Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Companies => Custom companies => Topic started by: Thorne_Cricket on May 26, 2022, 11:45:52 AM

Title: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Thorne_Cricket on May 26, 2022, 11:45:52 AM
As I had previously used Virgin Experience Days; I received an e-mail regarding Millichamp and Hall's bespoke cricket bat experience; it is my 40th birthday in October and I am hoping that my family might get this for my birthday; just wanted to know if anyone on here had done it; you do get to keep the bat afterwards, so I could potentially switching my alliances from Warsop to Millichamp and Hall, but that would mean huge investment from me as I would have to get their pads and gloves, along with their bag.

https://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/product/bespoke-cricket-bat-experience-at-millichamp-hall- (https://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/product/bespoke-cricket-bat-experience-at-millichamp-hall-)
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Buzz on May 26, 2022, 12:04:24 PM
I am sure it is a fun day out, although if it were me I wouldn't choose M and H, personally.

World Class Willow is not far from Somerset I believe and could be quite a fun day out, otherwise there are lots of batmakers around that will do a bespoke experience.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Thorne_Cricket on May 26, 2022, 12:30:54 PM
I am sure it is a fun day out, although if it were me I wouldn't choose M and H, personally.

World Class Willow is not far from Somerset I believe and could be quite a fun day out, otherwise there are lots of batmakers around that will do a bespoke experience.

I have search for "Bespoke Cricket Bat Experience" in Google and found that B3 Cricket (https://b3cricket.com/cricket-shop/cricket-bat-product-range/bespoke-design-cricket-bats/cricket-bat-experience/ (https://b3cricket.com/cricket-shop/cricket-bat-product-range/bespoke-design-cricket-bats/cricket-bat-experience/) £595) & Hell 4 Leather (https://www.h4l.co.uk/products/bespoke-cricket-bat (https://www.h4l.co.uk/products/bespoke-cricket-bat) £575) offer this experience.  I had a look on World Class Willow's website and could not find anything for a bespoke cricket bat experience but ended up looking at their bats and to be honest, they look really nice, I think that is mainly because of their stickers.

Are there any other bat companies that offer this experience?
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Buzz on May 26, 2022, 01:10:03 PM
I am sure if you called them up most would...
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Jimbo on May 26, 2022, 02:14:09 PM
I am sure if you called them up most would...

Especially if you're willing to drop M&H level money.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kai on May 26, 2022, 03:14:37 PM
With B3 you would probably get the shape as exact to your spec and shape due to their technology but other companies like H4l will do a cracking job too.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: jonny77 on May 26, 2022, 03:21:26 PM
I don't offer them as yeti, but give me £800 and you can come to the workshop for a batmaking experience,  leave with 2 bats and a set of pads! 😆
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Thorne_Cricket on May 26, 2022, 03:25:34 PM
I don't offer them as yeti, but give me £800 and you can come to the workshop for a batmaking experience,  leave with 2 bats and a set of pads! 😆

That does sound like an absolute cracking deal; would you be able to e-mail your details?
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Turn Of Pace on May 26, 2022, 03:47:13 PM
A lad at my club did the M&H experience a few years ago, I think he said it cost £700 which is way to expensive for me, but what I will say (and I know this may be unpopular with some of the forum) is the bat he received is probably the best performing bat I have ever seen….it’s ridiculously good. Our club has got some very good willow knocking around it (including a fair few of the forum sponsors) but his M&H sits at the top of the tree.

As I said, the price tag is way too much for me, but he said he thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and was treated really well by the team in Taunton…..so if you are not put off by the price tag, then go for it.

Just as a side note…. I’m pretty sure Warsop do a bat experience day as well. That will save you having to buy new pads and gloves.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Jimbo on May 26, 2022, 04:05:10 PM
I don't offer them as yeti

Do you offer them as any other mythical creatures Jonny?  :D
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Thorne_Cricket on May 26, 2022, 04:21:59 PM
A lad at my club did the M&H experience a few years ago, I think he said it cost £700 which is way to expensive for me, but what I will say (and I know this may be unpopular with some of the forum) is the bat he received is probably the best performing bat I have ever seen….it’s ridiculously good. Our club has got some very good willow knocking around it (including a fair few of the forum sponsors) but his M&H sits at the top of the tree.

As I said, the price tag is way too much for me, but he said he thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and was treated really well by the team in Taunton…..so if you are not put off by the price tag, then go for it.

Just as a side note…. I’m pretty sure Warsop do a bat experience day as well. That will save you having to buy new pads and gloves.

