Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Cricket Manufacturers / Brands => Rob Pack Blue Room => Topic started by: ProWannabe88 on December 09, 2010, 10:49:30 AM
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Well what can I say about this from Rob. The demand for big bats with big edges and low weights has clearly pushed him over the edge!! A new shape to the range That will possibly go into production should the demand be there. Specs for this beast were a weight of 2.10, a huge Middle and massive edges i believe. Not asking much for a price tag of only £180 then fella ;)
This is currently being made up for a customer and I think he will be very pleased with it. Slightly based on the swell profile with alterations to the spine and additional concaving.it may not be a traditional mans cup of PG but expect edges to be +40mm. The previous model was only available in 2.12+ but after dropping on some fantastic willow Rob has managed to produce some very big bats for the weight. I'm sure the gent purchasing will be reviewing once he has received his new weapon.
All the best lad, enjoy the pics
PW88
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/pidge1988/IMG_0400.jpg)
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/pidge1988/IMG_0401.jpg)
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/pidge1988/IMG_0402.jpg)
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These people and their demands for perfection eh?
Terrible! Looks a stunner, even if I do say so myself
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That is crazy very close to toms effort ha ha
But nice willow may be tempted to give him a call next year and see if he can get close to my match bat which will take some doing
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Why would you want your edges thicker than some of the middle?
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Looks almost the same as the 'new wave' he sells
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Looks like the Evolution range...?
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Reminds me of an old Jaguar racing car. D-Type or sommat like that lol
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It is very interesting, but realistically how much difference in performance is the 'spike' in the middle going to add? Very much a shape driven by the modern need for everyone's bats to have huge edges. Light willow or not it is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Apologies for saying it before but; call me old fashioned but I was taught that good technique leading to me middling the ball would score me runs. Of course this bat will perform well, but I can't help thinking it won't reward the owner for playing well. There is relatively little wood in the middle.
I admire future thinking and outlandish bat design, I certainly don't agree with it all though.
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The concept is not to have edges thicker than the hitting zone Richard. The concaved profile reduces weight but will inevitably steepen the spine of what should be a heavy bat. The concentrations still on the hitting zone. This is why it's a 'prototype profile'
With so many people demanding bigger bats with bigger edges Rob has been trying to accommodate the theory into what could and should be a very impressive piece of podshaving. I think the pic makes the middle seem smaller than it actually is as well.
It's different to the new wave, it's made from a much heavier cleft for starters. The new wave isn't bowed as much and there's not nearly as much concaving.
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Jon your right, I am a traditional man, my BR is traditional shape but this is why I've put the bat up here for people to give feedback etc. Yes the design is to fill the demand of what is now an edge culture in many cricketers but, with the bat being made from a low density cleft and a large one at that which would normally end up at 2.12+ Rob is convinced of the performance. If it were a bat at a lower weight, say 2.8 then concaved further I would imagine the performance would be sacrificed.
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It's not even be used yet either, be interesting to see how it goes...I imagine it will though. the man isn't renowned for chucking out tat, even if this is a prototype. Trial and error eh?
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Thanks for the reply.
I think I'm just a bit baffled by it to be honest. If mr Pack believes in it then that's good enough for me, but I just don't...get it. What I see is a bat with which to get the optimum performance from, one would have to be incredibly accurate to hit the middle. If we are to imagine, rather than the concaving, a shallow but uniform upward gradient from the edges to the middle, i.e a trad bat with big edges and proportionally low middle 'depth' in relation to the edges (think polar opposite of a mjolnir) I fail to see how it could be outperformed by this design. Please don't think of this as unfair criticism, but I'm sure your intention was to raise debate.
It would be interesting if Rob could take time to come here and explain the theory, this stuff fascinates me and others, I'm sure.
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It's not even be used yet either, be interesting to see how it goes...I imagine it will though. the man isn't renowned for chucking out tat, even if this is a prototype. Trial and error eh?
Morning.
Please dont for a moment think my comments are disparaging you or Rob or your bat. It is a new shape so people are going to question it. I'm merely interested in the theories behind the design, I'm a complete nerd when it comes to this sort of thing.
I have alot of questions about it, but one thing I am sure of is it will be a cracking bat which will serve you well.
