Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: jonpinson on November 29, 2010, 09:41:13 PM
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Honestly, what is wrong with me? £320 for an unseen bat? I would never consider it normally, however I am finding it harder and harder to resist.
I'm guessing GN's top 1% willow would be pretty good though, considering how much they must buy in.
Logic please gents.
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I think its seeing Straussy's huge profile smash the aussies everywhere that is leading you into temptation. . . if you can afford it why not??
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It's not the willow you need worry about, plus you will find it harder to deal with a shop than GN direct.
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Mad yet fine fellow with bigger eyes than his wallet...?
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I think its seeing Straussy's huge profile smash the aussies everywhere that is leading you into temptation. . . if you can afford it why not??
I must admit the nice shot of his in the warm up game which showed grains like that Laver and Wood seen here recently is partially to blame.
Afford? What does that mean? :D
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It's not the willow you need worry about, plus you will find it harder to deal with a shop than GN direct.
So perhaps try and go GN direct?
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Mad yet fine fellow with bigger eyes than his wallet...?
I'd normally agree, kid in a sweet shop and all that, but at the moment I seem to be buying (and affording) all bats that interest me. It must be said too that when I adopt a new hobby, I go into it full bore, always got to have the best gear etc, so I have alot of things non cricket related just sitting in the house that would fetch a tidy sum were I be bothered to shift them.
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You won't get the Legend direct, you could get a matching bat with other labels. Having said that there is an option to get something else similar....
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You won't get the Legend direct, you could get a matching bat with other labels. Having said that there is an option to get something else similar....
I hope this ruddy cold is messing my head up, because that looked like you were trying to sell me something. :D
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Oh no, never.....
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Oh no, never.....
I'm sure that sigh must have been audible at your end.
Tell me more.
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anyone else notice that strauss' legend was wrongly stickered? the back splice sticker was just a stander GN back sticker
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anyone else notice that strauss' legend was wrongly stickered? the back splice sticker was just a stander GN back sticker
God Liam we're not geeks you know.
:D
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Would love to see what one looks like to the common folk, so I think you should order one. If you do buy one though, make sure you have a good whack with it.
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Combination of the beauty Mike got off them + the beauty Strauss was using.
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Don't leave me hanging Michael.
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Because you have too much spare cash!
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mate do it, do it, do it
in case your confused i think you should get one.......
i and im also a geek that noticed the back of the blade is stickered differently on Strauss's one
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Went to Owzat yesterday and they had one Legend-awesome. 14 straight,clean grains like the Laver Sig,massive profile and it weighed.....2lbs 8oz on the dot. Biggest bat I've ever seen. Did have an ugly stain on the back right under the labels but what a piece of wood. £309.99.
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mate now im tempted............
2.8 and big is my preference
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I have emailed around a few stockist to see if any can provide specific photo, rather than relying on the doctored stock GN shots.
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Great idea. No doubt if received the images will be dropped on the forum?
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Great idea. No doubt if received the images will be dropped on the forum?
Yeh but I don't hold out much hope. One reply already 'Have a look at our website, there is a pic on there.' Yes ok, but that is the generic pic, so not the bat I'd receive if I ordered. I really don't understand how some folk consider snapping a couple of pics and emailing them as somehow too much effort when selling a £320 item.
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this is the difference in dealing with smaller brands than shops who dont have the time of day to show u what ud actually recieve....personally if i was the shop id go out of my way to make a sale if a potential customer had contacted me and it meant sales revenue!!!
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If you are thinking about spending that much on a bat, my view is that you really need to speak to GN direct.
If you haven't already, that should be your next call.
Gray-Nicolls,
Station Road,
Robertsbridge
East Sussex
TN32 5DH
Tel: +44 (0)1580 880357
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this is the difference in dealing with smaller brands than shops who dont have the time of day to show u what ud actually recieve....personally if i was the shop id go out of my way to make a sale if a potential customer had contacted me and it meant sales revenue!!!
Exactly, it is common sense to me. If you can reply to an email within half an hour, it suggests you're having a quiet morning. 5 extra minutes to do a few snaps and email them on is nothing, especially if it ends up making you a sale. I don't know whether it is part of the deal with GN or anyone for that matter than specific examples cannot be shown.
