Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Loglater on June 29, 2020, 07:09:27 AM
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Hi there. New to the forum and looking for some guidance.
I hope that's OK - I realise that this forum is about the very other end of the quality spectrum but I'm hoping to tap onto the knowledge of forum users.
I'm after some inexpensive bats for a 6 year old & his 2 younger brothers.
I found this forum looking for reviews of a UK company selling circa £15 kashmir willow bats - I won't name the company - it seems like the thread I found here was a shill account trying to raise brand awareness.
I'd like to know what to look for as a minimum.
I know very little about cricket, but our 6 year old has seen the local club playing and wants to join.
I wanted to get him a bat to have a play around.
I did no reading, and just bought the smallest wooden bat I found on Sports Direct...
It's far too big (size 3, the online charts I've found say he's a size 1) and it seems like there's something badly wrong with it...
(https://i.imgur.com/Wa9NVEb.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/5kGApt9.jpg)
It seems to have some sort of wrap that is bubbling away from the main body of the bat.
I want to send it back and replace it with something without any sort of wrap.
Thanks for any help.
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That’s a grain sheet sticker to make the bat face look prettier as the wood underneath it probably has blemishes/marks/knots in the wood.
It shouldn’t bubble like that so yes I would send it back.
I’m sure someone on here will be able to help you find a better bat.
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Hi @Loglater
Welcome to the forum.
Pretty much all the junior Kashmir bats will have a sheet on the bat similar to what you have. I’ve never seen one coming away or bubbling like that. They are on there to make them look more presentable.
If your going mainstream for a bat without a face on it then there are a couple of options. Kook do a European willow range, and gray Nicola do an English willow bat that I find to be the best value at around £60
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As a first bat for a 6 year old, I would go down the kashmir willow bat route. it is likely to be in use against tennis balls or similar for a while yet, so should be robust enough. It will be a lot cheaper than an english willow bat.
As other have said, the grain sheet should not be bubbling like that- send that back and look for a size 1 or 2 (eg EBay. Amazon, if the cricket shops don't stock what you want).
Good luck,
David
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GM go down to a size 0 in their range as I got one for my 4 year old and Had another one supplied by @hell4leather cricket last week as well for my 2 year old who refuses to use his smaller bat now too.
Comes down to how much you want to spend on them.
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That’s a grain sheet sticker to make the bat face look prettier as the wood underneath it probably has blemishes/marks/knots in the wood.
It shouldn’t bubble like that so yes I would send it back.
I’m sure someone on here will be able to help you find a better bat.
Ah, OK. Thanks.
Hi @Loglater
Welcome to the forum.
Pretty much all the junior Kashmir bats will have a sheet on the bat similar to what you have. I’ve never seen one coming away or bubbling like that. They are on there to make them look more presentable.
If your going mainstream for a bat without a face on it then there are a couple of options. Kook do a European willow range, and gray Nicola do an English willow bat that I find to be the best value at around £60
Thanks for the reply. £60 is a bit out of my budget at the mo - I'm not sure whether he'll stick to it. I'll be happy to spend more on his next bat if he does. There's the added cost at the mo because I need to buy 3 - 1 for each of his younger brothers as well - or there'll be hell to pay!
As a first bat for a 6 year old, I would go down the kashmir willow bat route. it is likely to be in use against tennis balls or similar for a while yet, so should be robust enough. It will be a lot cheaper than an english willow bat.
As other have said, the grain sheet should not be bubbling like that- send that back and look for a size 1 or 2 (eg EBay. Amazon, if the cricket shops don't stock what you want).
Good luck,
David
Thanks for this. I hadn't realised these grain sheets were so prevalent. I was hoping for Kashmir willow and no wrap, from a generic manufacturer. I was wondering if any of them were better regarded than the others.
GM go down to a size 0 in their range as I got one for my 4 year old and Had another one supplied by @hell4leather cricket last week as well for my 2 year old who refuses to use his smaller bat now too.
Comes down to how much you want to spend on them.
Right now, I just want something for him (and his brothers) to knock about - I've never played myself, and I don't know whether it'll stick. Also, him and his 2 brothers thrash their stuff - at this point in time spending loads is just not practical. As I say, I've seen some 10-20 quid bats in sizes 0 and 1 that seem OK, but I was wondering whether any of the generic brands were better than the others.
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As there not going to be using it against a cricket ball, pretty much anything can be used.
Here’s another option, we have size 1 and size -1 available
https://www.sixsixescricket.co.uk/product/gm-mana-cricket-set/ (https://www.sixsixescricket.co.uk/product/gm-mana-cricket-set/)
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Slazenger will always be the cheapest due to being owned by Sports Direct and the sheer volume they buy in, they may also stock GM but typically have 70-80% off slaz stuff as per the above reason.
TBH at size 1 they will only be hitting wind or tennis balls anyway so you're not yet into the worry of how the bat performs its more about getting something the right size to get him going.
