Selecting a bat
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SAF Bats

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Selecting a bat
« on: June 04, 2008, 04:39:14 PM »

Thought I'd pose a few questions on here about selecting bat.... [sorry this maybe a bit long winded]

This is what I do:

Go in pick as many as I can in my price range and a few below my price range 
Test them out for pickup and feel when swinging it
Test them for ping
Never worry about actual weight or looks or make?
You'd be surpised how many are bought at a lower then you would have expected and how ugly some are!!!!   ;D

Do any of you take a mallet or ask for one to test the bat in shop?

Not being cheeky here but could you tell a good bat from a bat then may perform well after knocking in?

When picking out do you disregread the one's you think don't look good without testing them?

Do you ask for scales and weigh the bat?
Or Is it just on pickup alone?

---------------------------------

When buying online do your view's change...

Are you solely interested in getting a good looking bat at the right weight?

If a bat maker / retailer told you a 2lb 11oz bat picked up like a 2lb 9oz or a bat may have some blemishes but goes like a rocket would you trust him/her?
« Last Edit: June 04, 2008, 04:42:52 PM by Norbair »
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Tom

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2008, 05:09:31 PM »

I'd go to the most expensive & highly rated bat in the shop (or even better bring my own  :)), whack it a few times with a mallet/ball. Then I'll carry that bat around with me whilst I look at the other bats, I'll use the mallet on other cheaper bats I'm interested in purchasing and try to replicate the sound & rebound from the top of the line bat. When I've got 9-10 that are really nice bats, pick them all up.

Some I will disregard straight away due to weight but I'll try find one that feels nice in the hands. If I can't find any that feel nice, I'll walk away and try another shop. As there's no point having a nice pinging bat if you can't swing it!

Finally I look at the willow, straight grains, no heartwood.

I just do it on pickup really rather than weight. And online I'll go to someone who can send bat pics prior to ordering, and then choose one which looks the nicest.

I wouldn't trust a retailer saying that but I'd trust most batmakers, as to them their reputation is important.
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sammyboy

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2008, 05:36:01 PM »

When I pick a bat in the shop, the main thing I look for is pick up and feel, I then look at ping, not to bothered about grains, balance and feel is more important
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Howzat

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2008, 05:59:49 PM »

I dont mind if grains are terrible as long as it pings. I take a mallet to the shop and get told off by the stupid guy in VKS! He keeps forcing £300 bats into my hands - i dont like to tell him i probably know more  8)

I wouldnt trust an online retailer as i know most of them are just there to make quick cash. I would trust a batmaker like Tom said though...one false statement can ruin a business  :P
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Changy

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2008, 07:26:17 PM »

I dont mind if grains are terrible as long as it pings. I take a mallet to the shop and get told off by the stupid guy in VKS! He keeps forcing £300 bats into my hands - i dont like to tell him i probably know more  8)

I wouldnt trust an online retailer as i know most of them are just there to make quick cash. I would trust a batmaker like Tom said though...one false statement can ruin a business  :P

That guy was quiet when I was around. Didnt even ask if I needed help! lol :P

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stevie

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2008, 08:00:27 PM »

Pick  up is the most important thing for me. the weight doesn't matter to me as long as it feels good and goes. Ping is the ultimate though as it's no use having a beauty of a bat to pick up and it hasn't got any life in it.
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Johnny

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Re: Selecting a bat
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2008, 08:11:32 AM »

Pick up used to be the main thing I'd look for - my last 2 bats have been ordered directly from small companies, so I didn't get chance to visit and pick up any bats - I told them the specs I needed and trusted them to deliver the goods - both bats have been fine
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