Thats why the Uzisports site is better than most. Actually pictures of real bats.
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Yeh but I don't hold out much hope. One reply already 'Have a look at our website, there is a pic on there.' Yes ok, but that is the generic pic, so not the bat I'd receive if I ordered. I really don't understand how some folk consider snapping a couple of pics and emailing them as somehow too much effort when selling a £320 item.
i got the same sort of replies when i looked at getting a top of the range GN.
one thing i have found is that procricket direct have actual pictures of the bats. it wont be the one you get but atleast you can see what the lower models are likely to be like.
they dont have the legend on there site though!
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If you are thinking about spending that much on a bat, my view is that you really need to speak to GN direct.
If you haven't already, that should be your next call.
Gray-Nicolls,
Station Road,
Robertsbridge
East Sussex
TN32 5DH
Tel: +44 (0)1580 880357
Hello Buzz,
Out of interest, why do you suggest that?
Thanks, Jon.
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Direct to GN every time, you're cutting out the middle man and the possibility of poor communication. Not something you want when you're spending that much money.
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Do GN deal with the general public? I though the whole point of dealers was so the manufacturer didn't have to spend time with individual orders.
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It would be nice to think that if you were parting with £320, then a reputable company like GN would deal with you directly.
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They will not, they have a route to market via shops, if they cut out shops then no shops would deal with them.
They do offer deals via some retailers, like Lords.
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www.lorimers4cricket.co.uk - Legend is £300 with them and im sure they'd email you pics of the specific bat.
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I don't think it's out of the question to expect GN to provide personal service in this instance, especially considering you're spending £300+.
Talisman - What are the chances of getting a bat like yours?
personally I doubt you'd get a better bat, and GN lower range always yield some belters.
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I would think that mine would be hard to find again here, but I'm told that the GN XXX custom range in Meulemans is on par, $699 which is roughly £425 plus postage and import duties could get one, maybe £500+ in total.
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Gray Nicolls have their own sales site; they do sell direct so I'd try that route.
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I think what we have to remember is that with big stores/shops etc we are gonna be dealing with people who may not have any interest in cricket and are probably paid minimum wage or just above so what is a sale to them? Whereas with smaller shops/brands we are probably dealing with the owner and sole beneficary of any sales so therefore will get a better service!
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Where is that Tom? can we have a link to it please.
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I would think that mine would be hard to find again here, but I'm told that the GN XXX custom range in Meulemans is on par, $699 which is roughly £425 plus postage and import duties could get one, maybe £500+ in total.
I've not ruled your offer out Mike, just testing the waters. Pics when you are ready please.
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Where is that Tom? can we have a link to it please.
http://www.tavernersales.com/ new GN site coming up too with sales function too I am led to believe
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I believe that is as it would look, the Taverners own site, as they are kitted it out by GN.
That is not GN direct.
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Perhaps I may ask why it is registered to Gray Nicolls?
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http://whois.domaintools.com/tavernersales.com
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Because it is on behalf on the Taverners, they are a registered charity so I would not think that GN would be using them to bypass the shops.
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i and im also a geek that noticed the back of the blade is stickered differently on Strauss's one
It will be marketing, so that cameras pick up the brand name from as many angles as possible - there are ICC restrictions on size of brand logos and it would be dim of GRay Nicolls not to ensure that one of their gun players wasn't advertising them to the full potential
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Is that about the back sticker being different?
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yip
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Where did you get that info from Mike?
My understanding was that it was run, handled and the payments were done by GN. With a percentage of all sales going to Lord's Taverners
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Well if GN were selling direct then that would upset a lot of their customers, using a charity to front direct sales would be a poor show to say the least.
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Well well, positive response from romida, pics on the way!
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Ha!! That has surprised me. Romida near me don't even like you taking bats out of the cases to inspect them lol. No ball or mallet test allowed. Just get stared at when looking at products. Good of them to send pics though.
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Ha!! That has surprised me. Romida near me don't even like you taking bats out of the cases to inspect them lol. No ball or mallet test allowed. Just get stared at when looking at products. Good of them to send pics though.
