Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Reviews => Topic started by: niceonechoppy on March 25, 2010, 09:15:17 PM
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I have seen Solitaire bats on this forum, All out cricket and the Wisden cricketer magazines, all of which have been very positive towards their service and quality. With the season fast approaching, I was in the hunt for some new willow to wield during the season.
I was after a bat with these specs in red was what I got:
- Large profile around 30-40mm edges and 60-70 mm spine, extra large edges and toe.35 mm edges, 72 mm spine, large edges and toe
- 2'7 to 2'10, including all stickers grips, scuff sheet etc.. 2'14! Despite the heavy weight, the pick up was quite good, i'm not too sure how I will get on with it, what should I do?
- Low middle- Yes
- Slight concaved profile, whilst retaining weight to all the crucial areas. Yes
- Bowed blade, similar to a typical asian bat. No real bow
- 8-10 Ruler straight grains, with no heartwood preferably, although will settle for a strip down the outside edge (I am right handed) if it doesn't affect the grain structure. 9 ruler straight grains with no heartwood
- Two white grips One thick silver
- Clear scuff sheet Yes
- Good pickup. Yes
- Standard SH sizing Yes
-Oval handle Yes
Overall I am happy with the quality of the finish on the bat, but I am concerned about the weight. Despite this Rogers service was excellent with the bat being dispatched after talking to him 6 days previously.
Enjoy the pictures:
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI3qFPVDI/AAAAAAAAANM/wqh-1ra0-DY/s800/IMG_3014.JPG)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI4lJzmyI/AAAAAAAAANM/OrmPQuxhL1M/s800/IMG_3015.JPG)
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI5tssuYI/AAAAAAAAANM/vr-F28vg870/s800/IMG_3016.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI6uCVjWI/AAAAAAAAANM/34rtdMIvUl0/s800/IMG_3017.JPG)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI7lcDopI/AAAAAAAAANM/zUglAvhwGyk/s800/IMG_3019.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI8hDB51I/AAAAAAAAANM/XyUQJG_lDOY/s800/IMG_3020.JPG)
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1Zt_rh9ktSg/S6vI9rygu1I/AAAAAAAAANM/nUQn-UOzp_8/s800/IMG_3021.JPG)
Choppy....
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it looks very similar to the one i had off rich mate if your not happy with it send it back bud and ask him to take some weight off it.
apart from that looks a bloody nice bat mate
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Another nice bat from solitaire, i would speak to Roger regarding the weight as he got mine spot on as well as a few friends who ordered 2lb 8oz they also got what they asked fro.
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Yes it feels like a top bat, the ping on it is superb with the mallet, I think I will send it back for a little weight reduction, as it is just too heavy for some wristy shots. If only I was built like a train....
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Send it up to me bud i will swing it around no issues at all, £60 for it lol.
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the grain looks immense mate good buy for £100 pound it looks very good
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considering the concaving it is not the largest bat for the weight and is it just me or are the toe and edges wonky?
it looks nice though with excellent grains, hope it performs well for you!
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Thanks very much for the offer Watson but I think Roger is more than capable.....Yes theyre top bats, shame about the weight, not much of an issue though.
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considering the concaving it is not the largest bat for the weight and is it just me or are the toe and edges wonky?
it looks nice though with excellent grains, hope it performs well for you!
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looks absolutely fine to me bud ?
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my eyes then! been awake for 20hrs straight, im going loopy!
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Haha one of those days slogger! Just sent him an email now, hopefully this little issue can be sorted easily! Now to get hunting for some spikes!
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Thanks very much for the offer Watson but I think Roger is more than capable.....Yes theyre top bats, shame about the weight, not much of an issue though.
Choppy speak to Roger he will sort the correct weight no problems at all, my offer was in jest bud ! will get interesting a bit later will this topic when a few certain people get a dig in.
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Which people are we talking about here? Yes just emailed him, hopefully he can sort something out for me! Thanks for offer as well.....
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Interesting the way the weight is so much more than you asked for. Everything else seems spot on and it looks like a great looking bat. Hope it does not lose any of what is making it so good when the weight comes off
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Thanks mate, it could only be a blip or faulty scales, as you sat everyone else had been 100% satisfied, nevermind....
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Very good bat!! I hope it goes really well and I hope you score tons of runs with it.
I am somesort of in love with Solitaire bats lol! Your is absolute beauty! Once your weight problem is sorted out I am sure it will go like a gun!
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Thanks very much CD I can't wait to the new season, it pings excellently and can't wait to try it properly! You should get one, Rogers a top man!
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I want to get one but I am not being allowed to get one. I am being told I already have lots of bats! I fear by the time I buy one the price of Solitaire will go up
Your bat face is very good as well! It is really clean!!
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Roger seems to get the best willow in the market if your going on grains - i havn't seen one that i wouldnt say was grade 2 or below cosmetically!
I would say that the solitaire bat has a very distinctive shape and he manages to get some big edges and spines on them, just a shame it was between 4-7oz heavier than you specified......like the others have said, something Roger should be expected to rectify considering the very meticulous nature of us cricketers.
Nice clean looking blade though - let us know how you get on with it!
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Thanks again, yes he's got everything else spot on, top man.
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Lovely clean willow and a nice shape. Not convinced about the stickers but they don't really matter anyway! Should play nicely
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Roger seems to get the best willow in the market if your going on grains - i havn't seen one that i wouldnt say was grade 2 or below cosmetically!
I would say that the solitaire bat has a very distinctive shape and he manages to get some big edges and spines on them, just a shame it was between 4-7oz heavier than you specified......like the others have said, something Roger should be expected to rectify considering the very meticulous nature of us cricketers.
Nice clean looking blade though - let us know how you get on with it!
he does only sell Grade1 bats and they should look good, if they didn't then the doubters on here would start to complain and moan. I have to say that I have seen lots of Solitaire bats in my local leagues and they have all been bloody good!
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Looks a nice bit of willow but there's a big difference between a 2.7-10 and getting a 2.14 in my books....at the end of the day if your happy with it then thats all that matters, cant really go too far wrong when paying £110 for a BN G1 bat i guess.
Having said that im a firm believer in you get what you pay for ultimately...but then i have never owned one to judge this to the full extent....its like a replica service where people get cheaper copies made of bats where I would rather have the original personally.
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2.14 is pretty heavy and will make a huge difference when you are playing horizontal bat shots - my view is that you should really send it back and ask him to take the weight off. Either that or you have 3 weeks before the start of the season - so spend that time in the gym beefing up!
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I think the bat looks nice, but the weight issue is very key, one ounce out is not too bad as everyone's scales weigh up differently but given that you set a weight range spanning 4 ounces to come in over 4 more is not good. I totally agree about having it sent back and I think it will be a lot easier for him to make a new bat. That bat can be sold on to someone wanting a heavy one you can simply have a new light one. The time it takes to strip it down and start playing around before having to finish it again and sticker it again is not worth it. Plus it looks heavily concaved to start so 4 more ounces will make it look bad.
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It does kind of undermine the 'custom made' idea if it comes in 4oz overweight!
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Sent him an email last night, and he replied first thing this morning saying that "I tried to make the thickest bat possible, and it picked up extremeley well, however it is no problem for you to send it back to me.". Thanks for everyones feedback as you guys say there is a huge difference between a 2'10 and 2'14 bat, such a shame as it feels fantastic off the mallet, but the weight is just too much for me. Thanks for the tip Buzz, think i'll try and beef up anyway!
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I'm sure if Roger replaces the bat it will probably be a gun as he will want to make 110% sure your happy with it and make up for his error. Keep us posted when the changed/new bat arrives