I will have to speak to Clere at Warsop; I am always in contact with them as they just don't supply me with my batting and keeping stuff but they have supplied me with a wardrobe for cricket.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: InternalTraining on May 26, 2022, 04:54:14 PM
A lad at my club did the M&H experience a few years ago, I think he said it cost £700 which is way to expensive for me, but what I will say (and I know this may be unpopular with some of the forum) is the bat he received is probably the best performing bat I have ever seen….it’s ridiculously good. Our club has got some very good willow knocking around it (including a fair few of the forum sponsors) but his M&H sits at the top of the tree.


Unfortunately, M&H has gotten an undeserved bad reputation on this forum. My Amplus is a beautiful bat - pings like springs!
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Jimbo on May 26, 2022, 05:27:24 PM
Unfortunately, M&H has gotten an undeserved bad reputation on this forum. My Amplus is a beautiful bat - pings like springs!

Undeserved is perhaps debatable. Their pricing structure is absolutely absurd, even for a well known brand name.

Also I've heard more than a few suggestions that their "made in England" marketing is a touch disingenuous...
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Chad on May 26, 2022, 05:39:37 PM
Unfortunately, M&H has gotten an undeserved bad reputation on this forum. My Amplus is a beautiful bat - pings like springs!


I wouldn't say undeserved - yes, those era of bats were exceptional, when they had the Amplus, Distinction, Master, S6, Solution, etc etc. But then their prices ballooned and they just started importing all their bats from India whilst under the pretence that they were made here. You're essentially paying £2-500 on top of what you would pay for a bat for knocking in, surface cracks and some stickers. Back in the days of the Distinction and the Amplus, they at least had some USP, and they were expensive, but not £700 expensive!


@Thorne_Cricket That being said, 40 is quite the milestone! - Maybe you could nudge them towards it with this - https://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gift-experience-days/bespoke-cricket-bat-experience-at-millichamp-hall/12686583.html?switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&utm_source=AWin-534365&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin%7CFeed&affil=awin&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fsiboom.co.uk&utm_term=Comparison+Engine&utm_source=AWin-534365&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin&awc=1202_1653586264_9c4c132d6f5f0a4408060d0c31a77867 (https://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gift-experience-days/bespoke-cricket-bat-experience-at-millichamp-hall/12686583.html?switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&utm_source=AWin-534365&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin%7CFeed&affil=awin&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fsiboom.co.uk&utm_term=Comparison+Engine&utm_source=AWin-534365&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin&awc=1202_1653586264_9c4c132d6f5f0a4408060d0c31a77867) - 10% off as well if you sign up I believe, and is the cheapest offer for it, but it might come with a lower grade bat?

From my own experience, nothing quite beats going down to a batmaker and watching the bat being made for you. Got a bunch of footage to go through and edit for folks to watch, but from my experience, these are ones I've experience and would recommend:

H4L Cricket - Deal with willow and Matt and James have been fab to deal with - exceptional craftsmanship, and it's a bit of a trek from Scotland (I mean, most places are too be fair) but well worth it.
Scott Cricket - Up and coming batmaker based in Leeds, top chap, and very reasonable prices in today's market. Bats I've gotten from him are excellent, and currently in the process of typing up a review of them...
Keeley Cricket - Not actually watched my own bats being made there, but always love to visit. You might see Tim furiously shaping away to catch up with requests from Pros, and if they've not got a big rush of customers, he may give you a tour of the place and tell stories, and show you some pro bats.
B3 Cricket - Again, not actually watched my own bats being made, but knowledgeable of their own process which is quite unique, and can certainly make an excellent bat. Currently have a bat that's being made up for myself from them.
Robert Pack Cricket - October I suspect would be a quieter time, and you could probably hop in and get 2 Players grade bats made up and have change for some softs! Rob is a cracking bloke to deal with and will look after you
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: InternalTraining on May 26, 2022, 06:56:04 PM
Also I've heard more than a few suggestions that their "made in England" marketing is a touch disingenuous...

Were those credible claims?
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: InternalTraining on May 26, 2022, 07:01:57 PM
I wouldn't say undeserved - yes, those era of bats were exceptional, when they had the Amplus, Distinction, Master, S6, Solution, etc etc. But then their prices ballooned and they just started importing all their bats from India whilst under the pretence that they were made here. You're essentially paying £2-500 on top of what you would pay for a bat for knocking in, surface cracks and some stickers. Back in the days of the Distinction and the Amplus, they at least had some USP, and they were expensive, but not £700 expensive!