Never been there but they have always done well for me via mail order.
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It's a nice little unit. We go down often enough to see what new gear they get in. Very funny about people touching it all though. Suppose mail orders good for softs etc. When simmy got his gloves we were looking for a bat as well but the young lad working there followed us around and watched us like a hawk to ensure we didn't try anything on or tap up with a ball lol. Simmy got his gloves out the bag and the lad nearly passed out bless him. Can't wait to see these pics
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Ha!! That has surprised me. Romida near me don't even like you taking bats out of the cases to inspect them lol. No ball or mallet test allowed. Just get stared at when looking at products. Good of them to send pics though.
Is that the brighouse one?
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Yeah spent a fortune in that place over the years. Just a bit odd the way the staff are with customers
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Also been thinking about one actually, would be paying a lot less than 300 though.
Liam
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Couldnt agree more! There is nothing more off putting than people staring at you while you look at cricket equipment. The thing is when you are spending a lot of money on equipment as you do on cricket stuff you expect to be able to touch and feel things. Brighouse usually let you have a go with a mallet though, have you visited the Rochdale store? They seem to be better in there although they did look abit annoyed last year when i wanted the expensive softs and bags down from the high shelves at the back of the store!
The attitude at Brighouse has stopped me buying things before but for some reason I think you tend to get that attitude a lot of cricket stores. Best ones I have been to are Barrington sports who were very good and Cricket World at Bolton is pretty good too.
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They wouldn't even let us use our own mallet last time we visited brighouse. They wouldn't supply one so I got my own and they werent best pleased when I walked back in with it. I haven't bought anything since but I must admit they get some very nice gear in.
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I not very impressed with the bats they get to be honest, got a GM Catalyst Original L.E. through mail order from there and it was a complete plank. I went to Cricket World in Bolton and got a Gray-Nicholls Carbo which I have to say is better than nearly every bat I have picked up in Romida except some of the Pumas they had about 5 years ago.
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Theres always that risk with mail order though. They tend to have some very big slazengers in when I've been and there Grau nics section is usually packed with nice bats. Prices are very steep though which is why it's irritating when your willing to pay the price but they aren't willing to let you shop
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A post on their facebook page said you can buy GN products direct through either the lords taverners site or GN direct. Their site isnt showing anything, but, by the sounds of it they will be bringing it in soon
Here is what it says....
Visit gray-nicolls.co.uk to purchase all new 2011 gear from the 1st of December
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rom Returns <Returns@grays-int.co.uk>
to Michael Brimble <mikebrimble@gmail.com>
date 30 November 2010 14:17
subject RE: Cricket Bat - Lords Order [Scanned]
hide details 14:17 (55 minutes ago)
Hi Mike,
Not to my knowledge – we have close links with the charity and administer their sales, but the sale goes through their website. Not much different from any other retailer placing an order with us and asking us to deliver to a customer’s direct address.
In fact you would get more input (and maybe a better price) with a cricket specialist in terms of specification for a new bespoke top grade bat.
If I can be of any further help, please do let me know.
Kind Regards, Richard
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So to confirm - the website has been set up by GN (the whois and coding tells us that) and the orders are despatched by GN. But it isn't ordering direct.
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No wonder they broke all those records, look at the grains on their bats!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/3251799/Englands-Ashes-stars-are-record-breakers.html
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Both GN's are the bats used for pictures on websites etc...
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So to confirm - the website has been set up by GN (the whois and coding tells us that) and the orders are despatched by GN. But it isn't ordering direct.
Well you could not get them to do things that shops would not be able to do, it purely looks to me like if you wanted a set of GN gloves you could buy them from the Taverners website for which they would benefit and GN will post them out. I fail to see any benefit from buying anything off the site other than benefiting a worthy charity.
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Negative response from Owzat. Waiting to hear from Fordham, expecting pics from Romida.
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Jon - Did you call GN? the reason I ask is that if you don't ask, you wont get...
Romida in Leatherhead have taken several hundred pounds of me in the past so they are usually a good bet. I hope they have a good selection
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Jon - Did you call GN? the reason I ask is that if you don't ask, you wont get...