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Speak to red ink, his junior bats are well priced and excellent.
What I would say is for a u6/u7 year old you are well advised to buy a plastic bat, something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NRRNMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HtB-Eb0KJDEJJ (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NRRNMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HtB-Eb0KJDEJJ) or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074HB2BJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RtB-EbBNRX9R3 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074HB2BJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RtB-EbBNRX9R3)
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Having said that, my 6 year old wants to play hard ball like his 10 year old brother, so had basically the best kit of all of us...
(https://i.postimg.cc/wj5CZxXG/IMG-20200629-103416.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Yv9DmHy6)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fRh48S9d/IMG-20200629-103427.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ppk1TTkV)
Bat GN powerbow academy, size 0. Bought off ebay for £20, it is a gun bat, I am not joking.
Pads £10 from the GN ebay outlet.
Gloves direct from GN in their recent sale £15
Lid from Mike Ashley's discount store.
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As there not going to be using it against a cricket ball, pretty much anything can be used.
Here’s another option, we have size 1 and size -1 available
https://www.sixsixescricket.co.uk/product/gm-mana-cricket-set/ (https://www.sixsixescricket.co.uk/product/gm-mana-cricket-set/)
Yes, I spoke briefly to one of the chaps at the local club yesterday morning, and he was very much of the opinion that it just needed to be "bat-shaped" and light at that age! He did wince a little bit when I asked if plastic was OK! Those Mana bats look good.
Slazenger will always be the cheapest due to being owned by Sports Direct and the sheer volume they buy in, they may also stock GM but typically have 70-80% off slaz stuff as per the above reason.
TBH at size 1 they will only be hitting wind or tennis balls anyway so you're not yet into the worry of how the bat performs its more about getting something the right size to get him going.
Yes, thanks.
Speak to red ink, his junior bats are well priced and excellent.
What I would say is for a u6/u7 year old you are well advised to buy a plastic bat, something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NRRNMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HtB-Eb0KJDEJJ (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NRRNMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HtB-Eb0KJDEJJ) or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074HB2BJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RtB-EbBNRX9R3 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074HB2BJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RtB-EbBNRX9R3)
Thanks a lot for this reply. Funnily enough that is exactly what we already have - got it at the same time as the one in the pictures in the OP, together with a Slazenger equivalent (I figured the plastic bats would do for the younger brothers, and the sets would be good for the beach) - although I have to say - the plastic GM bat is noticeably better quality than the Slazenger plastic equivalent.
I feel a bit rubbish giving the boys a plastic bat though, and wondered if it wasn't really "the done thing".
Is it OK for me to post a few links to eBay items for an opinion?
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Haha, love this thread. I reckon it's the first time CBF has recommended someone get a plastic bat. Would be fine for that age group though. 👍👍
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If you just want a plastic bat, which is perfectly adequate for a 6-year old, just sign up to All-stars and you get a nice orange one.
if you get a wood bat don't worry too much about what it looks like, just make sure its not to big and *especially* not too heavy.
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Took some of our secondary school kids to a cricket comp and they had to ban use of the plastic bats because they were pinging the ball all over the field. I think it must have been the lightness + a degree of elasticity that just made them outperform the wooden bats considerably. (not hardball cricket).
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Thanks a lot for all the replies - greatly appreciated. I'm going to stick with the GM plastic bat then, I think. I've ordered a few incrediballs and I'll see about some catching games etc.
@SLA - thanks for the mention of All-Stars - that looks decent. I've registered our interest and I'll wait to see what response I get: I think everything's paused due to Covid-19 and I can't see where our nearest venue is, but it seems like a perfect intro (for me as well as the boy!)
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Thanks a lot for all the replies - greatly appreciated. I'm going to stick with the GM plastic bat then, I think. I've ordered a few incrediballs and I'll see about some catching games etc.
@SLA - thanks for the mention of All-Stars - that looks decent. I've registered our interest and I'll wait to see what response I get: I think everything's paused due to Covid-19 and I can't see where our nearest venue is, but it seems like a perfect intro (for me as well as the boy!)
A bit late I suppose, but if you have not got it going this summer, probably will find the following information useful for next summer.
All Stars is a fun and great starting point for children aged 5 to 8 yrs. Its an ECB run programme with qualified coaches, the children get their own kits including a windball, a set of stumps, a hat, a shirt with their name printed, a plastic bat, a carry bag, guide and full 8 sessions. Find your nearest club following the link https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars (https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars)
Most clubs will be running this programme as it is running for a few years now and children just love it. Clubs not participating in this national programme will run their own programme and the coaches will advice the appropriate equipment for the children.
You can buy secondhand equipment from your local club, they are usually donanated by parents as the children grow out of them quickly and hence they are fairly new. At my club, usually a spend of £10 is good to buy a full set of secondhand kits for a child.
Trust this helps.