Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: bigc92 on January 30, 2024, 11:48:34 AM

Title: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: bigc92 on January 30, 2024, 11:48:34 AM
Just picked this up from eBay. Been wanting one for a while and very tempted to use it, although I feel like I should lock it away for a few years and it might be worth a whole lot more! Thoughts?

The stickers were looking a bit rough on the ebay listing, but thankfully it was just the protective film so they now look brand new.

(https://i.imgur.com/AlkxVln.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DgFdxPN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FB233f9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RhiMPca.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FUkEeFC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PqJOMc9.jpg)
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Jimbo on January 30, 2024, 11:56:32 AM
Get it copied if you want to use it, keep the original as a collectors item?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: bigc92 on January 30, 2024, 11:57:59 AM
Good shout!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: edge on January 30, 2024, 01:33:19 PM
I always make a point of getting mine out at least once a season, and then wondering why I don't use it more - they're a lot of fun!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: ogroupleader on February 02, 2024, 12:23:08 PM
I always make a point of getting mine out at least once a season, and then wondering why I don't use it more - they're a lot of fun!
Agreed. I recently brought mine out of retirement. The UK made much better than the SS version. I'm trying to a get a GN Aus made copy. We'll see how that goes.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: mr_reagan on March 21, 2024, 05:26:03 AM
Get it copied if you want to use it, keep the original as a collectors item?

Has anyone had any luck getting one made with the splice up in the handle?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Neon Cricket on March 21, 2024, 09:40:50 AM
Has anyone had any luck getting one made with the splice up in the handle?

Hunts are the guys to speak to for that, they were the original UK manufacturer. Whether they've still got the handles needed is another question mind!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: mr_reagan on March 21, 2024, 07:44:53 PM
Hunts are the guys to speak to for that, they were the original UK manufacturer. Whether they've still got the handles needed is another question mind!

I may be a bit blind but I cant seem to find an email address on their website. Whats the best way to get in touch with them?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 21, 2024, 10:05:34 PM
Is a phone call not possible?

(https://i.postimg.cc/YShxdMRW/Screenshot-20240321-215902.png) (https://postimg.cc/KKhLzXdG)
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: mr_reagan on March 21, 2024, 10:13:50 PM
Well i prefer email correspondence when given the choice, much easier to keep track of what was said ect. 
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 21, 2024, 10:32:13 PM
Well i prefer email correspondence when given the choice, much easier to keep track of what was said ect.

Seems like they may prefer phone contact 😆 Sometimes easier for a business than replying to multiple emails which often come to nothing. Not saying that's the case with you though obviously
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: ogroupleader on March 22, 2024, 08:07:48 AM
I spoke to them fairly recently. They were not interested in making an mmi.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 22, 2024, 08:56:59 AM
I'd be happy to have a go, but would ideally need a bat to replicate. You'd really need to see the handle/splice area to try and replicate it properly. Whether it could be done is another thing as it may not be possible unless you have specific handles made. Difficult without seeing, measuring etc
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Tom on March 22, 2024, 10:50:21 AM
You shouldn't need specific handles. Splice to top of handle on an MMi3 is ~39cm so slightly shorter than a regular bat.

Keeley used to use a regular handle and cut 1" off the bottom (leaving a fat splice). Hunts used to cut off the top, so spliced like a normal bat.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: LEACHY48 on March 22, 2024, 12:42:15 PM
I'm happy to have a go at an MMI, I've made many similar bats, such as this one
(https://i.postimg.cc/QtJzh1SG/IMG20240322123933.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cJgZx98q/IMG20240322123955.jpg)
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 22, 2024, 01:35:04 PM
You shouldn't need specific handles. Splice to top of handle on an MMi3 is ~39cm so slightly shorter than a regular bat.

Keeley used to use a regular handle and cut 1" off the bottom (leaving a fat splice). Hunts used to cut off the top, so spliced like a normal bat.

Sorry, not sure I follow. They cut 1inch of the bottom of what and are you saying the 39cm is essentially everything which isn't the blade?

Everyone splices differently and I've never seen one, hence why I Said it would be good to see one before making one and taking proper measurements etc.

I've made similar super short blades extra long handles, but with the splice in the blade.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: mr_reagan on March 22, 2024, 07:57:46 PM
I spoke to them fairly recently. They were not interested in making an mmi.
I guess i will be trawling ebay hoping to find one for reasonable money, certainly not an easy task these days.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on March 22, 2024, 10:20:30 PM
Surely if you don't have the splice in the handle, you lose a lot of hitting area? Equally, what stops the handle/splice from breaking?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 23, 2024, 01:50:30 PM
Just because there's no splice in the blade, doesn't mean it will ping in that area. If that was the case, all bats would be made like that
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on March 23, 2024, 04:52:25 PM
Just because there's no splice in the blade, doesn't mean it will ping in that area. If that was the case, all bats would be made like that

Other (normal) bats have more hitting area? Wouldn't their balance be completely different if they were spliced in the handle? Wouldn't they be more prone to breakages?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: jonny77 on March 23, 2024, 05:21:54 PM
Not sure I get where you're coming from mate tbh. You can still hit the ball in the splice area on a normal bat, it just won't go very far. On any bat you only really have a certain percentage of the bat which is really the hitting area.

