Topic: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!! (Read 3642 times)

Chad · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2016, 12:21:12 PM »

Quote from: mo_town on February 23, 2016, 12:13:41 PM

Is it true that the bats with lots of grains open up quickly but are prone to breakage, and bats with less grains take time to open up but last longer?

It's quite a loose rule I think, generally speaking, more grains = more stiffness so will tend to perform at peak sooner. However the wood is also older, while less grains means the tree was younger, so is more likely to last a bit longer. That's from what I've read, but there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule, since it's a natural product, and you have to take into consideration other external factors, such as the conditions the willow was grown in, and the nutrients etc etc etc. Oh, also any major storms, and whether that specific tree was affected badly!

Chad · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2016, 12:24:43 PM »

Personally, I like straight and evenly spaced grains, be there 6 or 24! Purely aesthetic. As @Alvaro mentioned, I too have had good experiences with bats with pronounced grains, but that could be purely due to luck. I think Mike Hussey is the opposite side of the spectrum, in which he prefers a lighter grain, as he believes it's a sign of 'softer' timber. In the end though, a 6 grainer could outperform an 18 grainer, but all that doesn't matter if you can't hit the ball!

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2016, 12:24:59 PM »

Quote from: mo_town on February 23, 2016, 12:13:41 PM

Is it true that the bats with lots of grains open up quickly but are prone to breakage, and bats with less grains take time to open up but last longer?

Yes the willow is older in clefts with more grains and should open up the thought pattern is the bat won't last as long as a bat made from willow that is not as old there's also less sapwood in older willow.

dt-second-hand-cricket · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2016, 12:33:24 PM »

prefer more than 8 grains, however would never pay 500 quid for a bat!!!! crikey that is a lot of money for a piece of wood, i'd never use it through fear of breaking it!!!!
overall however pick up and balance is the key - if it looks like a piece of crap but goes like the clappers - then a sand and some sticker will cover the ugly bits and i am using it!!!!

InternalTraining · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2016, 12:58:49 PM »

Quote from: Vulcan Cricket on February 23, 2016, 11:14:13 AM

Are you caught up in the great grain race Do you go on grains how many or do you go on price or ping and shape and would you you pay �500 plus for a bat If yes or no say why

No.

I think grain/grading process is very confusing and bat makers have an upper hand over consumers in the bat pricing. I'd rather pay $200-$250 for an ugly bat that performs like a trampoline than $450 + for a pretty, straight grained bat with similar performance.

What determines bat's performance? Grains? Pressing? Both? Why are ugly bats not pressed like Player Grade bats? You see where this is headed.

SirScottiod · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2016, 01:17:12 PM »

Surely if a 6 grain picks up and ping really well it doesn't matter about anything else? I just picked up a £70 Kook with 7 strain grains and it feels lovely and goes like the clappers!! Id only pay £500 for a bat if it magically transformed my ability and put me in the England lineup

:D

sammmyt1 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2016, 01:17:58 PM »

I do like to focus on number and appearance of grains, but mainly location of the middle and weight are important to me. There is no point buying a bat that I am barely going to be able to play a back foot shot with. I would definitely pay �500 for a bat if the right one came about, as they are objects you get attached to, use every week for months on end, and will then keep for years!

jbrommo · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2016, 01:32:12 PM »

Really not fussed by max grains, but really dont like heartwood, so that is my only thing. Generally buy bats on pick up, and never spent more than �200 on a bat!

ppccopener · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2016, 01:42:54 PM »

if someone mentioned to me they were planning to spend �500.00 on a bat at club level I would def try to dissuade them and spend the money on a �200.00 bat and the rest in sessions with someone qualified. No one I know of is good enough to use bats this highly priced.

Personally I was told choose a bat with 8-10 grains, but my current one has 6, and I bought that second hand.

The only thing I really do like is whiter willow as opposed to darker because someone once told me that would be softer and in my experience it is.

Percy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:22:13 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on February 23, 2016, 01:42:54 PM

No one I know of is good enough to use bats this highly priced.

I think we all agree that a 200 bat is probably as good as a 500 bat. Its not about if you are good enough to use a 500 bat its do you want one, are you prepared to pay for it and will it give you pleasure. If you do, you can and it will then why not have one. I think once you get above a certain price point we shouldn't try to equate cost to performance or skill its more about the pleasure you get from owning such a beast. Just a thought

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:31:47 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on February 23, 2016, 01:42:54 PM

if someone mentioned to me they were planning to spend �500.00 on a bat at club level I would def try to dissuade them and spend the money on a �200.00 bat and the rest in sessions with someone qualified. No one I know of is good enough to use bats this highly priced.

Personally I was told choose a bat with 8-10 grains, but my current one has 6, and I bought that second hand.

The only thing I really do like is whiter willow as opposed to darker because someone once told me that would be softer and in my experience it is.

The whiter the willow the more sap therefore softer the darker the willow the less sap or pinkish sapwood in the willow is moving towards heartwood which we know has little or no sap and is harder.

edge · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:58:03 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on February 23, 2016, 01:42:54 PM

The only thing I really do like is whiter willow as opposed to darker because someone once told me that would be softer and in my experience it is.

Buuuuut... why do you want a softer bat?

Author Topic: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!! (Read 3642 times)

Chad

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

Chad

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

Seniorplayer

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

dt-second-hand-cricket

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

InternalTraining

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SirScottiod

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

sammmyt1

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jbrommo

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ppccopener

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

Percy

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

Seniorplayer

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!

edge

Re: Are you caught up in the great grain race !!!!