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morning Jon mate.
No I am all for a debate on this! It's totally different to anything I have seen or used, will find out in due corse how it goes. I agree with some of the points you have made as well...
On another point, spoke to Nick and we are on for that deal come Jan!
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Jon what I think is important to remember here is that biggest volume of the willow is still in the middle position. I dont understand it fully but think of the Scoop, no spine or middle but still went like stink as the majority of the volume of the willow was in the middle position
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morning Jon mate.
No I am all for a debate on this! It's totally different to anything I have seen or used, will find out in due corse how it goes. I agree with some of the points you have made as well...
On another point, spoke to Nick and we are on for that deal come Jan!
I'd be interested in both your ideas behind it as you are the one steering the ship and also Rob if he can come on and discuss it.
In the past it has annoyed me when a maker comes up with an unusual idea and we as consumers usually have no chance to ask about the ideas. This would be a great opportunity for all involved I think.
Sorry I've had little sleep, you'll have to remind me about the deal with Nick.
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Also is it just me or does this bat not yet have a handle? See pic 2
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Like we have established guys this is a prototype shape, and I put it on here knowing it would stir the pot a little with it being a different concept to the norm. Everyone is fully entitled to their opinion and I will be making sure Rob is made aware. I have my doubts about concaved profiles, but I'm old fashioned anyway when it comes to gear, I have seen the swells which this prototype has been based on and they too have larger concaving than usual but still go like bombs.
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Jon, you'll have to speak to PW88 on that as he is running the ship on his behalf, sure we can get something out of him though...Pidge?
Same here mate, knackered. My house is currently under 4in of water due to exploding water pipes all over the house...lovely
I was interested in the Swell profile, but wanted to try and keep the weight around 2.10. Rob said that it was a good weight for him as he had found some clefts that fitted the bill. I'm all for being a guinea pig and trying out some new ideas. Will be posting a full review with finished pics in due course, will have a better idea and understading when I've put it through it's paces
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Hmmm. Just looks like a twin scoop taken to the extreme, with less of a middle and more edge. Will be interesting to hear about performance.
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Sorry to hear about the flooding, last week something similar happened at the pub in the village, 3 months after they spent 50k doing it up. Oh dear.
I think we can be sure your bat will be great, regardless of the shape. It will be interesting to see if the new ideas make it better than standard.
This is good, and I can't see how a discussion will cause harm to any parties involved. To expand on my previous point about makers coming out with new designs, about a decade ago GN went through a phase of bringing out a radical model every year, it was the period after the success of the scoop and the dynadrive had tailed off. Each year they would come out with a variation on the theme, with a scoop or a groove placed slightly differently to before. Each model would only last for a season or two before it was dropped from the range, which left me thinking the idea behind it all was purely marketing driven. Effectively 'where shall we let the router attack this year chaps?'.
Not comparing your bat to that of course, just using it as an example of frustration caused by having an idea and not backing it up with theory or proof. Great opportunity here to get a dialogue going, which everyone will benefit from.
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i just think the soul reason for a bat like this is....
BIG BAT low weight!
the concaving is just to reduce the weight!
and there is still a hell of a lot of wood on the back of that bat!
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This is good, and I can't see how a discussion will cause harm to any parties involved. To expand on my previous point about makers coming out with new designs, about a decade ago GN went through a phase of bringing out a radical model every year, it was the period after the success of the scoop and the dynadrive had tailed off. Each year they would come out with a variation on the theme, with a scoop or a groove placed slightly differently to before. Each model would only last for a season or two before it was dropped from the range, which left me thinking the idea behind it all was purely marketing driven. Effectively 'where shall we let the router attack this year chaps?'
