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[Kulli]

I think all od those could be answered with 'it depends on the particular bats in question'

[Red Ink Cricket]

following on from the quantum willow link, how do you bleach a bat? that may be a stupid question and if it is im sorry but does it have to be redried or is it a case you rub bleach onto the surface as if your oiling the bat? dont worry no going to get the domestos out just wondered how it worked

[TheBoyLegend]

I think it would be nice to hear the opinions of some of our custom bat makers on this thread as I would be really interested on thier thoughts re grading of willow

The 3 star bat I have recently recieved and used from H4L goes like a gun and If I'm being truly honest I wasnt expecting it to perform as well as it does.... and this set me thinking Why is that? why wouldnt it perform as well as it does? My reasoning i think is because of past experience with "Big Brands" lower grade willow and how that performs.

So thats why I think it would be worth one of those guys giving us a rundown on their grading systems

[19reading87]

Good news mate so your 3 star is a top bat?

[TheBoyLegend]

Honest to god mate its Legendary I've been so shocked by it (even to the point I m starting to bore myself by how much I'm going on about it!!)
Matt really does make a spot on Bat!

[19reading87]

Lol that's quality mate. Big runs with it?

[jonpinson]

I think it would be nice to hear the opinions of some of our custom bat makers on this thread as I would be really interested on thier thoughts re grading of willow

The 3 star bat I have recently recieved and used from H4L goes like a gun and If I'm being truly honest I wasnt expecting it to perform as well as it does.... and this set me thinking Why is that? why wouldnt it perform as well as it does? My reasoning i think is because of past experience with "Big Brands" lower grade willow and how that performs.

So thats why I think it would be worth one of those guys giving us a rundown on their grading systems

In reality I'd say you are pretty unlikely to get a batmaker commenting on this thread. After all, they're not going come out and say that their cheapest bat may well go as well as their most expensive...and you can't blame them.

'Grading' is something of a smokescreen to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me if some makers grade both ways:- 'it's grade 1 because it looks good' and then when all the pretty wood has run out 'it's grade 1 because it goes well'. Thus enabling almost the entire delivery of willow (normally made up of a mixture of grades 1-4) to be graded as top grade in one way or another. There is at least one maker who only seems to deal with ugly willow, yet justify their very high prices by claiming unparalleled performance.

[TheBoyLegend]

In reality I'd say you are pretty unlikely to get a batmaker commenting on this thread. After all, they're not going come out and say that their cheapest bat may well go as well as their most expensive...and you can't blame them.

'Grading' is something of a smokescreen to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me if some makers grade both ways:- 'it's grade 1 because it looks good' and then when all the pretty wood has run out 'it's grade 1 because it goes well'. Thus enabling almost the entire delivery of willow (normally made up of a mixture of grades 1-4) to be graded as top grade in one way or another. There is at least one maker who only seems to deal with ugly willow, yet justify their very high prices by claiming unparalleled performance.

That's kind of a cynical view JP and I'm hoping that at least 1 of the bat makers on here would be willing to give us all an insight as to the "kinds of things" they use to measure their grading I'm not expecting them to reveal any Magicians circle stuff here but I think it would be interesting to get a smaller brands view on it as I personally feel from experience that a lower grade custom made bat from a boutique company tends to be of a higher quality than those of the equivalent larger brands offerings.

I would especially believe that one of our illustrious brands on here would like to retort your slanderous comments RE: upgrading willow due to amount of stock!!? 

[TheBoyLegend]

Oh and I have always been a little wary of a certain brands performance only grading system? as I have seen at least one of their top of the line bats that was awful (the owner had convinced himself that it was a stunner but then you would when youve spent just shy of 300 quid on a stick)

[TheBoyLegend]

Lol that's quality mate. Big runs with it?

50 not out with it at the weekend 36 of them coming of 12 balls!! (I got a bit carried away with how the ball was flying off the bat!!)

but still gotta say its a cracker!!! and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sorry bored myself!! lol

[Vic Nicholas]

I can share with people here my trick of bleaching willow so your used bats can be returned to brand new condition.

It is easier and cheaper than anybody thinks and it works perfectly.

[Red Ink Cricket]

go for it! hows it done?

[Vic Nicholas]

It is a piece of piss.

You know that stuff you can buy from the supermarket to spray onto carpet stains?

It turns white and powdery and sits on your carpet - when you vacuum it away, your carpet stains have been removed.

Well...you can spray it onto your willow - leave it over night, then wipe/dust it off and WHALLA - your willow looks whiter than ever and sensational.

WARNING: Cover your bat stickers with masking tape as it can bleach them too!

Also, never spray directly onto the splice as it may loosen glue.

I do it all the time and my older bats are rejuvenated.

[Red Ink Cricket]

How did you come across doing that? ive got a old GM radius thats been in the garage for years. may give it a go on that and see how it works. which brand spray do u use?

[Vic Nicholas]

How did you come across doing that? ive got a old GM radius thats been in the garage for years. may give it a go on that and see how it works. which brand spray do u use?

All the carpet stain remover sprays work.

Shake the can...hold about 20cms away and spray away!

Leave it on over night.

I usually sand first to get surface stains off and then I spray.

Magnifico!