Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Reviews => Topic started by: johan95 on December 23, 2010, 06:17:19 PM
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Hi guys,
I thought I'd share with you all my 3 bats, and my Opinions on them. I'll update this thread to include full reviews when I've used them all in nets/matches!
1.SAF Custom Premium Willow
2.Lekka RDX
3.H4L 2nd 5 Star
4.Redback Paradox Premier
1. SAF Premium Willow:
This bat was bought off Canners(1983) a while back, and though it was a custom made for him, It's exactly what I'd have asked for: near 2.9, nice on the drive and good pickup. Specs:
2.11 3/8
14-15 Grains from Memory, you guys can count if you would like...
Heartwood on RHB Outside Edge
Nice Pickup
Decent edges, haven't measured, I'd guess 24mm...
Boy, after knocking this in, I've seen that this flies. A true gun, so good it'll be my match bat for next year!
A huge thank you to Andy and Mike for this one.
:D
2. Lekka RDX:
This bat is slightly better than your run of the mill RDX, for reasons I shall keep to myself for the time being, but after trying it out in the graden properly just now, I've concluded that it too flies! Broke a tile on someone's roof cause of it, so had to hastily flee..!
2.10.5 I think, thought I haven't acutally weighed it.
15/16 grains
Nice pick up
35mm edges
This,as I've said, travels fast when got right, and the middle seems to be long, which is great for me. Didn't really know how good this was and was considering selling, but I'm thanking my lucky stars I haven't now, as the ping was akin to what I felt with the SAF! I'm not sure how I'm gonna use this bat, as confining it to the nets would be a waste: I think it'll be my midweek/colts and school bat, for next year, and will get some decent reviews of a 10 minute session up next week (January 4th) after my First Winter Net :)
Big thanks to James at Lekka and Sam Peplow for hooking me up with this bat, will definitely consider buying Lekka again ifthe prices are good, as the quality is near enought to Newb Player and SPS willow in my eyes, having used friends bats...
:)
3. H4L 2nd 5 Star:
Bought this one directly off Matt, and I think you guys should be able to spot the reason why it is labelled as a second. It was made to my specs, and Matt did a very good job with a nice and fast turnaround, and in the end, a quality product. Willow is definitely G1, just the cosmetic blemish, and I tried this out briefly, so can't really judge on the performance, though I will keep you updated, as it will be going to a mate for the season (too many bats :( ), so I will see it in use, and probably use it myself a couple of times :D
Specs:
Weight: 2.10
Grains: 8 I think..some are a tad faint..
Heartwood: Some present on the LHB Outside Edge.
32mm edges!
All in all, first impressions are that this is a very good bat. Once fully in its prime, I will be giving this good use in matches, but will keep it for a while yet!! Big Thanks to Matt for his great service and this top bat, though :)
4. Redback Paradox Premier:
I bought this bat off mdl_1979 as he was looking to sell it on to someone who would have more use for it (he already has another paradox), and as soon as I received it, first impressions were great. It had just been refurbed by Gary at Redback, so was as good as new. This is the only bat I have used in Winter Nets, and I will keep it that way, as I think that it is a belter. And a bargain at the price I acquired it for, seeing as it will be reaching its peak sometime this season!!
Specs:
Weight: 2.12
Grains: 16, not all straight, but they look pretty nice, 1/2 blemishes (I believe aesthetics weren't a priority, when ordered).
Edge size: About 24mm, not measured..
Heartwood: RHB Outside Edge, 2-3 Grains of it!
Having used this for a couple of decent 10-15 minute net sessions, I can honestly say that it is a beautiful bat. When you get it right, the ball really does fly, and it picks up very well, with nice balance too. Couple of months ago, I was still using harrows, so I have moved the weight of bat up by about 8+ oz here, and I really couldn't feel it when I was batting on Tuesday: it really did feel like a wand. Getting a couple right out of the screws felt exquisite, and this bat has proven to me that Gary makes some real weapons down in Devon. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pictures of it with a clean face, as I used it, but I think if you dig around you may be able to find some, if that interests you. Big thanks to Mark for selling it to me in the first place, and also to Gary!
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00291.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00290.jpg)
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(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00271.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00270.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00269.jpg)(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00267.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00261.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00260.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00258.jpg)
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(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00329.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00338.jpg)
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(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00325.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00324.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00343.jpg) (Something odd on the toe it seems, opinions?): I am planning to shoe goo it.. :|
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00337.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00336.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00334.jpg)
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Pics and reviews of the other ones to come soon. I'll get proper reviews with performance and feel etc. after Winter Nets and a few matches..
