortlist). we did ask players to consider that some batsmight not be made to their spec
- punters as well as pros: this is something we have done in the past, and it worked well. this year we decided to use pros only, but next year who knows...

ayrtek - i take it you found a copy?

for anyone who has not seen the test yet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltp3u9XYO48

and certificates will be in the post soon!