Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Willow and Willow Trees.... => Topic started by: myic90 on April 04, 2025, 02:46:43 AM
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One of my bats has blue staining on it. I did some research back when I bought it and found out it's iron ore in the willow.
It's been a year since I've started using it, and all my mates have been asking to borrow it, it's genuinely a rocket, the best ping I've ever seen. My number 3 used it past weekend and hit the biggest six I've seen.. flick shot off a slow medium bowler, cleared a 30m tall tree past the boundary, must have been 120m six. I've never seen anything like it in my 20 years of cricket, neither has he, he wants to buy it from me now.
You can find a picture of it and the specs in one of my earlier posts: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50700 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50700)
The grain structure is nothing special as you can see from the 2nd picture in that thread. Now the weight of it for its size was truly unique, truly low density, and for a while I thought that was the reason why it pinged so well, until this video from Gray Nics dropped last week, I've clipped the fascinating bit:
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxPTWwjkrUOq3pYBsoVcsiNokdZx84zCLC?si=MuCRwH_QbeMHESs4 (https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxPTWwjkrUOq3pYBsoVcsiNokdZx84zCLC?si=MuCRwH_QbeMHESs4)
This kind of confirms my suspicious surrounding the blue staining. Now my experience corroborates this video, but before I start treating it as gospel truth, I need more proof.
I couldn't find any posts about blue staining in CBF insofar as the search function. So I guess I'm making this thread to find out if anybody has had similar experiences? Or any other bat makers can chime in with their view on the matter? Was that you in the video @thebigginge ? Would love your further thoughts on this.
Because if that's the case, then getting iron ore stained willow will definitely start taking priority in my quest for new bats and will change my view on buying player willow as I would rather lower grades with staining on it.
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Thanks, great to hear you have a gun bat.
The search function on here is not great, but there are probably some mentions of blue willow on here somewhere, although I don't remember many.
The only thing I can offer is when you have a gun bat, I am not sure lending it out is your best plan...!
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Most batmakers I've spoken to have found that they do tend to make very good bats. (Some call it navy stain) The ones I've had with them in do tend to perform very nicely. Most likely, a mixture of having a very good bat in hand plus timing the pants off the ball in the case of the enormous six
I've shaped the odd one with some of this in it, the willow does seem a bit more brittle at times - could perhaps be due to the way the iron/willow fibres have bonded/layered with each other.
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Show us your Blues!
I currently have a pleasant experience with my Blue.
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0)
I haven’t netted with it yet. In terms of rating its performance I dont need to.
It’s a solid pinger. I am extremely happy with it.
Bouncing a ball on the bat is a delight, up and down, side to side, it’s just as wonderful compared to good British made bats 2-3 years old now.
But, my blue staining is not on the face of the bat. I bought a Blue to try out, and I felt other than the staining it would be a higher graded willow. Hopefully stronger too as it is ‘blemished’.
I cant tell if the performance is due to staining or just the very well made and pressed cricket bat. I bought from Aldred for a reason.
I thought my bat performed due to specs, weight and pressing. Maybe even the 10 grains on it. But Ive never been a grain fanatic as Im a grade 2-4 kinda guy. And patience is a virtue with bats.
If Blue and butterfly willow allows someone like me to experience performance as near as damn it to grade 1 for half the price, Im all for it!
I hope now the Pros are using ‘blemished’ grade bats a lot more now, people start favouring them. And the cycle of willow is sustained and slows down in price for a while!
(I would love for one of the batmakers on here to write a little piece on what consumers can do now to help halt shopping prices in the near future. Is it the willow or is it the bills??!)
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Thanks, great to hear you have a gun bat.
The search function on here is not great, but there are probably some mentions of blue willow on here somewhere, although I don't remember many.
The only thing I can offer is when you have a gun bat, I am not sure lending it out is your best plan...!
Good point Buzz! But I bat 10. No point in a good bat collecting dust languishing down the order!
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Show us your Blues!
I currently have a pleasant experience with my Blue.