They still do that - Dual T20, Edge etc
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This is what I told Rob when he wanted a representative. The ideas and concepts he has for the BR brand will really be put to the test. It can only be a good thing for us to debate. I'm sure many companies would have used a shape for marketing and exposure, however with BR being largely unknown this wasn't an option. We are simply testing the water with this. There was 2 blades inthe workshop with this profile when I visited with Simmy and the look took me by surprise, they were slightly heavier at 2.11 and 2.12 but they still went like stink so hopefully wills may be the benchmark for the product
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they were slightly heavier at 2.11 and 2.12 but they still went like stink so hopefully wills may be the benchmark for the product
I can see mine being framed in the workshop next to Dean Jones' kook ;)
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And Damien martyns :)
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the profile looks loosely similar to Laver Special profile makes sense buying from Pack as it gonna be costing more for a Laver
very nice
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This is what I told Rob when he wanted a representative. The ideas and concepts he has for the BR brand will really be put to the test. It can only be a good thing for us to debate. I'm sure many companies would have used a shape for marketing and exposure, however with BR being largely unknown this wasn't an option. We are simply testing the water with this. There was 2 blades inthe workshop with this profile when I visited with Simmy and the look took me by surprise, they were slightly heavier at 2.11 and 2.12 but they still went like stink so hopefully wills may be the benchmark for the product
It seems to be working already. Had you not posted the pics today, or indeed posted pics of a less radical design, there would have been the usual dozen or so 'that looks good' posts and it would have been forgotten about. So fair play for that one.
Are you to be the conduit between the forum and Rob? Or would it be possible to get him on here? Just a thought.
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Liam will be representing blueroom on this forum.
rob just doesnt have the time funforunatly to come on here
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Excactly my reasoning behind it, It would have been easy to put my bat up or a normal profiled bat but nothing will have been achieved. Yeah pretty much the middle man for Rob, he stated that forums weren't his thing until I showed him this one but unfortunately he just can't commit his time to run the section properly with the puma 6000 contract and now his own brand. He just asked if I could get him on here and show you guys what he's capable of, try to extinguish any mystery or 'rumours' behind his batmaking and you never know maybe shift some of the top quality gear he provides. However he only wanted to be on here when he realised how serious we all are about the sport, the equipment and the work involved. He knows it could be a good place to start from
And I hope I can do a good job for him
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Looks ugly to me, but if it performs that doesn't matter one bit.
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I like it, really nice side-on. As for the concaving it's not something I love at first sight but I like it :)
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don't mean to be a killjoy here. but isn't that just a puma evolution profile :S it probably isn't. I just think its at least similar.
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tbh I don't see the point of concaving the bat that much. I'd prefer to see a reduced size blade or sloped shoulders, with less concaving in the middle.
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I think it'll be one of those bats that grows on people the more they see them. Like the GM labels. I hated them when I first saw the change but after seeing them more and more that have really grown on me. This bat could be the same. The thing I found is people don't like change, especially drastic change and probably expected a puma-esque or more traditionally shaped bat. This was not the case :D chipsticks I can forward that on but many others have already done this and found it works. This is something different and clearly has thrown a spanner in the works
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Im not saying it doesn't work hehe. a bat with 40mm plus edges weighing 2lb 10 must work. just saying it looks similar to the evolution shape, which i like.
would be interested, how big he can get edges with a cleft around the same density and with the same weight in a more traditional shape. I mean still with edges of course but without the scoops if you understand haha :)
chip
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As Liam has said it's a prototype, an experiment and everything starts off as an idea, some work, some don't. For me this works and would love to see it put into production as it's different :)
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it works for me too, im just asking some questions. as im interested in what could be done with clefts that weight in different shapes. would be interesting to find out.
these could be future experiments you never know
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Im not saying it doesn't work hehe. a bat with 40mm plus edges weighing 2lb 10 must work.
Why "must" it work? TBH, I don't think that 40mm+ edges make THAT big a difference. I reckon the profile that is created is more likely to make a batsman that is not technically perfect look poor.
We regularly don't middle the ball, but equally, we don't regularly play the ball with the edge of the bat, ergo, we probably need more meat close to the middle than at the edges.
Just my view...
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PMd you chipsticks.
Colesy is right, it is an experiment, a prototype bat and thats why you guys are seeing it before anyone else. It's you guys that rob bases his work on and wants to know exactly what people want from there products. As I said before this is a bat for the 'big edge' lover, something to offer the modern day stereotype with demands on weight and size.
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Ive come up with an analogy that I hope explains my thoughts a bit better, perhaps you could pass this along;
Think of this bat as a car. A car with 300hp throughout the rev range, except for a tiny rev band where it gives 500hp(the very narrow middle). In comparison a trad bat with no odd concaving might be seen as a car with 350hp, but all across the range.
