I emailed Marcus a month or so ago after seeing some video reviews of his Carbine and Spectre bats. The branding was fresh and the bats looked porn but what really attracted me were the absolute glowing reports of the bats performances! A LOT of bats get glowing reviews about how well they ping but I'm sure that some manufacturers must send a select couple of bats that go like cannons where the rest of the bats we actually get to purchase are a bit more "average", shall I say? I was very impressed with Marcus's decision to limit each of his three main profiles to a total production run of 50 bats and a run of 20 bats for his Toro profile. By publicly stating his maximum number of bats he can make, I felt I had a better chance of getting the "true Test players bat" I have always wanted. Living in Australia, I have had the pleasure of watching Julian Millichamp hand craft 3 bats for me, I've had 2 L&W Signatures, a Puma Black Edition and a White Edition, a Saf Hades, several M&H Ampluses (Ampli?)
and Distinctions, and 2 Salix Pod Players (I just can't bond with flat-faced bats for some reason), so I know a quality product when I see it.
Marcus and I emailed back and forth for a few days (he must be a very patient bloke!), and he came across as someone out there that had the guts to put his money where his mouth was and start his own business. He saw that there was an opening in the marketplace for a premium podshaver that can offer people service that they have never recieved before, and boy, does he deliver! After lengthy discussions via email, Marcus came back with a recommendation of his new Ayrtek Edition bat and now, having received it yesterday, can honestly say he really listened and delivered!
The whole process from ordering to the courier he used (UPS) to the product he delivered was, by far, the best I have EVER recieved.
I was just another "Joe Public" when I ordered and paid: I didn't make promises of glowing reviews and U Tube clips etc. I was just some random off the street that bought a bat off him so there was no inducement for him do anything special but he did. And I believe this is the service he offers everyone that deals with him because he "gets" what we on this forum want.
Onto the bat: WOW! I don't really care about grains but must admit I do like the look of them, and this turned up with 19 ruler straight grains, about 50% heartwood and a sheen from the polishing that would do a Ferrari proud. It weighs around 2.12 but that may settle a little after its trans-Atlantic journey, has an oval handle with a black combo grip and picks up like a dream. I've given her a couple of light coats of oil and have started to lightly round and bone the edges in preparation for its full-on knocking in starting tomorrow. I've tapped it up with a hardwood mallet and bounced a ball on it and must say, this thing is the Real Deal! It goes like a cannon and will only get better with more knocking in. I can't wait to get her to the nets and see how she sings at full steam.
I've seen some comments about the price of these bats but can truly say, hand on heart, this is worth every cent and more! This is a top-end bat and performs like it too. We all love bats on CBF, and we are spoilt for choice but Affinity is a brand created from the ground up by a guy with a dream to be the best and offer the best to ALL of his clients.
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Topic: Affinity Ayrtek Edition (Read 5381 times)