Well after 2 weeks of me hounding them and them to be honest keeping me in the loop with everything here it is.
it christmas again.......
SHAPEWell this is where it started i asked for
Profile 3
edge 6
spine 1
I got what i asked for after a few years of using Laver there old special profile i wanted something along the same lines and the B3 boys delivered it to me.
I have a strange alinement thing and can instantly tell if a bat will suit or not this will suit my needs and is the shape i wanted and got...
PICK UPWell after the video where Blathers showed it me and said it was a tad bottom heavy i picked it up and agree but it is how i like my bats and it as envisaged when i ordered the bat.
The pick up is very good indeed this is heavier than i normally use at 2lb 9oz but after talking to the guys at B3 this is what i asked for and to be honest it is balanced very well for me because the difference from my normal 2lb 6-7oz and this is marginal.
LOOKSWell i asked for no heartwood and got none on the face not a blemish in sight as i would have expected from a grade 1 cricket bat at this cost.
It has 9 evenly spaced grains which is about the normal for my bats i did not specify this though as not a grain lover if honest
. Stickers are different and i love the freshness of them they look really striking to me and stand out from a lot of others.
On looks alone and looks do not make a bat it is a belter.
The finish well this is the only minus about the bat it is not bad but it is a area they themselves and i know it something there working onbut they where honest about this before they sent me the bat but to me a finish is all and fair and well but after time all bats end up the same but a better finish would have topped the initial product off.
CUSTOMER SERVICEMicheal Blatherwick was a gentleman to deal with and i got the feeling you where dealing with a mate when talking about cricket bats( and boy can i talk). The all round company has a mates feeling about it not a cold buy and go service which i personally find a great touch you feel involved at every stage and i hope they continue to do this as they get busier and busier
as for me there to much cloak and dagger in the industry or seems to be from a outsider looking in.
I even talked about other bat makers to them and they were complimentary to them in a very good way and at no time did they give the we are better than anybody they just told me what they offer and of we went.
PERFORMANCEBefore you all jump on the bandwagon the people who know me know i will run 3 tests of the bat.
1.Bowling machine with bola balls
2.Fielding machine with new/nealy new cricket Balls
3.Match
I received the bat this morning and can tell the coverage of the middle is bigger than normal with the mallet so in the pre test state i know it is a very good bat and very well pressed indeed the responce is impressive indeed and the middle is large.
This section will get updated as i continue to test the bat but as we speak i'am very happy with the bat even though i paid a little more than i normally do for a top grade bat but so far so good.
Experience has i feel allowed me to get a feel for a really good bat early and i have that feeling about this bat similar to the one i got when i used my trusty Laver And Wood Private Bin which was used for 5 years and i get the feeling this will be my number 1 bat for some time to come.