Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Thamesvalley on September 07, 2022, 10:11:34 AM
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Has anyone bought a top end CA bat recently
What’s your thoughts on the quality of them these days ?
Which one did you buy ?
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I really like CA bats but they are getting as bad as SS in having a million models which are essentially similar shapes and grading is confusing...
There's better value Pakistani brands but there is no doubt CA are the best bats coming out of Pakistan.
If you can physically go and select your own bat then there are bargains to be had in the lower CA grades... simply because of this confusing grading bat models...
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PS watch out for fakes!
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Thanks for feedback who you consider as better value with some quality bay making
It is difficult unless in pak to pick a CA but they seem to go like rockets
Do they last though ?
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Difficult as I haven't had a CA in years.. recent years I have been buying bats from AM only because I have a longstanding relationship.
Others can correct me or add to the list, but last time I paid close attention to Pakistani (a long while ago), bats ordered by size/reputation them as:
CA - probably the most expensive but at the same time best bats - there's a reason many people swear by them
Malik Bats - Other big brand that is active
Followed by in no particular order
Ihsaan - Used to be a really big brand but not sure how they are perceived today or whats happening with them - they really should be as international as CA but who knows...
AS - Same but I wouldn't trust them after their 'grade 1' sale they did - a few people on here bough bats and theres a post somewhere
Followed by
AM - great bats - reminds of BDM in India - used by players who end up leaving for the bigger brands - finishing not as good as CA - stickers bit marmite but great value
MIDs - interesting brand - probably one of the oldest brands in Pakistan - disappeared for a while but seem to have come back - if I didn't use AM bats Id probably look at them for value
Others
UT - never used but think they are popular locally but horrible stickers and just rip off designs of bigger western brands
BS - Seen these - but have no idea how good they are
Thats my summary. Another issue with Pak brands is I don't think they all make their own softs but all use dedicated softs manufacturers - so not a lot of originality...
I am sure theres many other brands I've not heard.
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Theres also HS - keep forgetting about them - an offshoot from CA - beyond that no idea really whats teh deal with them..
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Thanks for the sum-up, would you have any comparisons to the Indian made bats? SG/SS/DSC for example.
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Are there any genuine/official CA bat dealers in UK?
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Thanks for the sum-up, would you have any comparisons to the Indian made bats? SG/SS/DSC for example.
Haven't personally used many Indian bats but I think from a size and marketing perspective the Indian brands are way ahead... I think they have better dealings in manufacturing for brands in the UK and OZ so understand the international market better.
I feel most of the Pakistani brands don't really understand the market outside Pakistan so they let themselves down eg sticker design and finishing. They make great bats but just don't do that final quality step but are getting better at it... CA is the only brand I feel that has made great progress on this front and I've seen being sought by non-Pakistanis.
Ive seen a few DScs they looked lovely... the Indian brand I think I'd go for is SG - they have manufactured for well known brands and I think many of the Indian team use their bats even when they have other stickers.
SS have been mixed, seen some great ones and some terrible ones.
Indian market is so much bigger and I am sure there's some amazing brands out there..
EDIT
PS BDM - I reckon for value I'd choose them! Marmite stickers but like I said remind me of AM.
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Are there any genuine/official CA bat dealers in UK?
Cricket Shed . CA have an official UK distributor and I think they purchase from there and CA direct.
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Thanks very much that’s very helpful
Would stay away from cricket shed though
Heard some very dodgy stories however everyone can have different experiences
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Are there any genuine/official CA bat dealers in UK?
Think VKS are stockists of CA bats and they have always been helpful when I’ve dealt with them in the past
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Haven't seen loads of CA, but the ones I've had through have had pretty poor handles you can twist almost 90 degrees in the hand and were narrowed. They ping well though, I'd just check the handles.
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I have had a few bats (MRF, SS, DSC) that have come my way that were purchased at the beginning of the season and needed new handles halfway through the season; one of our players used his MRF for the first time in the nets after knocking it in for 10 hours and it completely snapped like Michael Carberry in Australia; most bats that are manufactured in Asia and shipped to the UK for general sale often spend sufficient amount of time in a container where the change of climate and humidity affects the bat; that's why I go with handmade bats from the UK, great craftmanship.
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Handles can be the Achilles heel of Asian made bats. I had ordered a couple of SGs; one for me and another for my mate from OLS. Mine is still going strong but the handle of my mate's bat broke unfortunately. Never a good feeling when someone trusts you and orders online and something like that happens :D.
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They definitely are, I am forever wishing that SS would put some decent handles on their bats. It's always the same thin round shape even in their higher grades.
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MRF isn't actually a bat manufacturer, is it?
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No, same with CEAT.
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Had a few CA bats in for repairs over the last couple of years always seem to be big and responsive. Typical tricks in that they are narrow on the edge and back and weight is in lbs not lbs & Oz so often heavier than you believe your getting, shapes generally the same with a mountain of Models and sticker combos.
If you want a CA they are certainly in my view good enough but I can think of 10 brands or batmakers I’d pick before them.