Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Specialist Cricket Retailers => Six Sixes Cricket => Topic started by: Chad on November 21, 2020, 10:34:37 PM
-
Hiya all - it seems like a fair few have already beaten me to posting about the GM Chroma, so I hope you don't get too bored reading about my purchase experience.
First of all, a big thank you to Rob @Six Sixes Cricket . I believe that Rob was actually the first person I ever bought a bat from online, back in 2012. It was a Black Cat Custom made in the shape of an M&H Distinction, albeit a much smaller sized one. I do regret selling that on without giving it a proper go, as the stickers were gorgeous, and the bat was made by one of the best.
Enough with my reminiscing, onto the purchase itself. I was a bit cheeky and offered to post up pictures for Rob, placing my order 2 minutes after receipt of the photos. Of course, @SOULMAN1012 got there before me, but it's okay, I still managed to snaffle 2 Chromas. (A 606 which isn't featured here, but is impressive too) Rob got it sent up and with me the day after some notes changed hands, and I received this.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VLrbGJzy/20201114-001025.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8hZmyW5)
Here is a close up of the grains:
(https://i.postimg.cc/dQSyj2Pm/20201114-001046.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SjCRyzKJ)
A close up of the front sticker:
(https://i.postimg.cc/tTBVfP1b/20201114-001056.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzFD1PNp)
I had been anticipating a new GM model after a few whispers about GM potentially releasing a very popular profile which isn't far off what many pros use. Was it going to be a Kohli shape? Must have a duckbill, right? Every other pro uses that. Perhaps they're gonna copy Steve Smith's? And of course, the profile they were actually releasing was going to be based off of Ben Stokes' bat.
A review isn't a review unless we have the mandatory profile shots from numerous angles:
(https://i.postimg.cc/SK796HkJ/20201114-001344.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1gX4PCgQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMS2481M/20201114-001353.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zVwykRm9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/13Fwtfd0/20201114-001327.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xX0cpTnq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15fDkWcj/20201114-001409.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZCz93xQ8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RCPcbrft/20201114-001420.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YjWGhsd2)
@InternalTraining Here's the bow:
(https://i.postimg.cc/SRjzps8M/20201114-001117.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ctyJRdFx)
Here is how the bat looks through the gauge. This was placed at the swell:
(https://i.postimg.cc/bwSHt6Zt/20201114-001641.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYmLtVgr)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hGF8b9m3/20201114-001653.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9DpqcwJG)
Any narrowing at the back? Pretty much none, the slope shown below will be because of the scuff sheet:
(https://i.postimg.cc/0NqmJ9gT/20201114-001203.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/75mbF8Z9)
:o :o :o Pictures before specs?
Weight: 2lb 9.0oz - up from 2lb 8.9oz last Friday
Edges: 37mm
Spine: 62mm
Toe edge: 19.5mm
Toe centre: 25mm
Shoulder edge: 16mm
Splice leading into handle: 37.5mm
Face Camber: 4-5mm
Width: 107-108mm throughout the face and also the back edge. No skimping on width here!
Pick Up: Subjective, but this feels quite light. I'd probably rate it as 2 on the GM Index. Feels light for 2.9.
Handle: Oval, and a nice medium thickness
One thing I think I'll note here is that the grips used by GM this year are pretty thin and light - around 1.2oz. This is around 0.6oz lighter than the Terrain grips used last season - I'm assuming it's to try compete in size for weight. Whether they're grippy enough can only really be determined after using the bat.
About this particular bat - it pings quite noticeably better than the 606. (Both have the same shape and specs) It does however have about 2oz to its advantage. However I have found that the bat just naturally pings exceptionally off the stains. (It really gives an almighty crack when you hit the stain around 23cm up from the toe) I can't imagine how big the 606 would be had it been the same weight, or even made into a 2.10!
