Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: thegowerwaft on December 15, 2023, 05:59:12 PM
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Great interview with Alex H.
https://twitter.com/graynics/status/1735643942450872646?t=XyN8EhVOtl1YZDRaIyttHA&s=19
Cannot wait for the rest of the series.
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👍👍👍👍
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Full video out:
https://youtu.be/W2gWCsO221M?si=wHkBGtYWLfHt9Tzl
17 years making bats. Cheeky Tempesta 1.1 sitting in the background.
Great reflections from a humble master craftsperson.
Fascinating reflections on making a bat and GN as a brand.
Merry Xmas, @thebigginge!!!!
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Cheers!
It was great to have the chance to talk with Phil, I really enjoyed the experience and hope to talk with him more in the future.
If anyone wants to ask questions I'll try and answer them where I can. 😁
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Good to see you back on here Alex.
What the most outlandish thing a person has asked for in a bat ?
How are you finding the difference between the 3 spring to 5 spring handles ? Do the players like them more and why?
With the absence of captains day how do I get a customised GN now ?
Is there any plans like Australian GN to have a bat builder type app customisation I in the UK ?
Sorry for the questions as a massive fan of your work I have pestered you enough on instagram have a well deserved break and keep the magic rolling.
Have a great Christmas and New Year
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Good opening round from, @procricket.
Two from me, please:
- what's your favourite bat you have made?
- what do you think of the new short blade/ long handle combo? I am biased and love the Pope shape you are making but very interested in your thoughts.
PS thank you for doing this during your festive break, @thebigginge!!!!!
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Great you’re here @thebigginge
Fantastic bats you make and great interview
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Outlandish: When the DW Kaboom bats were in existence there were a lot of requests for 2.7 finish versions of the bat. And without enough coverage to explain that non of his were even close to that we were turning away alot ot orders.
3 Spring/5 Spring: I really like the 5 spring handles, I feel they are a great compromise between traditional multi piece handles with a lot of flex and something a bit stiffer. The best handles ever made I believe we're the GN Steel Spring and I'm trying to replicate that strength and energy return into a normal cane/cork handle.
Custom GN: Tricky one...it's not something we really have the option for, possibly through a couple of select retailers but otherwise we don't really offer it.
Bat Builder: it's been discussed but nothing yet, I think there is a plan for a bat "cloning" service in the New Year where we will copy a bat you already have....but that's not confirmed yet.
Thank you for all the positivity 😁😁
Good to see you back on here Alex.
What the most outlandish thing a person has asked for in a bat ?
How are you finding the difference between the 3 spring to 5 spring handles ? Do the players like them more and why?
With the absence of captains day how do I get a customised GN now ?
Is there any plans like Australian GN to have a bat builder type app customisation I in the UK ?
Sorry for the questions as a massive fan of your work I have pestered you enough on instagram have a well deserved break and keep the magic rolling.
Have a great Christmas and New Year
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Favourite: well...this changes from week to week...there is a set I did for Babar recently that I absolutely loved, grainy, butterfly marked, iron stained but absolutely gun bats. It's real hard to separate them at times....
Short blade/Long handle: I enjoy making them, I think the perfect combo is the 1/2 inch difference but that's probably the least used one 🤣🤣
Good opening round from, @procricket.
Two from me, please:
- what's your favourite bat you have made?
- what do you think of the new short blade/ long handle combo? I am biased and love the Pope shape you are making but very interested in your thoughts.
PS thank you for doing this during your festive break, @thebigginge!!!!!
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Thanks very much 😁
Great you’re here @thebigginge
Fantastic bats you make and great interview
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Short blade/Long handle: I enjoy making them, I think the perfect combo is the 1/2 inch difference but that's probably the least used one 🤣🤣
That's an interesting one, SBLH I've got on best with in recent years is a half inch difference. Are there many big names besides Ollie Pope that are using that?
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So Ollie Pope and Jimmy in the England team (Ben foakes was/is now he's at kookaburra)
Sam Billings has his own SB/LH set up that isn't the same as the Pope.....
Few other lads on the county circuit have got it as well.
That's an interesting one, SBLH I've got on best with in recent years is a half inch difference. Are there many big names besides Ollie Pope that are using that?
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These are gems you are giving us :)
Thanks So much
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GM has recently made some big bats at retail level using a flat face, they are not 540mm blade though
Any plans for GN too do this and make bigger bats, the retail GNs are relatively small
I know it’s not all about size but the 540mm blade sometimes allows for bigger bats …
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These are gems you are giving us :)
Thanks So much
What he said!!!! 🙏
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So Ollie Pope and Jimmy in the England team (Ben foakes was/is now he's at kookaburra)
Sam Billings has his own SB/LH set up that isn't the same as the Pope.....
Few other lads on the county circuit have got it as well.
Quietly hoping that Billings has something absolutely mad 😅 thanks Alex!
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Does Shan masood also use half and inch shorter ? He’s really tall too..
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Thanks for the insight Alex, really interesting to hear.
How long’s the hair and beard been growing and what’s the maintenance schedule look like?
All the best for 2024!
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Always tricky here, as a rule the only fully flat face we use is for 5* lite models where we are deliberately trying to get weight down, otherwise we would use a traditional round or semi round face to get the maximum we can but keeping bats as close to 2.10 or less ass possible.
Retail world ultimate desires sub 2.10 first, size is probably second.
I think chasing size on stock bats is going to lead to potential sacrifices elsewhere in the bat. The goal is to optimize the clefts and handles you have available.
