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[97 n.o.]

I spoke to Pro-direct about 6 weeks back about the same bat as it seemed a good deal. I asked them if they could be more specific about the weight as the medium is 2.10-2.12 I think and I wanted a 2.10. I got an email reply to say they didn't actually have the bat in stock and it was a 'order by demand' item so they couldn't give me a weight nor could I specify a specific weight when ordering.

They were going to order one and let me know what the weight was but I never heard anything back

I did the same, got in touch to see what weights they had and whether i could get a specific one (2'12) and the guy on the phone sounded like i'd just ordered a pizza from him. Didn't have a clue.

[Blazer]

I apologise for bringing up an old topic but are these M & H Original high concaved or fairly traditional ?. I have never seen them in flesh . Many Thanks .

[Percy_Grainger]

Hi, I have a M&H which I had made to order last year.  Its a G2 but the quality of willow is quite good with about 8-9 straight grains.  First the finish - its not as slick as you might find a GN, Slazenger or GM bat in that the sanding and surface finish isn't immaculate.  But then you can clearly see its hand made and hence the finish isn't machine like.  Secondly the shape - the bat is quite traditional and the middle is quite high.  Its not much bowed on the face and the spine is not concave at all.  The face is slightly curved and the edges are quite traditional and not as thick as you might find with a GN or other modern bats.  The bottom of the handle is slightly oval shaped but not too much.  Thirdly, the pick up - the bat doesn't pick up the lightest despite its having exactly the same shape as the Harlequin.  In fact the Harlequin and the Original are the same bats except the Harlequin is a grade 1 and not a grade 2 willow.  My Original was spec'd as a 2.8 but it picks up more like a 2.9 -2.10.  But it is well balanced overall.  Last but not least, the performance - the ping off the middle is unbelievable and this alone is what makes this bat worth buying.  I knocked mine in for just under 2 hours and took into the nets.  The sound and feel off the middle is staggeringly good.  Having such a high middle does mean that back foot shots hit off the bottom of the bat does feel dead but then thats normal of any bat.  The bat is ideal for playing on the front foot and hitting the ball on the rise or for those who like to play cross bat shots.  All in all I would recommend it but please make sure you want a bat with a high middle!  Last thing I would mention is the grip and toe guard quality.  My toe guard fell off within facing 4-5 balls and I think the glue used to apply it was just cheap and weak.  The grip itself is pretty thin and not of good quality. But then again I think you are buying for the ping and the special pressing they give the bat which I understand is what makes the bat perform so well.

[langer17]

I spoke to Pro-direct about 6 weeks back about the same bat as it seemed a good deal. I asked them if they could be more specific about the weight as the medium is 2.10-2.12 I think and I wanted a 2.10. I got an email reply to say they didn't actually have the bat in stock and it was a 'order by demand' item so they couldn't give me a weight nor could I specify a specific weight when ordering.

They were going to order one and let me know what the weight was but I never heard anything back

That just sounds silly. If they didn't have any and order them by demand, surely they could say 'can you please send us one that weighs 2lb 10oz's (or whatever weight you are after)'. There is no logic to order by demand, but then don't order what the person is after.