In terms of hitting area coverage, I would say it starts waking up around 7.5cm from the toe (Where the lowest blemis/pin knot is) and responds decently around 30cm from the toe. (It's really tough to say how much purchase exactly you'd be getting from connections at those 2 extremes, but I'd imagine you'd get enough power to beat a fielder in close for a single. If in doubt, use the middle. :D)
Here's a tape measure just to give a rough idea of the middle position. I'd say it's around 20-24cm up the blade, so around a mid swell. :
(https://i.postimg.cc/pTCDH46g/20201114-001518.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/47KKvLZ5)
Now - how does it actually stack up to the Ben Stokes Player Edition?
(https://i.postimg.cc/63tdFtYr/20201114-001832.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d7NkyPM3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/65mfTspK/20201114-001846.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJY9grdq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3JRZKr79/20201114-001854.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Dm9G6TSb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/brY9Spny/20201114-001933.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FdqL2tG8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/j54hjLL3/20201114-001941.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgDnq875)
Well, short answer is that the profiles are pretty similar, however the Ben Stokes Edition is just more imposing in size. The spine height of 65mm and edges of 39mm mean that there's even more wood packed into the middle (You can see it fills out the gauge a little more), coupled with a little less tapering towards the toe and splice/handle. Responsiveness wise, there is a noticeable difference (It is just under 2oz heavier though) - however I think @Marc28 (At least I think that's Cricket Bat Info Marc's account) mentions is worth noting - chasing after a 'golden unicorn' of a bat that performs as good as the Players bats might net you around 15-20 runs more on aggregate throughout the season compared to a really good quality bat that suits you, but you really can't tell. It's entirely up to you whether that extra performance benefit will be worth the extra £400.
Many thanks to @Six Sixes Cricket - a retailer I would highly recommend to anyone. If you're looking to visit physically, (please don't at the moment) I hear he has a nice wee coffee machine. ;) If you do visit, please do knick his Custom GN for me, will exchange for some notes/coins. :D
Also, many thanks to the equipment used to help try measure/quantify things. (Calipers not pictured)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4NDHrX3Y/20201114-000845.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jbCvQMG)
And lastly, thanks for reaching this part of the review. I do enjoy typing these up, but it is massively time consuming, so I'm grateful if you've spent the time to read, even if you think I just talk $H!+. (Do let me know if there's anything I don't cover, or that I am talking rubbish in) Hope it gives some good insight into what the Chroma is, and gives you an idea of whether its a bat that will suit you or not. :)
-
Top work mate, great review. Huge fan of those photos on the reflective table surface as well.
-
Top work mate. Looks a nice stick
-
Absolutely love mine! Picks up so much better than my PE Stokes did... mine weighs just under 2.8 (when I weighed Wednesday) and picks up like a wand, right up my street. Also have a bat on order which is similar shape so will be interesting to compare.
Top photos as per @Chad
-
Great review, love the effort put in.
-
Comparison with Ben Stoke's model is a good idea.
Chroma's shape looks like the shape of bats used by Virat Kohli. Or am I off here?
-
Great post and bats are awesome!
-
Comparison with Ben Stoke's model is a good idea.
Chroma's shape looks like the shape of bats used by Virat Kohli. Or am I off here?
There is a certain element of similarities between the two shapes that’s for sure.
-
So the Chroma has a closer profile to Stokes' bats than the Diamond range, which is Stokes' Bat (apart from the PE).
Make it make sense!
Great review though fella, look like lovely sticks. Good pics too.
-
Brilliant review - thank you.
Photo envy.
-
Good to see that piano back in vogue 👍
-
Also, many thanks to the equipment used to help try measure/quantify things. (Calipers not pictured)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4NDHrX3Y/20201114-000845.jpg)
And lastly, thanks for reaching this part of the review. I do enjoy typing these up, but it is massively time consuming, so I'm grateful if you've spent the time to read, even if you think I just talk $H!+. (Do let me know if there's anything I don't cover, or that I am talking rubbish in) Hope it gives some good insight into what the Chroma is, and gives you an idea of whether its a bat that will suit you or not. :)
[/quote]
An excellent review as usual@ @Chad. Do we see a possible Phantom Anniversary edition bat review soon from you?