Romida in Leatherhead have taken several hundred pounds of me in the past so they are usually a good bet. I hope they have a good selection
Not yet, got a few irons in the fire so I'm going to see how they pan out first.
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the dorking lads at leatherhead are a good lot give them a try mate
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I hate delays. Could have had a film developed and the prints couriered to me by now.
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i have also dealt with the guys at Leatherhead on several occasions and they are very helpful and have a very good selection, they also offer a very good knocking in service
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Well.
Blimey.
*Scratches head*
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After a while to consider things, it's fair to say the examples I have now seen are of an appearance you would expect for an ultra premium model :D
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yeh i shouldnt imagine they would want to send anything out that doesnt represent the cream of the crop of their willow in the legend bats
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Do you have some pictures of it Jon? Are you able to post some on here, Would be good to see
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Do you have some pictures of it Jon? Are you able to post some on here, Would be good to see
In good time (when I have wiped the drool from the keyboard).
In the meantime, lets just say the one Strauss has is a good indicator of what to expect.
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A post on their facebook page said you can buy GN products direct through either the lords taverners site or GN direct. Their site isnt showing anything, but, by the sounds of it they will be bringing it in soon
Here is what it says....
Visit gray-nicolls.co.uk to purchase all new 2011 gear from the 1st of December
This isn't up and running yet... Can't buy anything on the GN site!
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This isn't up and running yet... Can't buy anything on the GN site!
Jon stop being a bat tease..... and get these pics up
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Jon stop being a bat tease..... and get these pics up
I think he enjoys keeping us waiting, I do like the look of the legend.
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Jon lad, blink... Take your hand away from your crotch and get them pics up!!!
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Jon lad, blink... Take your hand away from your crotch and get them pics up!!!
Pidge...stop playing with that monkey and get your pics up! ;)
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Patience my friend all will be revealed in good time.
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Weep.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/jonpinson/legend1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/jonpinson/legend2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/jonpinson/legend3.jpg)
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Nice
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hmm, i'd go for top or bottom. they are beautiful!
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Top one!!!!
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Bottom one, what retailer is this?
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To be honest for that kind of price I would be expecting flawless and they arent
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was just thinking that sultan. but nontheless the top one looks pretty damn good!!!
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To be honest for that kind of price I would be expecting flawless and they arent
Could you define 'flaw' then?
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As in evenly spaced grains, grains running directly down the bat, all the wood the same colour? Just my personal point of view if I was spending £300+ thats what I would expect.
They are better looking than the gray-nicholls I am using at the moment but then again that only cost £130 and looks arent everything.
On another note where do you play prowannabe88?
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As in evenly spaced grains, grains running directly down the bat, all the wood the same colour? Just my personal point of view if I was spending £300+ thats what I would expect.
They are better looking than the bat I am using but then looks arent everything.
On another note where do you play prowannabe88?
Yeah I suppose it depends whether you value looks or performance. I imagine these are graded on performance first, and then looks. I agree they are not perfect visually, but one of them especially isn't wildly far from it. By those definitions, the only bat I have seen for about 5 years that is 'flawless' is rather famous on this forum, and these days would cost a grand to have made.
It is all relative, and after all, willow is natural, so straight lines and even gaps will be rare, because that isn't how nature works.
These are not perfect, but they are about as close to it as I've seen for a while.
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Any pics of the profile?
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Any pics of the profile?
No, those were all I got and I already feel cheeky enough for asking once.
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I would of thought the top 1 percent of willow would be looks and performance. Think talismans oblivion looked better visually.
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Jon if can afford it do it!! Saw one in my local shop today and I fell in love with it, absolutely amazing!!!
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Jon if can afford it do it!! Saw one in my local shop today and I fell in love with it, absolutely amazing!!!
Was it any better looking then the ones I have posted up?
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It looked similar to the 1st and 3rd bat, not massive but perfectly balanced and picked up well.
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It looked similar to the 1st and 3rd bat, not massive but perfectly balanced and picked up well.
In which case, I will if you will :D
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Money not an issue, I would......