Again, are those credible claims? If they were outright lying, somebody should've exposed them.

Regarding pricing, everything is expensive now. I am not buying bats now but when I was hunting for them (left and right), I was paying for the "sure" thing. M&H were a "sure" thing for me. So were Kranzbuhlers. Most custom bats, albeit priced lower, turned out to be not a "sure" thing.

Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Yorkershire on May 26, 2022, 07:15:45 PM
Again, are those credible claims? If they were outright lying, somebody should've exposed them.

Regarding pricing, everything is expensive now. I am not buying bats now but when I was hunting for them (left and right), I was paying for the "sure" thing. M&H were a "sure" thing for me. So were Kranzbuhlers. Most custom bats, albeit priced lower, turned out to be not a "sure" thing.

What is a 'sure thing'? I'm curious...
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 26, 2022, 08:16:16 PM
Good luck with telling a club cricketer their M&H was made in India. ;)

Atherton and Butcher were talking about the brand on Sky commentary last night. They very much gave the impression that their bats were still made at the County Ground. Tom Abell's probably was.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: jonny77 on May 26, 2022, 08:46:42 PM
Thing is, people aren't saying if they don't press or even shape their bats here that they're not good. Nothing wrong with that at all if the end product is good. It's whether it's clear or of its sometimes misleading in people's eyes.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Jimbo on May 26, 2022, 09:33:34 PM
Were those credible claims?

From individuals who are generally well informed and who I would trust not to spout BS, yes.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: billyb on May 27, 2022, 01:33:24 AM
I have only ever seen firm evidence that M&H outsourced some lower grade bats to India.

I have not seen anything that suggests or confirms that ALL M&H bats are produced in India.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Chad on May 27, 2022, 10:04:59 AM
Again, are those credible claims? If they were outright lying, somebody should've exposed them.

Regarding pricing, everything is expensive now. I am not buying bats now but when I was hunting for them (left and right), I was paying for the "sure" thing. M&H were a "sure" thing for me. So were Kranzbuhlers. Most custom bats, albeit priced lower, turned out to be not a "sure" thing.

I have only ever seen firm evidence that M&H outsourced some lower grade bats to India.

I have not seen anything that suggests or confirms that ALL M&H bats are produced in India.



Apologies, not all - that was poorly worded on my part. They have used a UK batmaker in the past (Unsure if they still do), and do shape up some bats on site AFAIK. They do all their knocking in house, which is probably why you've had a good time using M&H, they're generally ready to go.


Personally have no issue with their business model - more that they weren't transparent with not making (the majority of) their own bats. Don't know if this is still the case in terms of the transparency.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZqt-Uzo2PF/ (https://www.instagram.com/p/CZqt-Uzo2PF/) - Was a video someone did on M&H a while back.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 27, 2022, 11:38:47 AM
Others are guilty too.

This has been one of my favourite topics in the past, but I recently discovered it is technically against the rules of the site
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Tom on May 27, 2022, 02:30:17 PM
For those who have been here a while you used to be able to get the export records from India, though this stopped in 2016.

https://www.zauba.com/export-amplus-bats-hs-code.html (https://www.zauba.com/export-amplus-bats-hs-code.html)
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kulli on May 27, 2022, 06:50:34 PM
Decent mark up that  :o
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: InternalTraining on May 28, 2022, 03:10:03 PM
What is a 'sure thing'? I'm curious...

Ping. Performance. My Amplus had insane ping from the start. I don't recall doing much , if any, knocking or preparation.

Easy boundaries.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Jimbo on May 29, 2022, 12:04:08 AM
Ping. Performance. My Amplus had insane ping from the start. I don't recall doing much , if any, knocking or preparation.

Easy boundaries.

So "a good bat"? No doubt it was a good stick but could say that about any number of brands who don't charge M&H prices.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: InternalTraining on May 29, 2022, 02:25:41 AM
So "a good bat"? No doubt it was a good stick but could say that about any number of brands who don't charge M&H prices.

Let's not get cute with quoting phrase, "a good bat", that I didn't use. My Amplus far exceeded what you'd consider "a good bat".
 
You also end up with a lot of duds (custom bats) that don't charge the M&H prices. You see how that logic of yours works both ways. :D
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kulli on May 29, 2022, 07:23:46 AM
Ping. Performance. My Amplus had insane ping from the start. I don't recall doing much , if any, knocking or preparation.

