Topic: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions? (Read 8763 times)

thecord · « **on:** July 21, 2011, 02:41:28 PM »

Before joining this forum I was always of the belief that it was pretty much essential to see a bat first hand before purchasing and test the feel/ pickup. Every bat I have owned I have chosen myself either at the manufacturer or retailer. People on here though seem very comfortable with ordering bats online or via the forum sponsers without having got their hands on them first however.
This has left me with a bit of a quandry as I cannot decide whether to:
a) give that a try and order either a Redback or H4L, both of which seem to be praised unanimously
b) go for another M&H which would probably cost considerably more than the above but I could hand pick
c) hand pick something from Asad at Uzi Sports

I guess I am seeking reassurance that buying "blind" is not necessarily a problem.
What do people think?

tim2000s · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:44:23 PM »

Quote from: thecord on July 21, 2011, 02:41:28 PM

Before joining this forum I was always of the belief that it was pretty much essential to see a bat first hand before purchasing and test the feel/ pickup. Every bat I have owned I have chosen myself either at the manufacturer or retailer. People on here though seem very comfortable with ordering bats online or via the forum sponsers without having got their hands on them first however.
This has left me with a bit of a quandry as I cannot decide whether to:
a) give that a try and order either a Redback or H4L, both of which seem to be praised unanimously
b) go for another M&H which would probably cost considerably more than the above but I could hand pick
c) hand pick something from Asad at Uzi Sports

I guess I am seeking reassurance that buying "blind" is not necessarily a problem.
What do people think?

To be fair, it's worked for most of us, although there are a few that have not been completely satisfied.

If you have provided a specification to a batmaker and they have fulfilled it, which is most commonly what happens with those manufacturers, they take a lot of care to deliver you something that you will love. I don't think many of us have had any bats with awful pick up from them.

Red Ink Cricket · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:45:18 PM »

i think with the brands on here you can trust them in delivering the spec you want. I dont have personal experience of this but reading what everyone else has said everyone seems pretty happy.

i guess its always a benefit to be able to select the bat yourself by trawling through a shops stock but doing it this way doesnt open you up to smaller brands who is some cases wipe the floor with the majority of shop stocked brands.

langer17 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:48:57 PM »

You can always visit Matt at H4L too.

thecord · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:55:54 PM »

Quote from: langer17 on July 21, 2011, 02:48:57 PM

You can always visit Matt at H4L too.

Yes I have considered visiting but it is quite a trip from Bristol to Kent!
I think what I may end up doing is a mixture of both i.e. handpick one from Uzi and another from Redback/H4L then put the two to the test.

Canners · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:59:46 PM »

hand pick if you can

pick up is so much more important than dead weight IMO

Canners · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:03:16 PM »

Quote from: thecord on July 21, 2011, 02:55:54 PM

Yes I have considered visiting but it is quite a trip from Bristol to Kent!
I think what I may end up doing is a mixture of both i.e. handpick one from Uzi and another from Redback/H4L then put the two to the test.

If you live in Bristol you should speak to Tom at Ayrtek, i can vouch for the quality of his bats and you can always pick one that you like the feel of in his showroom in Bristol, he's a nice bloke as well

thecord · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:11:55 PM »

Quote from: Canners on July 21, 2011, 03:03:16 PM

If you live in Bristol you should speak to Tom at Ayrtek, i can vouch for the quality of his bats and you can always pick one that you like the feel of in his showroom in Bristol, he's a nice bloke as well

I really should try and pop in there at some stage seeing as I visit a place literally opposite his every month!
Price seems a little bit higher than what I would ideally like to pay though, would like not to break the �200 threshold.

Redback Cricket · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:13:26 PM »

Im in exeter, so only about 45 mins from Bristol.

Lekka Global Alliance · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:15:21 PM »

Quote from: Canners on July 21, 2011, 03:03:16 PM

If you live in Bristol you should speak to Tom at Ayrtek, i can vouch for the quality of his bats and you can always pick one that you like the feel of in his showroom in Bristol, he's a nice bloke as well

Best option of the lot if you live in Bristol and if not happy you can travel further a field.

thecord · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:16:51 PM »

Quote from: Redback Cricket on July 21, 2011, 03:13:26 PM

Im in exeter, so only about 45 mins from Bristol.

Whereabouts are you in Exeter? I go here every fortnight with work so would be very happy to pop in some time.

Simmy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:16:56 PM »

ive baught all my latest bats blind.

they all pick up diffrent but yet they are all grate bats and i can use them all.

the h4l is probs the most perfect for me at the moment! as it has good power size and nice pick up.

the bas is very light but scored 50 with it on sat.

the mnh is massive and is just for smashing for 30 in two overs with it on sunday.

if you have a rough idea of what u want and you trust the bat maker its a good process.

i asked for low middle big edges and slightly bottom heavy and thats wat i got

Redback Cricket · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:20:55 PM »

Quote from: thecord on July 21, 2011, 03:16:51 PM

Whereabouts are you in Exeter? I go here every fortnight with work so would be very happy to pop in some time.

Clyst St. George, about 2 mins away from Exeter Services (junction 30) on the M5

Johnny · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:27:44 PM »

We are called 'Custom Bats'. You can't really pick up a custom bat before you buy it, as it should still be a cleft. It's about knowing what you want from a bat and then finding the right batmaker to deliver what you want. I must admit my only custom bat wasn't what I expected when I received it, but in time I've realised it's pretty much perfect for me. I think part of the custom bat experience is the mystery around what you'll eventually get!

thecord · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2011, 03:33:35 PM »

Quote from: Johnny Firefly on July 21, 2011, 03:27:44 PM

We are called 'Custom Bats'. You can't really pick up a custom bat before you buy it, as it should still be a cleft. It's about knowing what you want from a bat and then finding the right batmaker to deliver what you want. I must admit my only custom bat wasn't what I expected when I received it, but in time I've realised it's pretty much perfect for me. I think part of the custom bat experience is the mystery around what you'll eventually get!

Very true! I guess the key is knowing exactly what you want from a bat and then finding the right man to make it. I am not entirely sure on this as over the last few years I have become quite a back foot dominant player but I think this is part due to the fact that my current bat has a very high middle. Also my home ground used to be quite quick and bouncy but has got slower and lower over the last few years so I probably need something with at least a mid-middle maybe even mid to low.
I like what you say about the mystery factor, a bit like waiting for Christmas!

Author Topic: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions? (Read 8763 times)

thecord

Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

tim2000s

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Red Ink Cricket

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

langer17

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

thecord

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Canners

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Canners

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

thecord

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Redback Cricket

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Lekka Global Alliance

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

thecord

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Simmy

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Redback Cricket

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

Johnny

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?

thecord

Re: Hand picked or order online, what are your opinions?