[url]http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0[/url] ([url]http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0[/url])
I haven’t netted with it yet. In terms of rating its performance I dont need to.
It’s a solid pinger. I am extremely happy with it.
Bouncing a ball on the bat is a delight, up and down, side to side, it’s just as wonderful compared to good British made bats 2-3 years old now.
But, my blue staining is not on the face of the bat. I bought a Blue to try out, and I felt other than the staining it would be a higher graded willow. Hopefully stronger too as it is ‘blemished’.
I cant tell if the performance is due to staining or just the very well made and pressed cricket bat. I bought from Aldred for a reason.
I thought my bat performed due to specs, weight and pressing. Maybe even the 10 grains on it. But Ive never been a grain fanatic as Im a grade 2-4 kinda guy. And patience is a virtue with bats.
If Blue and butterfly willow allows someone like me to experience performance as near as damn it to grade 1 for half the price, Im all for it!
I hope now the Pros are using ‘blemished’ grade bats a lot more now, people start favouring them. And the cycle of willow is sustained and slows down in price for a while!
(I would love for one of the batmakers on here to write a little piece on what consumers can do now to help halt shopping prices in the near future. Is it the willow or is it the bills??!)
Read through the thread, interesting that he offers a grade called blue! I thought blue stains were rare. I've always liked the aldred shapes and handles, perhaps I'll shoot through an email looking to pick up one.
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Most batmakers I've spoken to have found that they do tend to make very good bats. (Some call it navy stain) The ones I've had with them in do tend to perform very nicely. Most likely, a mixture of having a very good bat in hand plus timing the pants off the ball in the case of the enormous six
I've shaped the odd one with some of this in it, the willow does seem a bit more brittle at times - could perhaps be due to the way the iron/willow fibres have bonded/layered with each other.
Interesting, thanks for the insight @Chad . When you say brittle, do you mean it tends to delaminate easier? It's fascinating that it's just iron that comes out as blue and not other impurities or metals in other colours, brown for copper for instance.
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Interesting, thanks for the insight @Chad . When you say brittle, do you mean it tends to delaminate easier? It's fascinating that it's just iron that comes out as blue and not other impurities or metals in other colours, brown for copper for instance.
Sorry, should have clarified. The brittle nature is more when shaping, it can really peel off and sometimes take a bit more than expected - especially when the blue is more present. In terms of cracking up more during use, I'm not sure!
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Funny that Alex has kept that tip quiet?
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I don't mean to be a killjoy, but isn't this bat illegal?
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Hello.
Blue stain is wicked. I've never made it a secret 🤣🤣.
Blue stain isn't rare...however it historically gets pushed down the grades and then bleached/painted/covered as it's seen as cosmetically challenging.
Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.
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Sounds like it's the new butterfly.
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Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.
Surely this also means you hold it back for them?
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Hello.
Blue stain is wicked. I've never made it a secret 🤣🤣.
Blue stain isn't rare...however it historically gets pushed down the grades and then bleached/painted/covered as it's seen as cosmetically challenging.
Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.
Thanks for clarifying @thebigginge ! Is there a difference in the kind of blue you get? I am to understand the blue could either be iron ore or the Ophiostomatales fungus. I know Aldred is selling an entire grade of blue bats and his website says the blue could be caused by trees growing near silage or sewerage. Have do you tell the difference between the blue caused by iron ore vs these others?
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I noticed Aldred is doing a blue 'grade'.
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I don't mean to be a killjoy, but isn't this bat illegal?
Why?
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As with Butterfly, imo the blue won't just automatically mean your getting a gun bat at a cheaper price. Bats still need to be made right and if they're are, they'll perform. But will they perform better than a non blue? I genuinely believe a lot to do with bats and batsmen is purely psychological.
Companies need to sell butterfly willow and Blue Willow (or want to as there are good margins to make on it). The more hype, the easier to sell. Tell a batter he's got a gun and he's more confident, he'll probably score more runs and believes it's the blue or the stain making that bat a 'gun'. In reality, it's no better than any other grade, type of willow if made correctly by the likes of Alex, Alfred etc. Apart from offering better value maybe.
