actually, i played last year for pretty much the first time in over a decade and i seem to be making up for lost time in bat purchasing, the Newb was used last year and has been refaced, the other 4 i've taken delivery of over the last couple of months. A couple of SS ton platinum reserves were my match bats last season. But i do tend to mother my bats anyway and the Newb was a bit special being out of the world cup bin at the chalet, so i was keeping for prosperity or just scared of breaking it or something. The Laver was a replacement for a bat i couldn't get to open up at all, James kindly made me a new one as a replacement ... top service