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[Silver Bullet]

My current bat seems like it's in a precarious position and it seems like I'll need to purchase a 2nd bat soon.

As I'm trying to sort through the various custom companies, I'm wondering if the bigger bat makers have access to better willow than the smaller ones ?

I am thinking B3 vs. a red ink cricket.

Thanks

[mattw]

In a short answer - No.

Quantity is the main factor, as a bigger company such as B3 compared to Red Ink - will have more available G1 willow due to the fact that they order more willow. The majority of willow that is supplied directly via Wrights/Kippax etc will come in a range of grades, so there is more chance of getting a 20 grain, blemish free, low density cleft in a bigger order placed by someone like B3, compared to Red Ink.

[Ryan]

I would say generally bigger companies will get a bigger volume of willow and will therefore have access to more top end willow. Having said that if you have a good relation with your willow merchant then it's not that much of a problem as you get to choose from hundreds of clefts in their raw state.

[GarrettJ]

They certainly pass off more g2 as g1 I can tell you that

[Red Ink Cricket]

They certainly pass off more g2 as g1 I can tell you that

Who does?

[GarrettJ]

For starters that Newbery panache sps is not a grade 1 willow

Anything with a knot on the face is not grade 1 yet I see it all the time from the bigger brands.

The smaller brands like Red Ink are much more reliable and sell only true grade 1 in my experience

[Red Ink Cricket]

For starters that Newbery panache sps is not a grade 1 willow

Anything with a knot on the face is not grade 1 yet I see it all the time from the bigger brands.

The smaller brands like Red Ink are much more reliable and sell only true grade 1 in my experience

Thanks. That wasn't me thinking you were aiming that at me, just wondered who. Grading is always a very difficult subject as everyone grades slightly differently. True grade 1s are also harder to get hold of. As such, the suppliers grading changes.

Whilst I dont order in huge numbers of clefts, I am able to get a reasonable supply of clefts from my suppliers