They'll never sell as well in retail, as people buy on looks. Unless, there's a hype created around them of course (see abv). Marketing basics I suppose.
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Why?
Specs?
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Sorry, you've lost me. Are you referring the one in the GN video?
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No, the MBS with 42.5mm edges and 66.5mm spine.
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It may squeeze through the gauge, but would be tight. However, I haven't seen a bat checked at our level (ECB Prem and 2 Divs below) ever, so what does it matter?
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Forgot the max spine height was 67mm, to be honest.
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I like honest sports-persons.
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As with Butterfly, imo the blue won't just automatically mean your getting a gun bat at a cheaper price. Bats still need to be made right and if they're are, they'll perform. But will they perform better than a non blue? I genuinely believe a lot to do with bats and batsmen is purely psychological.
Companies need to sell butterfly willow and Blue Willow (or want to as there are good margins to make on it). The more hype, the easier to sell. Tell a batter he's got a gun and he's more confident, he'll probably score more runs and believes it's the blue or the stain making that bat a 'gun'. In reality, it's no better than any other grade, type of willow if made correctly by the likes of Alex, Alfred etc. Apart from offering better value maybe.
They'll never sell as well in retail, as people buy on looks. Unless, there's a hype created around them of course (see abv). Marketing basics I suppose.
So you haven't noticed anything to support this in your experience Jonny? Do you get much of the blue wood shipped? And any customer preference for it?
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I like honest sports-persons.
Eh, I play park cricket, we don't have the same rules as MCC approved tournaments.
Like Jonny said, it just about goes over the gauge, it's not egregious. Besides the bat's quite narrowed, about 105-106mm width so in all fairness I'm still working with about the same amount of wood, just shaped differently I guess. /shrug
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Just my opinion, but I just feel a lot of talk of Butterfly, Blue etc is just the new 'straight narrow grains are best' chat. When this was in more abundance, it made sense to sell it as the best.
Now it's not, companies need to start selling other types of willow like Butterfly, blue etc, which due to years of selling pretty willow as better, is difficult to do to the masses/retailers as they're conditioned to think otherwise. So, how do you do that? You market it as the next best thing (not saying Alex is doing this particularly here, he's just giving an honest opinion on bats to a client. I'm talking more broadly)
I'm not saying they don't make great bats, they do. But do they perform any better than others? Almost impossible to quantify, as there are so many variables. I've had and seen loads of bats in all grades through the workshop and in all sizes, which perform brilliantly. On the flip side, ones in all grades and sizes which don't perform as nicely. There are so many variables, which could affect how a bat is perceived to perform that it's almost impossible to quantify. I honestly think people need to stop trying to find the unicorn, buy a bat they're happy with and just get better at using it. But maybe I'm just too simplistic. However, it's odd that pro's are pro's because they have more talent, practice more, train harder, are much fitter/stronger, play against quicker bowlers on better decks isn't it? Or is it just that they have a 'pro bat' or a 'blue willow gun'? 🤔
Think of the variables in each bat made -
Growing conditions
Willow make up/structure
Density
Natural defects
Drying/processing methods
Pressing
Shaping
Handles!
Knocking in
Aftercare
Not to mention potentially the most important...
User skill level
User confidence level
User fitness level
Playing conditions, weather
Ball
Pitch
Opponent skill level
Mentality
Getting triggered LBW by an umpire after hitting the ball for four backwards of square (ok, so this may just be my issue 😆)
I appreciate people probably don't want to agree, as chasing the bat/secret which will unlock that IPL contract is part of the fun. But in my opinion and limited experience, the only real secret is talent and hard work. After getting a good bat you're confident with, which isn't hard and doesn't need to be a specific type of willow or a gauge buster (again, I've seen people hit huge sixers, score plenty of runs with small bats and I've actually scored tons with old school bats and new bigger bats. So, maybe I've scored the runs, not the bats).
