Have used a Bas 20/20 belonging to a forum member very recently and was very impressed with it. In fact I scored a fair few runs with it so i've added it to my personal list of bats to own! I have no experience of the gladiator but I sorted out an SS LE for my brother a couple of months back and that flies too. Both bats were handpicked originally though. The Bas was a pro bat and the SS was handpicked out of the factory by a forum member so they were both always going to be pretty good. Off the shelf I would be a little careful as the consistency of the asian brands, whilst improving all the time is still a bit up and down! Some great ones, some not so great.