-
Good to see that piano back in vogue 👍
I was thinking exactly the same thing when I was looking at the review 😀😀
-
Firstly, thanks Chad for the excellent and most thorough review - much appreciated :)
But if I may,
Pick Up: Subjective, but this feels quite light. I'd probably rate it as 2 on the GM Index. Feels light for 2.9.
Pickup. It's always grated with me! I've thought about this ever since discovering this forum, as it's always mentioned in any review, but it's always 'subjective'.
As you mentioned, GM have attempted to clarify this with their pickup index, but how does that relate to any other bat that isn't manufactured or indexed by GM? Again, lots of room for personal opinions and guesses.
Why not take that huge grey area out, and replace it with something that's black and white?
'Pickup' is a function of three simple measurements - length, mass, and point of balance.
Point of Balance is easily measured by placing the bat across a cylindrical object (such as a horizontal beer can) and rolling it until the POB is found, mark the point and measure from there to the tip of the handle.
Measure the entire length of the bat, and divide POB measurement by this. You now have POB as a %, which is indicative of where the middle is. As an approximation I find .56 = high, .58 = mid, .60+ = low.
The POB measured from the handle (mm), multiplied by the mass of the bat will give a meaningful measurement of what it will feel like in your hands.
For example, a 'high middle' bat might have a total length of 848mm, POB at 480mm, weight 1180g, so 480/848= POB% at .566 480mm X 1.180Kg = what I call a "pickup value" of 566,
a 'Low middle' bat might have the same length and weight, but POB at 520, so 520/848=POB% at .613 520mm x 1.180Kg = a pickup value of 613,
and a junior size 6 'mid middle' bat having POB 462mm, length 790mm gives it POB% of .585 462mm X .921Kg = a pickup value of 425
It all seems so simple to me, I can help but wonder why nobody's ever used anything similar before?
Again, superb review, with great pics and information - thanks Chad.
I'm not directing this specifically at you, but at the forum in general.
-
GMs pickup index is quite straightforward and is largely a function of dead weight (most of their bat shapes are well balanced , so you won’t find a bat that picks up heavier than dead weight). If there is a 3lb 2 oz bat that picks up like a 2lb 14oz bat, they’d still put a pickup index of 5 (or 4) on it.
I like the system - generally their bats that are 2lb 8 or less have a pickup index of 1. Most player bats are 2 or 3 (since the profile is so full)... and I’ve never seen anything above a pickup index of 4.
It’s subjective, and they say so themselves, but on their website they explain what type of batsman would benefit from what index. Once you try a few, you’ll calibrate your own preferences to GMs index - I personally find anything above 1, too heavy to use in a game, and anything above 2, too heavy to even “collect”
-
I get why a ‘hitter’ might want a heavier bat, but not really why they’d want one with a heavier pickup, what have I missed?🤔
-
I get why a ‘hitter’ might want a heavier bat, but not really why they’d want one with a heavier pickup, what have I missed?🤔
Always thought the idea that 'hitters' want heavier weight/pickup bats and 'touch' players want lighter is a really weird generalisation, doesn't make any sense to me. Fairly confident that Rahul Dravid's (for example) bats would be a heavier pickup than David Warner's!
-
Suppose some players lose the feel with a really light pick up, wasn't that supposedly why Tendulkar used such big bats?
-
Does the size or strength of the individual not have a say of how the pick up feels?
-
I get why a ‘hitter’ might want a heavier bat, but not really why they’d want one with a heavier pickup, what have I missed?🤔
I use heavy bats - 2.15+ - but also want them with low middle which means they will pick up heavy for their weight. I find that I play too early and lose shape with bats that feel lighter in the hands. I also go against the modern trend for light bats and faster bat speed and focus instead on maintaining shape and making a good contact. As ever, it is case of experimenting with different set ups to find what works
-
Suppose some players lose the feel with a really light pick up, wasn't that supposedly why Tendulkar used such big bats?
Think he always used heavier bats having grown up, playing with his older brothers bats.
-
Think he always used heavier bats having grown up, playing with his older brothers bats.