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I propose a one month ban for such heresy.
(https://i.ibb.co/qYVNQ0tr/IMG-5740.gif) (https://ibb.co/60LHCv3W)
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I don't believe you, @jonny77. If I had one of your super short T20 blades I'd be opening for Sunrisers. The fact I'm 40, 2 stone overweight and my highest achievement is failing county trials at U11 level is completely unrelated.
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Disgraceful comments @jonny77
😂😂😂
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@jonny77 why would you say this so close to the season...
I am sad... this makes me sad 😔
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Eh, I play park cricket, we don't have the same rules as MCC approved tournaments.
Do you not? You just make it up?
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I think you'll find that, as far as the laws are concerned, the book is the book. Anything else is regulations.
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Sorry to be so brutal fellas. Not saying I'm right and you know what they say about opinions! 😆
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Fred Trueman borrowed a bat from the colliery to make his debut for Yorkshire.
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Sorry to be so brutal fellas. Not saying I'm right and you know what they say about opinions! 😆
Thanks Jonny! Making very fair points. I guess it's all psychological after all. For me, I'm like a dog chasing cars when it comes to this stuff, incorrigible!
Pssst, do you make blue secret butterfly willow that will ping better than player bats? :D :D :D Don't tell the others! I'll buy them all!
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Yes mate.. All gauge busters and cheap too.
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There's a blue book you can buy quite cheaply. I've played in park cricket, so I know it will come in useful regardless of the significance you attribute to willow.
Also: blue towels are as good as any other colour.
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There's a blue book you can buy quite cheaply. I've played in park cricket, so I know it will come in useful regardless of the significance you attribute to willow.
Also: blue towels are as good as any other colour.
You've lost me here mate I'm afraid??
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You've lost me here mate I'm afraid??
Was for the park cricketer. No problem.
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I don't mean to be a killjoy, but isn't this bat illegal?
Then stop being a killjoy? It seems a bit of a pattern that you derail threads a bit, post rather cryptic messages, and in this case, shame someone for using a bat they like because you think it may be 'illegal'. Good thing he doesn't need to be the kind of person you like. And even if Alex had kept blue willow quiet, (Despite actually mentioning that he's a big fan of it in a video that they've published) why does he need to tell us everything?
I really cannot be asked to do the trig calculations required, but the gauge is generally 40mm at the edge, 110mm wide, 68mm for the spine, with a 5mm camber on the face. The bat is narrower than that, so the max edge allowable will be higher than the 40mm you'd have at 110mm. (It's around 41mm at 108mm) This will be due to the angle allowed for the back shape, plus the face camber. The gauge may flex, the wood may compress slightly, but you'd be able to get it through. Even if it gets stuck, a 2 minute job boning the back edge will get it through the gauge. If you follow the law to the absolute letter, then any bat with an edge over 40mm, regardless of width or if it goes through the gauge, is illegal. Feel free to police your games that way - the OP's games aren't.
What on earth have I just spent 5 mins reading and the last 15 mins replying to... Maybe someone's just pissed on my cornflakes this morning.
And while I'm at it, absolutely burn @jonny77 at the stake - he refused to sell me the bat which he then went on to score 90 odd and 100 with in consecutive innings. I was quite clearly denied nearly tripling my run tally for the year!
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The bat's illegal according to the Laws of Cricket. End of.
The people keen to tell you that they're "not taking it too seriously" or that "it doesn't matter at this level" are usually the same ones who want to fight you when an LBW decision doesn't go their way.
Typically massive shower avoiders.
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I bet you're fun at a party!
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The bat's illegal according to the Laws of Cricket. End of.
The people keen to tell you that they're "not taking it too seriously" or that "it doesn't matter at this level" are usually the same ones who want to fight you when an LBW decision doesn't go their way.
Typically massive shower avoiders.
Lams must make you angry.
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I bet you're fun at a party!
I have no doubt we have very different ideas of what constitutes a party.
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Lams must make you angry.
I've don't have any strong opinions on the management of legal aid.