Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: uknsaunders on March 30, 2010, 08:36:14 AM
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Hi Folks,
Just wanted some advice on a puma bat of mine. During November nets it was sounding good and pinging off the bat. However, when I came back to nets in late January it seemed to have lost some of it's ping. Now thinking about it, I had left the bat in the boot of the car during december/january through that very cold spell of weather. Have I knackered it up by being a lazy git? It's a puma stealth bat with a graphite handle, a couple of years old now.
ps. I bought a bat for £60 last year, it has fusion written on it with the words MS as well (in green) anyone know what type/model it is? Just wondered as it's a lovely piece of wood with huge 35mm edges and a 2 '9 oz weight.
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I'm sure Tom could answer the question about the Fusion bat as he spent some time with James and Bill from Fusion.
Not sure about the puma bat to be honest - have you oiled it this year? I'm just thinking that people say dont leave your car in the boot during the summer as this will often dry the bat out, however if you do this in the winter when it is cold then in my eyes this is no different to leaving it in your garage where it would also be cold.
Could me more to do with you, if your not timing it as well as you did in November it is more than likely to sound and feel different.
It could me many things though - these are just my thoughts.
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Regarding my cricketing ability, I'm consistently average so one week ought to be similar to another week. I'm not a natural timer of a cricket ball but most lower level club players aren't. I used it for 3 weeks before switching to my reserve bat - which went like a rocket, though it's a piece of prime morrant wood that I don't use enough.
I haven't oiled it this year, would that really help? I thought less oil was better.
thanks for your thoughts anyway SillyShilly.
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Maybe have a quick refurb by craig on here (hit4six) might just improve it a little?
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Where did you buy the Fusion from? Remember a name?
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I'm sorry - but seedy i dont agree with you on that one. For me, a refurbishment is a cosmetic proceedure most of the time, sometimes a big split needs pinning or a toe glued together - but most of the time it is a quick sand, oil, anti-scuff and away you go - this shouldnt really have any impact on the playing qualities of the blade.
This is not to say hit4six doesnt do a good refurb sevice, i only hear good things from people on the forum - i just dont think this is the answer to his problems.
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Does it feel heavier??? Was it in a bag or a cover when it was in the boot of your car??
Even in a garage it should be kept in a cover so that it doesnt absorb moisture.
This is another reason why they say to apply a light coat of oil at the end of the season before putting away.
There is a chance that it might have absorbed moisture.
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It may have taken on moisture, but it may just be that you are slightly out on your timing. Mine has been awful for nets this season but on Sunday was a lot better, the more you bat the better you get, bats too.
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You'll love this Tom. I bought the bat off our kit supplier, based in Bradford. A guy called David Ryan. When we first dealt with him he had premises in Shipley,etc - by the time we got our kit he had moved on and was telephone only and extremely elusive at that. Most of his stock was out of the back of a car but don't get me wrong, some of the bats he showed us where gems.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_blLLx3gm1k0/S7HFOPbFY_I/AAAAAAAABkk/wkic_Wu9us8/s640/1269940661611.jpg)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_blLLx3gm1k0/S7HFOQ0ltNI/AAAAAAAABko/mSqhKmxr_5c/s640/1269940599659.jpg)
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Here's the puma:-
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_blLLx3gm1k0/S7HHF0Wpp5I/AAAAAAAABk4/SMNDBxAHxRg/s640/1269941955296.jpg)
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I did wonder if a sanding down and a couple of days in the airing cupboard might improve things regarding the puma?
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Both look like they need a coat of linseed IMO as appear a bit dry and brittle......Fusion is what the bats called not the brand of it then, cant say iv heard of MS
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Just to clarify where the puma has been, during dec/jan it was in a sleeve on the side of my kit bag. No it doesn't feel heavier, but since my bats range from 2'9 to 2'12 and I switch between them on a regular basis, I probably couldn't tell.
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I think the fusion bat you have was sold by a sports company on ebay - they were selling them for around £40-£50 posted. Not a 'FUSION' bat, but a MS bat with the Fusion range.
Agree with ayrtek, both look a little dry and in need of some oil
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http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:tV3hY8xBpJwJ:cgi.ebay.co.uk/100%2525-ENGLISH-WILLOW-MS-DIMENSION-CRICKET-BAT-RRP-%25A359.00_W0QQitemZ370330343431QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20100205%3FIMSfp%3DTL1002050410001r18371+ms+cricket+bat&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
Some relief to see it's english willow, but suspected that as it goes pretty well.
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The puma looks wet at the bottom to me like it has absorbed some water?
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it's a bit dirty from mud but more to do with my crap HTC Magic camera.
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ok - I'll sand and oil them at some point soon. Is it worth putting the puma in the airing cupboard for a few days to see if drying it out helps?
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ok - I'll sand and oil them at some point soon. Is it worth putting the puma in the airing cupboard for a few days to see if drying it out helps?
I think the airing cupboard may open any cracks up wider to be honest.
I'd just sand & oil
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Due to the age of the bat it is going to be nearing the end of it's suppleness and oil will not seal in any remaining sap, bats tend to fall apart or die at the end of their usefulness and the ones that die look the same, balance the same but will never perform the same so are harder to bin. However harsh it may be I'd vote on a new bat rather than hope to reclaim past glories with the Puma.
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Due to the age of the bat it is going to be nearing the end of it's suppleness and oil will not seal in any remaining sap, bats tend to fall apart or die at the end of their usefulness and the ones that die look the same, balance the same but will never perform the same so are harder to bin. However harsh it may be I'd vote on a new bat rather than hope to reclaim past glories with the Puma.
which begs the questions what is the average lifespan of a bat... 1500 runs and associated nets? Obviously depending on the bat. Or is it until the batsman loses form and blames his kit!!
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I use a couple of bats just for nets. The life of my match bats have varied, the best is a solitaire that has just gone over a 1000 and is still going like a ballistic missile. However, I have had bats crash and burn within 500 runs.
Bats definately lose there suppleness and power with age.
Maybe time to grab a new stick buddy, try a light sand an oil first mind see if it rejuvenates the bat at all.
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I have 3 bats:-
A dukes ton custom I picked up in 2007 - was 3'4oz but got the guy at Kippax to shave it down to a more manageable 2'12 - used it late 07/most of 08 scored approx 500 runs with it, but wanted something lighter..
The puma, brought late 08 and used most of 09. Reckon I've scored 400 runs with it.
The MS Fusion, brought 09 and mainly used for 20 over stuff and a few sundays.
So, none of my bats have had much use but all have 12-30 months wear on them. The dukes I've used in nets and it's still playing well and pretty much unmarked, so I'm a little surprised if the Puma has gone to pot - do they have a history of short life spans?
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Many factors, sap in blade, pressing, usage, standard of balls, style of batsman...
I'd be happy to get 1500 runs from a bat, 2000 would be a better figure but that would be 15000 shots for some players and 500 for others so if you are happy with the performance of the bat and it makes a couple of seasons at the top of it's game you have had your moneys worth.
The Puma is older than late 2008, it may have been in store for 2 years and become dry?
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just a quick update on the bats:-
MS Fusion still going strong, given it a sand and oil looks great.
Puma used it tonight, a couple pinged ok but wasn't that impressed. I'm considering selling it and open to offers. Given the right care it might be fine.