Suggestions for bat collection
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sachin200

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #30 on: August 27, 2017, 05:12:40 AM »

As with many of you, after spending a month reading this forum, I think I’ve acquired the malaise of wanting to buy more and more bats, more bats that I will ever use in a lifetime (or do the bats justice and score mountains of runs) but still, the bug to possess a handmade English bat of each maker is too strong.  Some of these brands even use the same bat maker and yet, I want one of each.

So, I did the right thing and first admitted that I have a problem (of sorts).  I came clean to my missus and she seems supportive – she said your money, you do what you please – then she says, just get me an iMac and a Louis Vuitton bag and we’ll call it even (still negotiating on this).  She also suggested that perhaps since I’m turning 40 this year, I’m experiencing a mid-life crisis and perhaps I feel like collecting some toys.

So I decide to embrace the madness, we put a budget on it and she’s given me permission to indulge as long as it’s within the budget and once I’m done, I really AM done.
In order to increase the number of bats I can buy, I’m more than happy to compromise on grade.  I’m happy with Grade 2 or Grade 3 as long as performance is good and it pings like a trampoline.

My absolute required specs – no compromise:
1.   Full, convex profile -absolutely no concaving
2.   Mid or low-mid sweet spot
3.   Fully dressed weight (with grip, toe guard but without scuff sheet) – between 2lb 8oz to 2lb 10oz.
4.   More wood in the hitting area – so don’t mind slightly shorter blades and more wood taken out of shoulder and toe (duck-billing for example).
5.   Cost – preferably below £200.00

I’m hoping to make a priority purchase list in that order.  I hope you guys will indulge me and perhaps help with the order or offer comments on bats, makers, acquisition strategy (direct to maker or use an agent such as IJC, TCB – custom shape or off the shelf shape), your personal purchase experience with the maker, etc.  So without further ado, let’s get to the purchase list.

Purchase list:
1.   B1 Blank Bat – Performance grade
I already have a B1 in the Players Grade but want another one.  I’m thinking of using the hand-picked option of IJC.

2.   Hunts Caerulex – Already have a Super Selected custom one, so this is crossed off the list

3.   Phantom Bats – Custom Dark Edition profile or Custom Illusion fuller profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

4.   Garrard & Flack – Stock Original

5.   Aldred – Butterfly (not sure which profile has low or mid-middle which can be made in a fuller version)

6.   Salix Pod – Alba or Selected grade
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

7.   H4L – not sure shape which is the full profile

8.   B3 – 1 stripe (again, not sure which profile is full)

9.   Chase Finback R4
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

10.   XX Cricket bat – not sure of which profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

11.   A Robert Pack bat

12.   JEDI bat – a James Dollive bat
Perhaps using TCB’s custom option

13.   Ryan Kelsall

14.   Red Ink

15.   Vulcan Bat

16.   Helygen Bat

17.   Redwood

18.   Charlie French

19.   Elite cricket

20.   Choice cricket bat

21.   Mighty willow bat

22.   Black cat

23.   Charlie French

24.   Vyper bats

25.   Python bats

Honourable mentions (either because of cost or lack of knowledge of maker):  Bulldog Cricket, Affinity Bats, Solitaire Cricket Bats, Heritage Cricket, Titan Cricket, Aedos Cricket, Woodstock Bats, Pryzm Cricket Bats, Willostix Bats, Fat Bats, Wombat Cricket, Mars Cricket, Duncan Fearnley, Redback Cricket, Hawk Cricket, Bear Cricket, Stallionz Cricket, Affinity Bats, Vantage Cricket

Go for Laver and Wood's classic profile.
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BatGoonMcClintock

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #31 on: August 28, 2017, 12:24:53 PM »

Don't really get the idea of having lots of identical spec bats with different stickers, surely variety is the spice of life? :) Quantity over quality wouldn't be my thing either but hey

In the interest of being helpful ( :) ) how about Kippax? Already kind of have one on your list though it might be nice since they are one of the few with their own wood

@DorsetDan I'm not sure I'm buying low quality bats, I'm buying lower grade bats but then, as I understand, looks don't matter for bats, do they, as long as I'm choosing good bat makers.  And there is a subtle difference in the shapes, I've been speaking to some of the makers and decided to go for some lower middle bats as well.  Haven't really gone for a higher middle bat as the pitches I play on rarely offer high bounce and mid-middle bats I have currently are perfectly good for pulls and cuts.

34 keep them in a dry clean garage out of there sleeves so the willow can breathe  they are all in an excellent  clean condition bats are checked and played around with most days ball marks scuffs are cleaned off toes are checked  dryness and ping  checked etc.

@Seniorplayer Nice, I may stop with 10 for this season and then slowly acquire the rest over the next few seasons.  I usually let my bats breathe after a game and then put them in their covers.  I'm still amazed at how soft willow is and how easily they acquire an impression of something pressing against them, particularly on the back.  Already my new bats have some assorted impressions on them besides seam marks, oh well, the best way to avoid marks is to never take them out of the covers and store them alone.

I have been through this stage and am now almost over it. This is a dangerous hobby unless you have lots of free funds available.

Agreed, I think I will stop at 8-10 for this season and slowdown and digest them (figuratively speaking of course) and slowly acquire the rest over the next few seasons.

Sounds like me. Though I keep them in their covers and in the house. I sand, oil and rescuff them all at the end of each season, and wash the grips through the season every couple of weeks.
They are all important to me and kept in as pristine a condition as possible.

