Topic: The Myth of Performance Willow (Read 16573 times)

beachcricket81 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:32:44 PM »

My understanding on this matter is that tighter grain will make a stiffer blade but it wont have much life. It is mainly due to the moisture content in the bat due to fast growth of fibre (reference SAF Blog)... Slight imperfections in the willow will not necessarily hinder performance as the performance is realted to number of factors including the mass of wood in the hitting area (second part as per Andy SAF blog).

Pin Knot , Butterfly stain and speck on a willow normally dont bother me as it is purely cosmetic. I will worry about a dead knot on the cleft (that is just me as there are ways to get around it). Most G1 willows are graded just on looks and these days some bat makers are grading them on how the willow plays (which is nice to see as I am paying the money for a bat which performs rather than just looks nice in your hand : Then again that is just me!!!).

Prowannabe has a point as well as pressing plays a great part in the performance of the bat.

ProWannabe88 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:36:52 PM »

Thank god for that

Good to learn a little bit here and there. More topics like this please

tim2000s · « **Reply #32 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:42:48 PM »

So, following on is the question for Norbs and Talisman.

How does low density willow improve the performance when on two bats with the same weight and equivalent shapes, the mass of the willow behind the ball at the point of impact will be the same and therefore the swing speed (theoretically) should be?.

Talisman · « **Reply #33 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:44:31 PM »

Having spent much time watching a very well respected brand grade it went something along the lines of provisionally marking out grades based of looks, weight would then lead to bats being swapped a little, heavier going down and lighter coming up but only ever one grade. Finally every bat was hit with a mallet and nothing was ever upgraded but some is the highest bracket could drop to the bottom one. Why? well because to be a top model it needed to look and play the part so everyone spending a lot of money was happy, but in the middle you could get something that didn't quite look the part but played as well as the top one. In the bottom grade it might look good or bad but did not quite ever play as well as the other 2 grades. To me is was and is a very fair method of grading.

However you then get the buyer who see's 14 straight clean grains in the bottom grade and claims to have found one that slipped through the net and promptly removes the grading sticker and pronounce s a bargain to be had when they sell it on. Who benefits from this? purely the seller.

Talisman · « **Reply #34 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:45:32 PM »

Quote from: tim2000s on March 09, 2012, 02:42:48 PM

So, following on is the question for Norbs and Talisman.

How does low density willow improve the performance when on two bats with the same weight and equivalent shapes, the mass of the willow behind the ball at the point of impact will be the same and therefore the swing speed (theoretically) should be?.

In simple terms, Yes. It will increase mass and stiffness which if both bats are pressed the same will lead to an increase in rebound.

beachcricket81 · « **Reply #35 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:52:46 PM »

Quote from: Talisman on March 09, 2012, 02:44:31 PM

Having spent much time watching a very well respected brand grade it went something along the lines of provisionally marking out grades based of looks, weight would then lead to bats being swapped a little, heavier going down and lighter coming up but only ever one grade. Finally every bat was hit with a mallet and nothing was ever upgraded but some is the highest bracket could drop to the bottom one. Why? well because to be a top model it needed to look and play the part so everyone spending a lot of money was happy, but in the middle you could get something that didn't quite look the part but played as well as the top one. In the bottom grade it might look good or bad but did not quite ever play as well as the other 2 grades. To me is was and is a very fair method of grading.

However you then get the buyer who see's 14 straight clean grains in the bottom grade and claims to have found one that slipped through the net and promptly removes the grading sticker and pronounce s a bargain to be had when they sell it on. Who benefits from this? purely the seller.

Talisman who will your recommend when buying a custom bat?

Simmy · « **Reply #36 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:54:01 PM »

his own brand lol

beachcricket81 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:54:56 PM »

Quote from: Simmy on March 09, 2012, 02:54:01 PM

his own brand lol

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Talisman · « **Reply #38 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:59:43 PM »

Quote from: beachcricket81 on March 09, 2012, 02:52:46 PM

Talisman who will your recommend when buying a custom bat?

If I was to say anyone but me I'd be bursting bubbles of expectation.....

In all honesty I would choose someone who would be prepared to answer a load of questions, have a track record of producing quality bats, have a great willow selection and not ram a sale down my throat. There are brands on here I have bought from and loved it, brands I've bought from and detested and friends selling some great great bats. If I had a magic answer it would be very boring, people love trying new brands and power to them.

Talisman · « **Reply #39 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:02:02 PM »

Quote from: beachcricket81 on March 09, 2012, 02:52:46 PM

Talisman who will your recommend when buying a custom bat?

Still waiting for the Beach Cricket Viv V12....

beachcricket81 · « **Reply #40 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:08:01 PM »

Quote from: Talisman on March 09, 2012, 02:59:43 PM

If I was to say anyone but me I'd be bursting bubbles of expectation.....

In all honesty I would choose someone who would be prepared to answer a load of questions, have a track record of producing quality bats, have a great willow selection and not ram a sale down my throat. There are brands on here I have bought from and loved it, brands I've bought from and detested and friends selling some great great bats. If I had a magic answer it would be very boring, people love trying new brands and power to them.

Thanks Mate...That is a very honest answer....

Six Sixes Cricket · « **Reply #41 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:24:19 PM »

Wasnt the �400 talisman sold for its performance abilities?

Talisman · « **Reply #42 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:27:28 PM »

Indeed, if you can find a cleft without fault with 30 grains and press it then I'd say it is worth more on the open market, but of course you must remember that there were 2 and 1 broke in the press so you have to factor that in.

At 40% of the price would it only have 40% of the performance of a Laver Signature or Newbery Cenkos? Having tapped it up I can safely say it was remarkable.

Six Sixes Cricket · « **Reply #43 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:31:59 PM »

So performance willow is not a myth. Finding it is the hard or enjoyable part.

Talisman · « **Reply #44 on:** March 09, 2012, 03:36:10 PM »

I'd point to the fact that "performance willow" is usually a term used to flog a low grade bat with a high grade price tag. Willow grading has a purpose, misgrades are rare.

Finding the ultimate performance is a quest I think we are all on, for me it is a case of finding lots of high quality clefts and keeping a high percentage at their best through making. That is the real trick, you lose a percentage at each stage so minimising that loss is a key factor.

Author Topic: The Myth of Performance Willow (Read 16573 times)

beachcricket81

Re: The Myth of Performance Willow

ProWannabe88

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tim2000s

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Talisman

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Talisman

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beachcricket81

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Simmy

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beachcricket81

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Talisman

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Talisman

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beachcricket81

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Six Sixes Cricket

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Talisman

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Six Sixes Cricket

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Talisman

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