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[thedon]

As the title says, can you get a custom made plank?
Surely not all clefts a batmaker receives, have great rebound properties.  TO date there has not been one bad review of a custom maker with regards to performance

[Alvaro]

There have been. I think that human error could occur with pressing for example...
Sometimes people have received bats that weren't to spec... Solitaires have often been heavy for instance.

[peplow]

i think there have probably been a few, however they are usually resolved before a negative review is placed on here. simply because its only fair the maker can rectify before he gets whined at!

[Vic Nicholas]

I get the impression - rightly or wrongly - that a bespoke batmaker can make even an average piece of wood into a respectable performing bat.

A mass produced bat relies on the performance of the wood more so than the production techniques.

I am not an expert though, so I am sure others would be able to give a better insight.

[Talisman]

I've had a stunning plank before, Talisman too.... It looked huge, was genuine low density willow, 22 clean all sapwood grains and made superbly well, never played, I lent it out to get it match ready and although it scored a ton one innings it never felt ready, sold it on and thought it would come right but it didn't and the buyer, a forum member, had the same trouble as me, had it repressed but no better, wood can be a mystery sometimes....

[tim2000s]

The answer is very much yes. I have had one, which I haven't talked about and will continue to maintain my silence on it. While every indication was that it should perform well, it simply didn't. These things happen and you talk to the batmaker and get over it.

[dhackett89]

i had a Laver private bin a few years back that looked great but was awful. outlined the issues sent it back to NZ they agreed and i got i replaced by an absolute belter, service was top notch they just acknowledged that it didnt perform and im pretty sure the replacement i got was one of their better blades

[thedon]

Tim, how long did you give it before you decided it was a plank? Did the batmaker replace it?
I applaud mike for his honesty regarding his talisman. I think more people should come forward if they receive a custom plank. Reviewing it on the forum after the situation is resolved ( or not). 

[PedalsMcgrew]

You mean to say that not every single bat ever purchased and reviewed on this forum isn't the greatest bat ever made? I'm shocked........I need to lie down 

I've had planks from a couple of custom bat makers....They've either sorted it out for me or I haven't given them my business again. Wood is a natural thing, no one really knows how it's going to develop so issues can occur, the key is how these issues are dealt with.

Try taking an off the shelf bat back to the shop you bought it from and saying 'it's not performing as it should' and see what they do...........at least there is a chance with a smaller custom maker that he will address your issues...although some don't 

[tim2000s]

Tim, how long did you give it before you decided it was a plank? Did the batmaker replace it?

I knocked it in and used it in 4 nets, before giving it to the maker to have a go. He agreed and agreed to replace it.

[Talisman]

I think there is a lot of peer pressure on here to say your bat is stunning, the tell tell signs are when the said bat is offered for sale 4 weeks later...

After all who wants to say they bought a dud? People like to brag and its a good chance to get one over on other members by claiming your bat is better, a hard point to disprove. But some of the best bats I've had have not been made for me, in fact I can only think of 2 bats I had made to spec that were belters. I normally use rejected bats and love them....

Tim, can you not say out of interest? After all if they have replaced it what is the problem? It shows good customer service.

[tim2000s]

Tim, can you not say out of interest? After all if they have replaced it what is the problem? It shows good customer service.

I will do once I have knocked in and tested said bat. In the process of getting the replacement I had a change of mind about exactly what i wanted so I need to get that completely sorted, but the maker has been very helpful.

[uknsaunders]

I had a bat last year that looked great, was custom made for me and when I hit the middle it absolutely flew. Problem was I so rarely found the middle and when I didn't it had a horrible metallic feel/sound to it. Couldn't explain it as every time I bounced a ball on it, it would almost hit the roof. Very odd, sold it on fleabay.