Yeah but I think the reason for sticking with them is that lighter bats didn't feel right in his swing, which would be one explanation for why a player might prefer a heavier pickup.
-
Top work mate, great review. Huge fan of those photos on the reflective table surface as well.
(Musical Instrument-wise) Heathen! It's a piano! :D Thanks for taking the time to read. :) Glad you like the photos! Just need to get a nicer camera now rather than just snapping them all on my phone!
Absolutely love mine! Picks up so much better than my PE Stokes did... mine weighs just under 2.8 (when I weighed Wednesday) and picks up like a wand, right up my street. Also have a bat on order which is similar shape so will be interesting to compare.
Top photos as per @Chad
Yeah, they definitely do feel lighter than the dead weight suggests - the Stokes generally feel how you'd expect them to, which isn't surprising given the size and position of the swell! I'd be interested to see what your ordered @e4sby :D
Comparison with Ben Stoke's model is a good idea.
Chroma's shape looks like the shape of bats used by Virat Kohli. Or am I off here?
Very similar - a lot of pros use pretty similar profiles these days! I think the Keeley Superior is also another bat which is similar, which I believe was based off the Kohli profile too. (Could be talking rubbish)
Good to see that piano back in vogue 👍
Need to get it tuned and played, and also give it a good wipe/dust!
An excellent review as usual@ @Chad. Do we see a possible Phantom Anniversary edition bat review soon from you?
Not reviewed my Phantom stuff yet even after a couple of years! (I'm guessing the ball may have hinted that I bought a Phantom recently - I haven't!) I'm not too sure I'll go for a 5 year Anniversary bat for £550 though... (I do have a nice 150 anniversary bat to share sometime though) It looks nice, but not quite my cup of tea... Even with a cricket bat addict like me, you'd be hard pressed to find me paying that much for a sticker up company. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but for me, it'd be spent on a bat from a brand that makes their own bats.
-
@Chad here you go...
Bought from Talent Cricket had a choice of 4 which all weighed around 2.8. The cleanest one was snapped up minutes after I saw the photos so settled for this beauty.
(https://i.ibb.co/H2bZqQN/F7-EED57-F-3-CFF-4-DBE-B89-F-788-B1-AFC0-DE2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b3CtXnH)
(https://i.ibb.co/Qd6RkvQ/D275-ECA3-8425-4-DF1-96-D6-39102-FF77048.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2NjQS3h)
Weighs a smidge under 2.8, will be adding a hex grip instead of these new lighter grips so expect bat to weigh 2.8.5 after. Hoping pick up improves further when grip is added. Going to take some dislodging for next seasons match bat although I do have one on the way...
-
Here’s the photos of the 4 bats I as sent from Talent
(https://i.ibb.co/Jm4b6FR/59181299-0-E3-A-446-D-9-F56-2-E504001-C3-F8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mbwYZFC)
(https://i.ibb.co/7SbWy7z/24-BA816-B-E866-40-FD-9-CC1-468-A161-DACE8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HKXzgm2)
-
Firstly, thanks Chad for the excellent and most thorough review - much appreciated :)
But if I may,
Pickup. It's always grated with me! I've thought about this ever since discovering this forum, as it's always mentioned in any review, but it's always 'subjective'.
As you mentioned, GM have attempted to clarify this with their pickup index, but how does that relate to any other bat that isn't manufactured or indexed by GM? Again, lots of room for personal opinions and guesses.
Why not take that huge grey area out, and replace it with something that's black and white?
'Pickup' is a function of three simple measurements - length, mass, and point of balance.
Point of Balance is easily measured by placing the bat across a cylindrical object (such as a horizontal beer can) and rolling it until the POB is found, mark the point and measure from there to the tip of the handle.
Measure the entire length of the bat, and divide POB measurement by this. You now have POB as a %, which is indicative of where the middle is.
Multiplying the POB % by the mass of the bat will give a meaningful measurement of what it will feel like in your hands.
