Print

[ppccopener]

well said dan spot on

we should be proud and encourage UK batmakers. anyone who starts out on their own has my admiration for sure

[Tom]

Agree to a certain degree, I'll support the batmakers who I believe are in it for the love of the game and batmaking as an art. Not purely for the marketing aspect (this is a general post, not a Woodstock related one).

It's easy to get a CNC'd cleft, spend 30 mins sanding and twining it and call yourself a batmaker. I know, I've tried it. Taking your time to understand what makes a bat perform, where a middle should be positioned and how to best use a piece of willow is what the real art is, that is something that deserves the respect and admiration.

[Dan W]

Agree to a certain degree, I'll support the batmakers who I believe are in it for the love of the game and batmaking as an art. Not purely for the marketing aspect.

It's easy to get a CNC'd cleft, spend 30 mins sanding and twining it and call yourself a batmaker. I know, I've tried it. Taking your time to understand what makes a bat perform, where a middle should be positioned and how to best use a piece of willow is what the real art is, that is something that deserves the respect and admiration.

Define 'purely for marketing'? Is it an ego thing to want to be (called a) 'podshaver'? It's not like it's a shortcut to riches.

Granted there are types like Norbs that go all Heston about batmaking, and deem a new level of kudos, but I think it's a touch mean to dig someone out if they don't disclose fully the history of their production line, and to pass off their experience so casually.

[Tom]

IMO claiming to be a batmaker is a brand reputation thing. It improves the customers feeling of personalisation and quality control.

I do have time for those batmakers who do outsource - to keep up with demand.

[Dan W]

Sure...I suppose I'd personally let it go on the basis that a) A good bat is a good bat, b) the outsourced part is in (very) good hands and c) to cut the guy some slack.

At the end of the day if we knew the mechanics of most things we purchase we'd probably feel as a consumer we are getting a rough deal. Al lot of business (including mine, an Insurance company) start by having an outsourced section, with the understanding that when a business grows, the function comes in house.

I suppose the alternative "Hi, I'm Johnny NewBatmaker, I don't actually press or handle the clefts, though as I'm new to the game its unrealistic to expect that, what I do have is a decent enough knowledge of what makes a bat work" though it's not a catchy enough slogan.

Not to mention that can of worm that would open up if we 'outed' all the other batmakers that have an identical process.

[tim2000s]

I don't think there is anything wrong with outsourcing, however those who finish bats that are completed to the level in the photo are not receiving a raw piece of willow and determining where in that cleft the middle might best be and therefore how it might need to be shaped and pressed. They've passed that job onto someone else.

Instead they are finishing something that someone has already made that decision on. They still need to balance what they have though, a little, and finalise and thread the handle.

How handmade are they really... Well that's a different question! Is it wrong, no. Does anyone really care? Not outside of a forum like this.

[Red Ink Cricket]

For me i think it depends on the claims of the Brand/Batmaker. If they are stating they do everything from scratch and they are using part mades then thats wrong. if they sit on the fence by not really saying either way then to the average joe nobody will know anything different. We are all aware alot of 'batmakers/brands' use a certain individual for there bats. aslong as the claims of the batmaker dont say we make everything from scratch then its ok

Ill be honest in saying that my bats are made from part made clefts. these are done with as little as possible done to them as i want the experience of learning about the clefts. I would love to be able to control the whole process but its not feesable for me atm. something to work on though.

[roco]

When did he make for flintoff then?

I thought he handled sales at Newbury and I thought flintoff retired before Woodstock came out?

[tim2000s]

When did he make for flintoff then?

I thought he handled sales at Newbury and I thought flintoff retired before Woodstock came out?

Like...

[Riggers]

There are other members on here that have seen him make them from a cleft and his whole club uses them as they are so good. He said a lot of people rubbish brands as they are jealous and have not even used Woodstock

[wilkie113]

There are other members on here that have seen him make them from a cleft and his whole club uses them as they are so good. He said a lot of people rubbish brands as they are jealous and have not even used Woodstock

I don't think your doing anyone any favours by continuing to post things like that. We don't doubt the fact he can make a bat from a full cleft, well I don't. The pictures are the evidence that there are part mades, and some bats that just need finishing off. Everyone can see that in the pictures that are up on that link.

[Tom]

There are other members on here that have seen him make them from a cleft and his whole club uses them as they are so good. He said a lot of people rubbish brands as they are jealous and have not even used Woodstock

Who are those members?

[tim2000s]

There are other members on here that have seen him make them from a cleft and his whole club uses them as they are so good. He said a lot of people rubbish brands as they are jealous and have not even used Woodstock

And to be fair, a fair number of us have used Woodstock bats and found them to be very good. How good?

Well if you look at this chart, you'll see that in the unscientific and very subjective experiment we did, the Woodstock came top.



What you'll also see though is that when taken against a bunch of other bats, actually although extremely good, it wasn't the best we'd used. So, yes they are good bats, and three people at least rated them highly, however there is no jealousy or disrepute involved. Simply that they aren't the best thing we'd ever used!

[Johnny]

Riggers, you were spoilt for choice with brands the other day, but now you seem to be a one brand man?!

[roco]

I visited Woodstock and had two one for me one for friend and are very well finished but not the best I've used but on par with other grade 1 bats