I ordered three items in the BS Sale, and two out of the three are going back, for various, already discussed reasons. This one however, isn't!
So what have I got here? Well, as the title says, it's a 2lb 8oz, Mongoose CoR3 Super Premium. What a mouthful. But why would you buy one of those, I hear the call going out. In reality, out of morbid fatality. If Mongoose are going to go under (and we don't know that they are yet), I want a piece of the history of one of the most innovative entrants into the Cricket Bat market for years (I've already got a Newb C6+ and a Scoop, and I'd class Mongoose in the same kind of place). So it's really a footnote in the annals of Bat history for me, along with the MMi3 that's hiding around the house somewhere, and is at least one from the original company rather than something that is licensed by other manufacturers following the post-administration rebranding (if it happens). Of course, it might just end up being another bat that gets used should the rumours be completely untrue.
Anyway, rather than be morbid about it, onto the timber. It's a pretty good looking stick, although there are a couple of blemishes on the face of the bat that would mark it as not looking like true grade 1 willow. Having said that, it certainly doesn't look bad. It picks up very well, but that's due to it only weighing 2lb 8oz. It looks like a very large lump of wood, which is of course a good thing. Now having used other bats of a similar shape, I know that these guys love to be brandished aggressively, and I don't think this will be any exception to that rule.
I'm not a massive lover of the CoR3 shape, but it is relatively distinctive, think railway sleeper with a slight ridge. More importantly though, off the mallet it is extremely impressive. Very good rebound, and a very large middle. The bat feels as though you can score runs with it, and lots of them. I'm very pleasantly surprised with how good it feels as an unknocked in piece of willow. I'd suggest it has been pressed very well. Fortunately I didn't rebound test this before the Flare, or the Flare would have been even more disappointing!
Using these shorter blade bats in the middle has led to me wondering whether we will retain the current "standard" blade length or whether we may very well move to this style. The shorter blade allows a greater concentration of mass, and turns punches into much bigger shots when you are out in the middle. You lose some wood from the shoulder area, but effectively, these things give you more bang for your buck. I guess when GM and GN start to make shorter bladed bats, then we really will know the direction. Puma already do it, after all!
To sum up, this is a very nice bat. I know that some people don't like the 'goose style and shape, but I think that the CoR3 is rather under-rated, and although it may end up being a piece of history, it's a bat that I really want to use out on the pitch!
Pics are below...
And for comparison, the Bulldog and Kippax Tyronica shorter blade bats which are also G1 blades, but I'd suggest that the Kippax, weighing in at 2lb 8.5oz has been pressed very, very differently:
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Topic: Barrington Sports Sale Timber No. 2 - Mongoose Super Premium CoR3 (Read 3716 times)