Topic: Pro Bats (Read 21201 times)

Vic Nicholas · « **Reply #75 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:13:15 PM »

Quote from: peplow on October 13, 2011, 12:09:37 PM

I do not think he intended too, they are definately not the same people.

I believe you.

Just got taken in by his response.

It's all good.

tim2000s · « **Reply #76 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:16:04 PM »

Quote from: Buzz on October 13, 2011, 12:07:38 PM

I am growing a rhubarb plant - with the specific intention of ensuring it has enough ping for Geoffrey's Mum - it is looking good at the moment, but a bit young...

Like! I have some Pro Rhubarb in my Garden. Three trees worth. It will make at least 8 sticks to play. Anyone want a Pro Rhubarb Stick? Geoffrey would use them, let alone his mum!

uknsaunders · « **Reply #77 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:21:45 PM »

stock image off google, probably kashmir rhubarb.

tim2000s · « **Reply #78 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:22:26 PM »

Quote from: uknsaunders on October 13, 2011, 12:21:45 PM

stock image off google, probably kashmir rhubarb.

That's Canadian Rhubarb, if I am not wrong...

Vic Nicholas · « **Reply #79 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:22:43 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on October 12, 2011, 01:44:57 PM

interesting thread..not sure where this 'a pro cricketer chooses from 100 clefts then sits there all day while the bat is made' rubbish comes from.
It's completley untrue.

If you are going to slam me, at least get what I wrote right rather than making it up as you go along.

I did not say that ALL pros sit there and watch their bats being made - that is tosh.

But some pros - like Strauss - quite often DO sit around and watch a bat being made for them.

Did I say anywhere that that makes the bat better? No.

It was merely in response to a number of posts in this thread which clearly stated that "pros don't care where their bats come from" etc.

I even provided a quote which supports my claim that some pros - including Strauss and Ramprakash - DO care where/how/by whom their bats are made.

peplow · « **Reply #80 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:23:03 PM »

Quote from: tim2000s on October 13, 2011, 12:16:04 PM

Like! I have some Pro Rhubarb in my Garden. Anyone want a Pro Rhubarb Stick?

I would like to purchase 2, as long as you promise to rip me off and tell me which pro this would have been going too and pinging for

...

Vic Nicholas · « **Reply #81 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:40:15 PM »

http://www.grays-int.com/news/201101-CKT2.aspx

No-one in the factory � perhaps even the country � has crafted bats for more cricket heroes than master bat maker John Gasson.

It is his 49th year at Gray-Nicolls and Mr Gasson rattles off the list of players he has worked with: "Strauss, Cookie, David Gower, Mark Ramprakash, Nasser Hussain, lots of the Indian players and many, many others."

Strauss, he says, is the only one he has not met, because he was on holiday.

But some of the others have stood over his shoulder in the workshop, watching every move as he balances and shapes the bat to perfection.

"It's much more demanding than when I started," he said.

"Mark Ramprakash was quite fussy. But Nasser Hussain was the worst, I think."

tim2000s · « **Reply #82 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:42:19 PM »

Quote from: peplow on October 13, 2011, 12:23:03 PM

I would like to purchase 2, as long as you promise to rip me off and tell me which pro this would have been going too and pinging for ...

Well, if you want the stuff that the general public never get their hands on, the Ultra Lightweight Pro sticks, it'll cost you... I've got a couple ready for Geoff's mum, but if you get in with the right price, I can redirect them to you instead!

Tom · « **Reply #83 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:43:32 PM »

Strauss obviously isn't too bothered, otherwise he'd have turned up when the batmaker was around!

petehosk · « **Reply #84 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:45:42 PM »

Tim - I would like one of the pro sticks with a huge sweet spot (especially when mixed with custard)

And Vic - We can all believe what a fussy git Hussain would be!!

Kulli · « **Reply #85 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:48:19 PM »

Am I missing some sort of link between the odd pro watching his bat being made, and 'Pro bats' being miles better than off the shelf bats?