GM has recently made some big bats at retail level using a flat face, they are not 540mm blade though
Any plans for GN too do this and make bigger bats, the retail GNs are relatively small
I know it’s not all about size but the 540mm blade sometimes allows for bigger bats …
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Currently on a standard set up at 2.10
Does Shan masood also use half and inch shorter ? He’s really tall too..
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The beard has been an on and off battle for years, but it really started to establish in 2019 and I have an excellent friend who is also my barber who helped the hair from its "peaky-blinder" cut that I had during the 2019 world up into what it is now (aside from one complete scalping January 2020)
As for maintenance...you'd be amazed at what linseed oil does for a ginger....
Thanks for the insight Alex, really interesting to hear.
How long’s the hair and beard been growing and what’s the maintenance schedule look like?
All the best for 2024!
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It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it works for him.
Quietly hoping that Billings has something absolutely mad 😅 thanks Alex!
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It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it works for him.
Now I really want to know 😂 are you able to say or is that a trade secret?
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how about the pro's in general..who is really fussy and who isn't.
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As it isn't a setup that we replicate for anyone else I'll keep quiet on the exact specifics right now.
Now I really want to know 😂 are you able to say or is that a trade secret?
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I'm very lucky at the moment that there isn't anyone who is really demanding.
A few players have some key things, Sam Billings and George Munsey are very definite on there handle shapes. Got a few players going for a "soft" look on there bats (effectively boning every edge front and back). Babar is the only player who's genuinely driven with low weight, but even he tends to put 3 grips on his handles 🤣🤣
how about the pro's in general..who is really fussy and who isn't.
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Can you get 5 spring handles in the retail bats or is it only in the player replicas ?
GN have done really well with the Pakistan sponsorship , Babar , riz, Shan
Opened up a new market for certain followers and also lots of marketability..
Any plans to sponsors any other Pakistani pros ?
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All retail bats from 5* upwards this year should be made with 5 spring handles, there will be the occasional batch that have a traditional 12 piece but otherwise 5 spring.
The Pakistan lads have been great and wonderful ambassadors for the brand, I'm sure we would sponsor others if we can come to any agreements with there management.
Can you get 5 spring handles in the retail bats or is it only in the player replicas ?
GN have done really well with the Pakistan sponsorship , Babar , riz, Shan
Opened up a new market for certain followers and also lots of marketability..
Any plans to sponsors any other Pakistani pros ?
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Congrats on Gold PowerSpot re-ussue see alot of Pros getting their own spec versions on IG,reckon a winner for GN
Took an old Powerblade down for a refurb and your colleague was telling me the pros were asking for Fibre tape coverings more so the clear sleeves as they reckoned the ball span/squirted off the edges more,making catching or stopping it more difficult...that a thing??
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I love them, Alex Lees has a set for the Lions tour to India and they look phenomenal.
I have heard players say that, I've no real belief in it, ultimately I fit fibre face because it is lighter than clear anti-scuff
Congrats on Gold PowerSpot re-ussue see alot of Pros getting their own spec versions on IG,reckon a winner for GN
Took an old Powerblade down for a refurb and your colleague was telling me the pros were asking for Fibre tape coverings more so the clear sleeves as they reckoned the ball span/squirted off the edges more,making catching or stopping it more difficult...that a thing??
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Ha ha,the old wives's tales..
Thanks for opportunity to quiz,good luck in '24 !
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As it isn't a setup that we replicate for anyone else I'll keep quiet on the exact specifics right now.
Fair enough! Off to look at photos of Sam Billings for the next week to try and work it out for myself 😅
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Does Brook specify anything ? He’s arguably GNs biggest uk star
I can’t think of anyone else who is Gn and got the rep like him ..
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Good interview with Richard Gray:
https://www.gray-nicolls.co.uk/blogs/the-game/wisden-cricket-monthly-interview-richard-gray (https://www.gray-nicolls.co.uk/blogs/the-game/wisden-cricket-monthly-interview-richard-gray)
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Does Brook specify anything ? He’s arguably GNs biggest uk star
I can’t think of anyone else who is Gn and got the rep like him ..
No major specs....grainy, big and under 2.10....
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Serious Cricket first look at GN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjHfg89mOTM&t=450s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjHfg89mOTM&t=450s)
Looking forward to the bat tests.
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What’s your fav ?
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I like the tempesta 1.1.
Waiting for the Pope spec Players grade that is apparently coming soon. Really like the LH/ SB set up. Really like the blue/ grey stickers.
Pink Shockwave looks good but I am not the player to pull it off.
How about you?
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Oh ok is the pope players grade similar to Gm players edition then ?
I like the pink too :)
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@thebigginge will know far more than me.
Got a Pope spec last year and it is great.
On social media, they said they were going to release a Pope spec Tempesta 1.1 Players soon. Think it's a replica but not pro performance timber.
Hope that helps. The feedback on here encouraged me to try the LH/SB set up and I really like it. Getting a bit older and find it really helps where strength once bought out a poor choice of shot. But sure at least some of it is psychological 🤣
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Is the Big Ginge back?
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Is the Big Ginge back?
Yes. He very kindly did a Q&A over the festive break.
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@thebigginge will know far more than me.
Got a Pope spec last year and it is great.
On social media, they said they were going to release a Pope spec Tempesta 1.1 Players soon. Think it's a replica but not pro performance timber.
Hope that helps. The feedback on here encouraged me to try the LH/SB set up and I really like it. Getting a bit older and find it really helps where strength once bought out a poor choice of shot. But sure at least some of it is psychological 🤣
And now... the testing video:
https://youtu.be/iPhf2yBOxgk?si=cW_uzkkVqme_dkDd