It will feel different as it is different to a normal bat, but you can still balance it to feel nice
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Bats_Entertainment on March 23, 2024, 10:21:26 PM
Structurally, and ignoring dimensions for a moment, isn't the Mongoose just a shoulderless bat with the grip pulled down over the splice?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: LEACHY48 on March 24, 2024, 12:23:38 AM
Structurally, and ignoring dimensions for a moment, isn't the Mongoose just a shoulderless bat with the grip pulled down over the splice?

Essentially yeah. The shoulders are dropped down so that the splice is encompassed by the handle and ears and only a minimal amount "protrudes" down into the blade.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on March 24, 2024, 06:44:50 PM
I’ve made a few and managed to incorporate the splice into the handle.

Think I may still have the first one I made from a hunts standard cleft set up in the early days. Don’t think the Splice was 100% in the handle but wasn’t far off

Generally the main issue is the grip as it’s difficult to find a grip long enough
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Tom on March 24, 2024, 09:43:32 PM
Structurally, and ignoring dimensions for a moment, isn't the Mongoose just a shoulderless bat with the grip pulled down over the splice?
Yes, pretty much. Does this drawing help explain @jonny77?

(https://i.imgur.com/f6Ck3Iv.jpg)

Interesting notes:
- You'll see the portion of the Mongoose which is made up of cane is actually shorter than a regular handle by around 2cm. There is no need for special handles.
- The 'ears' are the portion of willow which protrudes into the handle, this happens on a normal bat and they are bound by string. They can protrude up to 2.5" into the upper "handle" section under MCC Laws.
- You need a similar length of adhesive of cane + willow across both a regular bat and a Mongoose. This results in the Mongoose having willow which protrudes much further into the handle than a regular bat, this is where the law just mentioned comes in.
- Mongoose got round this law with 2 ways. The first was by making a small cut in the willow in the ears (blue pencil), this gave enough separation between the lower portion of the handle and upper portion. Remember the handle can be made from any wood, using willow in the handle is absolutely fine.
- The second way was making use of a sticker to cover some of the lower portion of the splice. To everyone else this just looked like funky grip tape, but it was essential for allowing this cut ^ to happen far enough up the handle/cane joint in order for it not to compromise structural integrity.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Jaffa on April 08, 2024, 10:06:38 PM
A few weeks ago I was at Hunts and asked if they could make a MMi copy and they said yes. Just bring it in.

I do feel though the Cor3 is a more usable shape.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: mr_reagan on April 08, 2024, 11:14:20 PM
A few weeks ago I was at Hunts and asked if they could make a MMi copy and they said yes. Just bring it in.

I do feel though the Cor3 is a more usable shape.

The Cor3 is definitely more useable and less of a novelty. Did they give you an idea on how much it would set you back?
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Neon Cricket on April 09, 2024, 07:40:47 AM
I do feel though the Cor3 is a more usable shape.

I had a Cor3 2nd year of uni that was used for the 'Titans of Cricket' competition, was a cracking bat. For me it was the Cor3 that started to pave the way for all the SB/LH bats you see nowadays IMO.

Mongoose were just way ahead of the curve, and unfortunately until recently, the cricket market in general has always had a level of resistance to any sort of modern change. I'd love to relaunch Mongoose now to be honest!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: edge on April 10, 2024, 02:59:23 PM
A few weeks ago I was at Hunts and asked if they could make a MMi copy and they said yes. Just bring it in.

I do feel though the Cor3 is a more usable shape.
I've got a Keeley made Cor3 and what I think is an SS MMi, the Cor3 is more usable for sure - by current trends it's not even a lot shorter than normal. The MMi does actually hit noticeably further than a normal bat though. My MMi is too light really (2lb7), I'd love to see the damage a slightly heavier one could do!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: Jaffa on April 11, 2024, 09:01:52 PM
I've got a Keeley made Cor3 and what I think is an SS MMi, the Cor3 is more usable for sure - by current trends it's not even a lot shorter than normal. The MMi does actually hit noticeably further than a normal bat though. My MMi is too light really (2lb7), I'd love to see the damage a slightly heavier one could do!

Played against a bloke who had a huge MMi. He said it was 3lbs and he could bat. He caused a lot of damage.
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: petehosk on June 14, 2024, 06:33:37 PM
I've got a Keeley made Cor3 and what I think is an SS MMi, the Cor3 is more usable for sure - by current trends it's not even a lot shorter than normal. The MMi does actually hit noticeably further than a normal bat though. My MMi is too light really (2lb7), I'd love to see the damage a slightly heavier one could do!

Got an MMI Premium that weighs in at around 2'10 or just under but not used it - may need to give it a net. Also have one from Trescothic I think - but that is heavier and I will have to see if I have it still, or whether I was dreaming that I had that one!!
Title: Re: Mongoose MMI3
Post by: petehosk on June 14, 2024, 06:34:50 PM
I'm happy to have a go at an MMI, I've made many similar bats, such as this one


I may have to drop the MMI round to you and see what you think mate?