Vic Nicholas · « **Reply #86 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:49:41 PM »

http://www.pitchvision.com/what-can-be-learned-about-batting-from-a-bat-maker-with-50-years-experience

I bet the last bat you bought didn�t get quite so much personal attention as John gives the stars.

When he hears a player is coming to get some bats he gets to work making up 12 bats. That takes about a day�s work. He used to be able to produce around 100 a day but the modern trend for thick edges and a big �bow� in the blade (the curve you see along the face of modern bats) means it takes longer to press the wood and he has slowed down.

The players will come in and try the bats out, picking the 4 they like best before John finishes the job.

Some players will be happy with what he has done while others are very picky, coming back 2 or 3 times to ask for an ounce or even a half ounce to be shaved off to get that perfect balance.

John doesn�t mind, it�s their livelihood after all. It has to be right.

Tom · « **Reply #87 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:54:11 PM »

Yes Vic, it appears you're discovering what I posted only a couple of pages back. That some are picky, some are not.

Quote from: Tom on October 13, 2011, 07:20:25 AM

This thread could run it's course very soon, but my final thoughts are below:

Pros are firstly human, they have different demands and are as susceptible to trends and fads as us. They don't all visit the factories. Some do, majority don't. Some send in bat templates, others will just use anything.

A top batmaker will buy one type of willow - English Willow. Of which there's 24 or so grades. Some willow is naturally lighter. Some will perform better. Some is perfect looking. Some has stains all over. There isn't Test Player willow and Standard Willow. There's just willow.

As such it's possible to pick up a top test level performing bat on the shelf, as easily as it is to pick up the deadest piece of willow. The main difference between shop and pro is that the pro has his bats 'screened' before getting them and if they want lots of grains they'll get lots of grains but rest assured it'll perform. They get quality 99% of the time. But if you choose carefully, so can you.

Find out the bat profile which suits you. Find a bat which picks up nicely. Then choose one with a decent rebound and you won't go far wrong. Guys like Hell4Leather and Redback offer bat copying and bat making watching if you're that way inclined - but watching them make a bat won't make it any perform any better. It may help them make something which suits you though.

Vic Nicholas · « **Reply #88 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:21:40 PM »

Quote

As such it's possible to pick up a top test level performing bat on the shelf, as easily as it is to pick up the deadest piece of willow. The main difference between shop and pro is that the pro has his bats 'screened' before getting them and if they want lots of grains they'll get lots of grains but rest assured it'll perform. They get quality 99% of the time. But if you choose carefully, so can you.

That was the point I was making from the very start.

I have produced photos and quotes to back up my assertions.

Others here blast me, yet produce no evidence other than to personally attack me.

It's truly funny how this thread has gone from "no players watch their bats being made" to "some players watch their bats being made" after I produced uncontestable evidence that some pedantic international stars do watch at least part of the bat making process.

Clear back tracking by those who can offer nothing to the debate other than attacking me, yet conversely, someone said I was the one who is "bonkers" and had been "called out".

Argumentum ad hominem is alive and well in this forum.

Kulli · « **Reply #89 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:33:22 PM »

Quote from: Vic Nicholas on October 13, 2011, 01:21:40 PM

"no players watch their bats being made"

Whoever said that.

It was you who said

Quote from: Vic Nicholas on October 12, 2011, 12:48:38 PM

I have in my hands a bat with 35mm edges and weighing in at 2.8.

That my friends is a pro bat.

Did a pro watch it being made, if not, then what exactly is your point?

Author Topic: Pro Bats (Read 21201 times)

Vic Nicholas

Re: Pro Bats

tim2000s

Re: Pro Bats

uknsaunders

Re: Pro Bats

tim2000s

Re: Pro Bats

Vic Nicholas

Re: Pro Bats

peplow

Re: Pro Bats

Vic Nicholas

Re: Pro Bats

tim2000s

Re: Pro Bats

Tom

Re: Pro Bats

petehosk

Re: Pro Bats

Kulli

Re: Pro Bats

Vic Nicholas

Re: Pro Bats

Tom

Re: Pro Bats

Vic Nicholas

Re: Pro Bats

Kulli

Re: Pro Bats