For example, a 'high middle' bat might have a total length of 848mm, POB at 480mm, weight 1180g, so 480/848= POB% at .566 X 1180g = a pickup value of 667,
a 'Low middle' bat might have the same length and weight, but POB at 520, so 520/848=POB% at .613 x 1180g = a pickup value of 723,
and a junior size 6 'mid middle' bat having POB 462mm, length 790mm gives it POB% of .585 X 921g = a pickup value of 538
It all seems so simple to me, I can help but wonder why nobody's ever used anything similar before?
Again, superb review, with great pics and information - thanks Chad.
I'm not directing this specifically at you, but at the forum in general.
I agree and disagree. Those 3 measurements are very much things you can measure, of which most batmakers will give you 2 of. You could nail all 3 of those things between 2 bats, yet have a different pickup for you. You can change the grip on a bat, with one of the same weight, and the pick-up will feel different. The thickness of the handle - some people will have smaller hands, and feel that a thicker handle actually makes the pick up feel worse for them, and some bigger hands. We also all grip the bat differently. Double gripping tends to make the pick up feel lighter - but you're still having to pick up the same amount of mass. Sure, it changes the balance point a bit, but it could be that your hands don't have to be so tense cause the grip is thicker, so could make it feel that bit better for you
Heck, we even had a wee exercise here, where we all measured the weight of our bats from the tip of the handle and from the tip of the toe, while suspending the opposite end at the same height. Result? Gave a rough indication of what did feel lighter etc, but there were some variances.
IMO, you don't want to confuse the buyer too much, and I feel GM probably provide the best indication of how a bat will feel compared to others.
For me, I've always taken the GM Pick Up Index to be roughly this, based on my experience. (What I'd expect a neutrally balanced bat to feel at these weights - again, what is neutral?)
1 - Anything up to 2lb 7oz.
2 - 2lb 8oz - 2lb 10oz.
3 - 2lb 10-11.
4 - 2lb 12-13
5 - 2lb 14 +
I understand that buying blind is often one of the most frustrating things, as you're depending on the seller to give an indication of how the pick up is like in their hands. IMO, the best thing you can do is make sure you have a dead weight range that you're comfortable with. Never go beyond this, and don't go for anything too silly like a 40mm toe bat with a middle 2 inches off the toe and no wood in the shoulders. At the same time, don't dismiss something too soon just because your old bat picked up fractionally better - muscle memory can do wondrous things.
If you're a double gripper and buying in person, buy a bat which picks up well with 1 grip, that advice seems to work best when people come round to pick up something from my collection.
-
I'm sure on the factory tour they showed mechanism which determines the index... they had calibrated it somehow...
It certainly wasn't done on weight alone.
-
I agree and disagree. Those 3 measurements are very much things you can measure, of which most batmakers will give you 2 of. You could nail all 3 of those things between 2 bats, yet have a different pickup for you. You can change the grip on a bat, with one of the same weight, and the pick-up will feel different. The thickness of the handle - some people will have smaller hands, and feel that a thicker handle actually makes the pick up feel worse for them, and some bigger hands. We also all grip the bat differently.
True. I guess in my definition of 'pickup' I'm more concerned with the way the bat reacts with gravity and the laws of physics, than what how a grip 'feels' in someone's hands.
Regarding people gripping the bat differently (in their hands), when an individual compares bats they would use the same grip, so that wouldn't be a variable, but yes, I couldn't argue that what feels 2-10 to me, must feel 2-10 to someone else.
The whole point was to separate opinion from facts. If you can see or feel a difference, then you should be able to measure it.
Double gripping tends to make the pick up feel lighter - but you're still having to pick up the same amount of mass. Sure, it changes the balance point a bit, but it could be that your hands don't have to be so tense cause the grip is thicker, so could make it feel that bit better for you
I fail to see any logic in how adding more mass of another grip could possibly make a bat feel lighter, but if somebody feels that is true through their own hands, who am I to tell them what they feel? :)
I thought double (and tripple) gripping was all because Clive Lloyd used to do it, and everyone wanted to be more like him - Guilty as charged :D
Interesting discussion anyway - thanks for the reply.