Does that make sense or do I need sleep?
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a drink perhaps ;)
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tim this could make into another experiment sort of. bats with a middle, just outside the middle and then literally no edges at all? and my it working comment was on the bat having big edges and shape etc not a performance issue (sorry for confusion)
but surely the idea is to try and middle the ball everytime? i know this is difficult but surely that is the aim... even when say using the pace and guiding a ball you would still use the middle right? and concaved edges are to save weight. so the big edges come down to when we dont quite time the ball correctly it can still go the distance.
tbh the best profile would be massive in what ever weight we wanted, with the middle everywhere on the bat. but im still to come across this. well maybe not in a very heavy weight range but something that everyone could wield
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Ive come up with an analogy that I hope explains my thoughts a bit better, perhaps you could pass this along;
Think of this bat as a car. A car with 300hp throughout the rev range, except for a tiny rev band where it gives 500hp(the very narrow middle). In comparison a trad bat with no odd concaving might be seen as a car with 350hp, but all across the range.
Does that make sense or do I need sleep?
So, this is the performance Petrol engine and what I described is the BMW Diesel engine....
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tim this could make into another experiment sort of. bats with a middle, just outside the middle and then literally no edges at all? and my it working comment was on the bat having big edges and shape etc not a performance issue (sorry for confusion)
but surely the idea is to try and middle the ball everytime? i know this is difficult but surely that is the aim... even when say using the pace and guiding a ball you would still use the middle right? and concaved edges are to save weight. so the big edges come down to when we dont quite time the ball correctly it can still go the distance.
tbh the best profile would be massive in what ever weight we wanted, with the middle everywhere on the bat. but im still to come across this. well maybe not in a very heavy weight range but something that everyone could wield
Ah, the railway sleeper shape!
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So, this is the performance Petrol engine and what I described is the BMW Diesel engine....
Mate I've lost my own thoughts, I've got no hope with anyone elses. Must sleep. But yeah diesels are good. Umm.
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whatever happened to a good old classical shape..
Now there's a challenge. . . .a good old performing classical shaped bat. . .
edges, edges, edges thats all i read on the forum.
that bat reminds me a of a GN Dynadrive. . .
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Ive come up with an analogy that I hope explains my thoughts a bit better, perhaps you could pass this along;
Think of this bat as a car. A car with 300hp throughout the rev range, except for a tiny rev band where it gives 500hp(the very narrow middle). In comparison a trad bat with no odd concaving might be seen as a car with 350hp, but all across the range.
Does that make sense or do I need sleep?
makes no sence cos no car pulls 300bhp through all the rev rang max power is reached at certain rpm..
lol
just like a bats power is reached by hitting a certain spot on the bat..
there is alot of wood taken out of the middle yes..
but dont forget with even this much concaving i bet its still 35mm thick
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100 not out- my BR is a classic (traditional) shaped bat and it's a beaut. I didn't go for the concaved blade and big edges, I prefer my bats to be traditional so I agree with you there. This is why I explained it's to tackle todays stereotype of big edged bats. Everyone and there dog wants a bat that weighs less than 2.10 but they want 95mm edges and a massive middle and this and that. Long gone are the days when you went in, had one or two shapes to choose from And just picked your favourite ???
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I am and have always been a traditionalist, to be quite honest, I didn't expect edges as big as the ones here, I knew I would be looking at a Pooma model, but not quite as unique as this. It will be used alongside an M&H 2.10lb distinction (so there's my traditional fix to keep me happy)
I don't know anything about cars...other than Simmy is the new stig.
I'm quite impressed with this much discussion, the bat should be with me Monday, will give it a knock and some throwdowns, take some pics and write up what I think of it. Quite looking forward to it really. Will report on it's progress throughout the season and nets after Christmas.
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From what I've seen it should be a belter mate.
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Looks like a Dynadrive to me without the defined scoop edges and paint. Interesting shape though and I like the fact that it's a new idea.
however... these concaving and scalloping shenanigans have gone too far, it's Heresy!
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The end on profile looks a lot like some form of race car aerodynamics ???