Easy boundaries.
Or you could buy an SS for a third of the price. Pay someone to knock it in and still have a solid chunk of change in your pocket…
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: jonny77 on May 29, 2022, 07:29:27 AM
Do you offer them as any other mythical creatures Jonny?  :D

Certainly not unicorns mate! 😂
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 29, 2022, 11:59:38 AM
Hadn't we decided that if the wording is something other than plain "Made in England", then it probably wasn't?

We also seem to have decided, for some reason, that M&H are more worthy of finger-pointing than others.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kulli on May 29, 2022, 12:22:35 PM
Others are definitely guilty, I think it’s a combination of MH’s pricing and history that means they cop most of the flack about it on here.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 29, 2022, 12:32:35 PM
I got abuse when I pointed out that Hunts top of range bats no longer clearly advertised as "Made in England". And when I pointed out some Rob Pack bats were stickered "Designed in England".

Yes, I know I need to get out more.😉
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on May 29, 2022, 05:45:05 PM
My two pennies for what it’s worth is that M&H is now a business and like all business owners they want to make the most profit and money they can. So they have a “base” where the company started and earned its reputation of which at a certain point in time they where truest exceptional bats.

Fast forward and we had the skate board concaved bats with 45-50mm edges when that was the fad and now we are back to the full shape that everyone now wants but within that time they have clearly moved some, all or maybe all overseas to take advantage of cheaper production costs ( doesn’t mean the product is in any way worse by the way) but have tried to retain the traditional roots to the public. Price wise well that’s just down to how much you think a bat or often a set of stickers is worth isn’t it
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: ppccopener on May 29, 2022, 07:11:39 PM
M and H now, as opposed to years back, is a triumph of marketing and PR to appeal to a certain sense of Englishness and bats handcrafted in Somerset. Cow leather retro hold-all, yes I’ll have two please for 400 quid, one for Rupert and one for Toby.

The problem is bats part shaped by a Sussex batmaker then stickered up and knocked in or imported from India does not quite fit the market they mostly, and I say mostly,appeal to.

They no longer say on their website handmade or handcrafted in England As far as I know and that can only be a good thing.

There’s nothing wrong with importing bats from India providing you don’t say they are made here. Gray Nichols and Newbery have gone the same way.

I had an Original as a teenager and have used an Amplus-probably the best balanced bat I have used-so they do make good bats and some are indeed made in Somerset.
Just not all of them  :)

Anyone can spend their money as they wish but once you have the best grade willow it’s down to the skill of the batmaker, so with  prices as high as they are now what extra do you get from M and H or GM or GN for that matter that you cannot get from a small batmaker.

I cannot think of anything.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 29, 2022, 07:29:32 PM
Some/many say you don't even need the best grade willow.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: thegowerwaft on May 29, 2022, 07:31:22 PM
I did like their tan pads from several years back. Shame, M&H were brilliant in the late 80s/ 90s.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 29, 2022, 07:35:01 PM
We should remember that Julian Millichamp was widely regarded as the best batmaker in the world and this was what gave the brand its reputation.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on May 29, 2022, 08:13:33 PM
Some/many say you don't even need the best grade willow.

Grade of willow is totally irrelevant to a bats performance it’s the pressing and skill of the person pressing to know that individual piece of timber. Just wish that was more commonly known
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on May 29, 2022, 08:21:22 PM
Grade of willow is totally irrelevant to a bats performance it’s the pressing and skill of the person pressing to know that individual piece of timber. Just wish that was more commonly known

There you go. ;)
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Bungle on May 29, 2022, 10:27:06 PM
Grade of willow is totally irrelevant to a bats performance it’s the pressing and skill of the person pressing to know that individual piece of timber. Just wish that was more commonly known

Thank you.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kulli on May 30, 2022, 05:46:39 AM
Grade of willow is totally irrelevant to a bats performance it’s the pressing and skill of the person pressing to know that individual piece of timber. Just wish that was more commonly known
I’d say ‘totally irrelavent’ is going a good chop too far.
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Kai on May 30, 2022, 07:56:12 AM
Yeah won't hard bars or different stains cause the ping of the bat to be different? These are also considered in the grading of a bat right
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: beaver5 on May 30, 2022, 08:42:55 AM
Yeah won't hard bars or different stains cause the ping of the bat to be different? These are also considered in the grading of a bat right

Does this make the bat ping less or more in these areas?
Title: Re: Millichamp and Hall
Post by: Nickauger on August 16, 2022, 01:02:17 PM
Having been to M&H recently, there was a helluva lot of unpressed, unshaped clefts in the workshop just to create the illusion of bat making