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Jon if can afford it do it!! Saw one in my local shop today and I fell in love with it, absolutely amazing!!!
Colesy, was this in globe sports?
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Sure was mate
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Dunno about your question D7bow, but if I had the money for s legend, I'd buy one!!
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Sorted for 2011 season. Wouldn't buy from Globe sports as they are probably the dearest shop in the country. May pop in tho and have a gander. Doubt globe are selling it at £300.
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£400 lol
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£400 lol
It will be sat there for a while then.
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No competition in Bristol. They sold all there distincions last year at full price!
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They're starting to take a disliking to AyrTom lol
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Ok, I have just got back from romida and had a long look at one of these bats.
They are big, beautiful and well balanced. BUT
The 5 star bats for about 150 were also just as big and well balanced. The grains and stickers may not be as nice, but that is not something I worry about.
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Ok, I have just got back from romida and had a long look at one of these bats.
They are big, beautiful and well balanced. BUT
The 5 star bats for about 150 were also just as big and well balanced. The grains and stickers may not be as nice, but that is not something I worry about.
Do you know which of the 3 pictured it was?
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Do you know which of the 3 pictured it was?
one that was 2lbs 7 with decent, but not perfect grains
Possibly the 3rd one
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Also I should say that the guys at romida said that most of the gn bats are indian made- not sure where, but the do look like the sf bats. So I think they are outsourcing a lot more than ever before.
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Also I should say that the guys at romida said that most of the gn bats are indian made- not sure where, but the do look like the sf bats. So I think they are outsourcing a lot more than ever before.
Did that include the legends? Because then they become expensive.
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I am not sure where they are made - but the bats were very big. Personally when I tried it with a mallet there was no disernable difference between the £300 Legend and the £150 5* in the shop - the pick up was similar (the 5* was slightly heavier) - if it was a test with an unstickered bat I wouldn't have been able to choose between them.
Having said that the willow was cleaner on the Legend and I mave have picked up a "luckey" 5*. Make no mistake both the bats were seriously good - the Legend was prettier - but I wouldn't have bought it.
For a 2lbs 7 bat, the Legend was properly massive, I have to say, but seriously I wouldn't buy one at that price - In my view you are paying a lot for the, admitadly very nice, stickers.
When you are paying that much for a bat, you really need to feel it in your own hands.
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Most I have paid was £200 so to part with more would take take something very very dreamy indeed
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I might add - I am a bit of a tight bottom... the most I have paid for a bat is £150, although I would have paid more for a Hawk last season if I hadn't bought my SAF.
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Best ones I have been to are Barrington sports who were very good and Cricket World at Bolton is pretty good too.
which club do you play for SS? sent you a PM but ur mailbox id full
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The Australian ones pick up well for how big they are, and generally have very clean grains but they still are heavy pick up wise and I think anyone playing cross bat shots to any bowler with a bit of wheels on him might struggle. The stickers on them say they are 2.8-2.9 but you wont find one under 2.10 they are all fairly heavy. Im guessing GN weigh it before all the things are added.
The only thing Legends have going for them is I no (at least in australian ones), the head bat maker Stuart wont put them out if he doesnt have wood good enough for them. I know Kingsgrove tried to order one last year at a time and Stuart wrote back there will be a delay as he didnt feel he had any wood up to the standard of Legend.
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All of the Gray-Nicolls Legends and Players over here in Australia have 2 grips on them, so once you take the second grip off, the bats weigh less. In saying that though, the handles are a bit small so if you like a bigger handle then you probably wont like it.
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arent the oz ones custom made to your spec.....
as the pics ive seen look a different profile to the uk ones
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Had a feel of one of these in the local sports shop...
To be fair, it felt great, light, balanced, meaty, loved it. Until I saw the £400 price tag. I hastily put it down before I accidentally damaged it... That is an expensive plank! Also, the grains on the face of that bat were ace! 12-13, straight as a die. However, the back was visually imperfect with 2 knots and a minor blemish.
To be fair, you get a bit of discount, but £400? For £400, I would expect visually perfect and great performing bats!
You could get 2-3 bats off most custom bat makers for this price! Dearie me.
What is going on!