JOhan :D
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Pictures now up, I hope you like them!
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The Lekka and SAF look stunning but the profile of the H4L really catches the eye!
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all looking good mate, Im liking the stickers too!!
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Lovely looking bats! Not a fan of the added stickers though.
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Cheers: I appreciate the stickers are like marmite. Some love them some hate them. Seeing as I sell these stickers, it seems fitting I have some some on my bats. :)
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I'm just old Johan - I like my bats simple and classy!
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No I fully appreciate that, If anything I come from the same school of thought, but I've got to have a way of advertising my products when I'm not on CBF, can then just give the oppo players my contact and get some sales :)
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Nice bats :)
Not enough, but I'm sure you will work on that.
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Cheers Jon: when I'm your age the collection will have grown I'm sure!
Johan
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Nice 3 bats so far. Hope Father Christmas brings you a new camera tho! The bats will appreciate it.
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Cheers and ouch! I was kinda crouching in the snow, and couldn't really hold my balance very well, as you can see. Id be interested if anyone can figure out why my H4L has been described as a '2nd 5 Star' by me?
JOhan
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Those added stickers have ruined the bats, what happened to just good old wood on show?
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Those added stickers have ruined the bats, what happened to just good old wood on show?
I explained it above, not sure whether you saw it, I sell these stickers, not only on the forum, but in perso n, so have to have some kind of merchandise to show them on. They look fine IMO, there are lots of different schools of thought on this one, so I fully understand what you are saying. Who cares about how the bat looks, performance and the batsman are what count!
Johan :)
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Decent sized review of the Lekka now up. Would try the H4L out tomorrow, but dont want to lose another ball in my neighbour's garden, that's 3/4... :(
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Johan, would have to agree with you on uk lekkas. Mine is a beauty too. The english made bats are superb. Don't know about 3he asian ones.
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Yeah I don't Tonk the ball usually, but even the graceful shots I bothered to play were flying. Granted, the distance I hit it into the roof wasn't far, but it was still travelling! :)
UK ones are made by a top UK batmaker Janes has told me, though his identity must remain secret, I don't know..feel free to speculate, but the uk ones are damn good; could be very tempted to take this out with me in a friendly game to see what damage it can do!! I think roco's mate had an Indian made which flew like stink off the middle, so the indian mades aren't that shoddy, I don't think :/
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Review of sorts done on the H4L, got a stunning Redback I hope to have the review completed of by tomorrow, need to do some pictures, maybe on a shagpile rug, in some natural light! :) Again, I will let you know when it's up!
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Updated to include a review of my lovely new Redback! :) Enjoy!
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5. Salix Fera Performance. This was acquired in a trade with Pete Hosking, and it is a nice little bat. I spent £15 getting it cleaned up, and applied a nice Pink Grip (the only one I had spare) as collectively, we had made the grip quite grubby swinging the bat around I guess :)
Weight is just under 2.11, I think 8 Grains, and again about 25mm edges, and a nice profile. Though IMO, the 25mm edges are not Beastly as Salix describe in the centre sticker!!! Enjoy the pics :)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00445.jpg)
(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00439.jpg)
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(http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/johand1963/DSC00434.jpg)
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I love the look of the Salix! I got a Salix Pod 1 through the post this morning, a very nice bats indeed.
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can i ask how much you paid for the salix? Wanted one for about 2 years but ended up with my blueroom and warsop haha
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I love the look of the Salix! I got a Salix Pod 1 through the post this morning, a very nice bats indeed.
Cheers mate. Yours came from Peps I believe. I was really impressed when I got it at 7.30am 2 Tuesdays ago, and thought it deserved a bit of tlc to spruce it up and show it off a bit more! It's a little corker I have to say, some shots were really rebounding well...!!! :)
can i ask how much you paid for the salix? Wanted one for about 2 years but ended up with my blueroom and warsop haha
Ryan, ending up with a BR and a Warsop isn't that bad a result ;) I didn't pay for it, traded about 45 Hammer Edge sheets and 10 Monster Stickers for it, but I would have paid £85 if buying it. A top deal from Pete, if you're ever after a bat, ask him first, as he has some stunners, including a particularly nice Grizzly in 2.7 I almost went for :) - and they're all priced nicely too :)
Hope that answers the questions, really chuffed with the purchases so far, especially the Salix :)