@Gurujames It's amazing how I don't want to sell or throw away any of my bats, they are all important.  I've removed all the stickers from the back of my bats, so they are easy to sand and oil and keep as pristine and possible.  They should always be ready for use if my fancy catch it.

only two things i give a stuff about ... my fishing gear and my cricket gear .
i have 36 fishing rods (all get used regularly ) and about 17 bats (some get used , some are in the queue ).
look after your gear like its the most precious thing in your life. and buy heaps of it if it makes you happy .
i dont relate to buying a stack of lower grade , same profile bats (think i would just collect stickers myself) , but if it is exciting for you , stuff the rest of us and indulge in your fancy !

@Biggie Smalls I've found that whatever grade bat you buy, they all acquire the same colour within a few months use from oiling and ball marks.  So I'm not too fussed on looks, just want good performing bats from good batmakers.

Go for Laver and Wood's classic profile.

@sachin200 Very tempting indeed but I will go for one only after I've got my fill of UK made bats...perhaps within the next few seasons.
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BatGoonMcClintock

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #32 on: August 28, 2017, 12:42:31 PM »

I have short-listed the next 4-5 bats I will buy and unfortunately, that's all the missus budget will allow.  I must say that I've been mighty impressed by the customer service of 3 of them thus far, one in particular.  I will post a more detailed review once I've received my bats over the next 4-6 weeks hopefully.
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sachin200

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #33 on: August 28, 2017, 01:13:44 PM »

As with many of you, after spending a month reading this forum, I think I’ve acquired the malaise of wanting to buy more and more bats, more bats that I will ever use in a lifetime (or do the bats justice and score mountains of runs) but still, the bug to possess a handmade English bat of each maker is too strong.  Some of these brands even use the same bat maker and yet, I want one of each.

So, I did the right thing and first admitted that I have a problem (of sorts).  I came clean to my missus and she seems supportive – she said your money, you do what you please – then she says, just get me an iMac and a Louis Vuitton bag and we’ll call it even (still negotiating on this).  She also suggested that perhaps since I’m turning 40 this year, I’m experiencing a mid-life crisis and perhaps I feel like collecting some toys.

So I decide to embrace the madness, we put a budget on it and she’s given me permission to indulge as long as it’s within the budget and once I’m done, I really AM done.
In order to increase the number of bats I can buy, I’m more than happy to compromise on grade.  I’m happy with Grade 2 or Grade 3 as long as performance is good and it pings like a trampoline.

My absolute required specs – no compromise:
1.   Full, convex profile -absolutely no concaving
2.   Mid or low-mid sweet spot
3.   Fully dressed weight (with grip, toe guard but without scuff sheet) – between 2lb 8oz to 2lb 10oz.
4.   More wood in the hitting area – so don’t mind slightly shorter blades and more wood taken out of shoulder and toe (duck-billing for example).
5.   Cost – preferably below £200.00

I’m hoping to make a priority purchase list in that order.  I hope you guys will indulge me and perhaps help with the order or offer comments on bats, makers, acquisition strategy (direct to maker or use an agent such as IJC, TCB – custom shape or off the shelf shape), your personal purchase experience with the maker, etc.  So without further ado, let’s get to the purchase list.

Purchase list:
1.   B1 Blank Bat – Performance grade
I already have a B1 in the Players Grade but want another one.  I’m thinking of using the hand-picked option of IJC.

2.   Hunts Caerulex – Already have a Super Selected custom one, so this is crossed off the list

3.   Phantom Bats – Custom Dark Edition profile or Custom Illusion fuller profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

4.   Garrard & Flack – Stock Original

5.   Aldred – Butterfly (not sure which profile has low or mid-middle which can be made in a fuller version)

6.   Salix Pod – Alba or Selected grade
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

7.   H4L – not sure shape which is the full profile

8.   B3 – 1 stripe (again, not sure which profile is full)

9.   Chase Finback R4
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

10.   XX Cricket bat – not sure of which profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.

11.   A Robert Pack bat

12.   JEDI bat – a James Dollive bat
Perhaps using TCB’s custom option

13.   Ryan Kelsall

14.   Red Ink

15.   Vulcan Bat

16.   Helygen Bat

17.   Redwood

18.   Charlie French

19.   Elite cricket

20.   Choice cricket bat

21.   Mighty willow bat

22.   Black cat

23.   Charlie French

24.   Vyper bats

25.   Python bats

Honourable mentions (either because of cost or lack of knowledge of maker):  Bulldog Cricket, Affinity Bats, Solitaire Cricket Bats, Heritage Cricket, Titan Cricket, Aedos Cricket, Woodstock Bats, Pryzm Cricket Bats, Willostix Bats, Fat Bats, Wombat Cricket, Mars Cricket, Duncan Fearnley, Redback Cricket, Hawk Cricket, Bear Cricket, Stallionz Cricket, Affinity Bats, Vantage Cricket

@Gurujames have you seen the old Millichamp and Hall original low shape? I think it is called MH96 now. It may very well be the lowest middle bat of all time. I have one myself bought in 2011. Though I have heard that their quality is deteriorating since they moved production over to Asia.
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Gurujames

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #34 on: August 28, 2017, 05:41:50 PM »

Yes, I see these every week as I play in somerset. Their performance is excellent though the number of cracked toes I have seen is u accepable.
I also used to play with someone close to the company and I can confirm that their customer service is not great.
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BatGoonMcClintock

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Re: Suggestions for bat collection
« Reply #35 on: August 28, 2017, 07:06:06 PM »

Yes, I see these every week as I play in somerset. Their performance is excellent though the number of cracked toes I have seen is u accepable.
I also used to play with someone close to the company and I can confirm that their customer service is not great.

@Gurujames , @sachin200 Two reasons why Millichamp & Hall didn't make my list - the provenance of the bat making is unknown and customer service, from what I've researched, isn't the greatest.
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