Print

[cricketbadger]

any news on their apprenticeship then Soulman?

[wilkie113]

So all the big brands go in the gear guide, which Salix win, and then all the smaller/mid sized brands go into the boutique brands test, which salix enter again under a brand that's not known to anyone bar a few?

Why do salix get to enter two competitions under different names and win both? Utter crap I think. It's take away the chance for a smaller brand to have the chance to win something like this. Surely whoever was testing this would have known what they are testing?

Think it's all a load of crap that Salix get both prizes, and I bet the bat sent to them wasn't some of this willow that doesn't get the thumbs up from Andrew for the salix sticks. I bet it was one of the blades he uses for the salix side of things.

What would stop the likes of GN putting the legend into it, or Newbury entering the cenkos? As there more of a 'boutique' option from a big brand.

(No offence intended Soulman or salix, just my views on this)

[farnham_quins_2]

I agree. Would have liked to see more brands, rather than bats from similar/differently branded brands (if that makes sense)

[wilkie113]

We all know most of the guys who get there bats off that very well known bat maker, and I think we come to accept they make a cracking stick and there's a lot of these around, but he doesn't personally have a brand of his own so to speak.

I would have preferred to see the likes of a B3, choice, or a H4L, Aldred, vulcan something a long those lines that are truly something that is a boutique brand

[SOULMAN1012]

So all the big brands go in the gear guide, which Salix win, and then all the smaller/mid sized brands go into the boutique brands test, which salix enter again under a brand that's not known to anyone bar a few?

Why do salix get to enter two competitions under different names and win both? Utter crap I think. It's take away the chance for a smaller brand to have the chance to win something like this. Surely whoever was testing this would have known what they are testing?

Think it's all a load of crap that Salix get both prizes, and I bet the bat sent to them wasn't some of this willow that doesn't get the thumbs up from Andrew for the salix sticks. I bet it was one of the blades he uses for the salix side of things.

What would stop the likes of GN putting the legend into it, or Newbury entering the cenkos? As there more of a 'boutique' option from a big brand.

(No offence intended Soulman or salix, just my views on this)

No offence taken mate Everyone is entitled to there opinion.

I can promise you though that the bat sent in as the Hits Hard bat was a cleft selected from the outset as an HHS cleft. It was not some huge, light 50 grain super performance thing that you would get on the AJK for example.

At the end of the day mate, they won both because the judges judged both the Torque and HH as best in class.  I would liken it so say brand X that may have there bats made, pressed and even shaped by say TK, they get the benefit not TK. Is that any different?

At the end of the day I would class Salix as a boutique brand, a bigger one mind but still boutique, they are not on the same page as say GN, GM, Slazenger etc in scale of mass production and market share, they offer fully handmade bats and I think more players are appreciating that over mass produced bats at present. Just my opinion though that last one.

[wilkie113]

No offence taken mate Everyone is entitled to there opinion.

I can promise you though that the bat sent in as the Hits Hard bat was a cleft selected from the outset as an HHS cleft. It was not some huge, light 50 grain super performance thing that you would get on the AJK for example.

At the end of the day mate, they won both because the judges judged both the Torque and HH as best in class.  I would liken it so say brand X that may have there bats made, pressed and even shaped by say TK, they get the benefit not TK. Is that any different?

At the end of the day I would class Salix as a boutique brand, a bigger one mind but still boutique, they are not on the same page as say GN, GM, Slazenger etc in scale of mass production and market share, they offer fully handmade bats and I think more players are appreciating that over mass produced bats at present. Just my opinion though that last one.

I think where TK is different, is that he doesn't have his own brand as such mate.

Don't get me wrong, I don't see Salix in the same boat at all as GN and the likes. They make the bats in England and not Asia etc etc, but in my view, you can't have it both ways entering two things. You either want to contest with the big boys and go into a gear test with them, or you want to be seen more as a boutique brand, in which you enter the boutique brands contest/test. I think this will be a cracking debate and people will have views like both of ours.

[SOULMAN1012]

From a business point of view your would put your new brand straight in at the deep end would want maximum exposure. Putting both brands in the test was from a business point of view a great idea and I'm sure we would all do the same.

Your right TK doesn't have 1 brand as such, he has about 15 in reality.

[wilkie113]

From a business point of view your would put your new brand straight in at the deep end would want maximum exposure. Putting both brands in the test was from a business point of view a great idea and I'm sure we would all do the same.

Your right TK doesn't have 1 brand as such, he has about 15 in reality.

I agree with you on the TK point, as I guess would everyone, but it's not like TK has 15 different brand names that he uses him self?

But my point is, it shouldn't have been allowed to happen. A salix, is a HH and a HH is a salix. You can't enter both of the tests in my view, it should be one of the other no matter what the stickers. Salix have the AJK, which I can understand is Andrew's personal bespoke side of it, and obviously the Salix side of it speaks for itself. But apart from the HH side offering a lower grade bat at a better price, I can't see why it would be a different name, and personally don't think it's fair that Salix get to enter bat's into both of the tests

[mattw]

I'm unsure how this looks to be honest (from salix's pov).

For me this has completely downgraded Salix as an organisation(ajk/salix/hh), it's quite clever from a business POV to create these separate identities - however for them to be successful I believe they have to be completely separate.

Now every Salix I pick up, it will relate to a 'hitshard' bat that I may have seen which could be an ugly G3 for example. I do think it could be a successful model for them outside of the forum, as Salix/AJK will be using the best clefts for themselves, which means that you will not be getting any G2/G3 clefts in their range. These clefts will be used only for the HH side of things, which I'm guessing will be more affordable and also have a 'louder' feel to the brand.

However, on the forum we are a minority that are quite knowledgeable about the industry with who makes bats for who etc - I feel this has completely downgraded Salix for myself and I'm sure that I'm not alone in that. I did see Salix as the best out of the retail brands, personally - but I feel this has cheapened the feel of their identity.

[Beachcricket]

Thanks Soulman, I thought it was that as I'd spoken to Andrew and he'd mentioned he was doing something like this with someone. Good Luck with it, it's an interesting idea. If it means more Hand Made bats then I'm happy.

[SOULMAN1012]

I'm unsure how this looks to be honest (from salix's pov).

For me this has completely downgraded Salix as an organisation(ajk/salix/hh), it's quite clever from a business POV to create these separate identities - however for them to be successful I believe they have to be completely separate.

Now every Salix I pick up, it will relate to a 'hitshard' bat that I may have seen which could be an ugly G3 for example. I do think it could be a successful model for them outside of the forum, as Salix/AJK will be using the best clefts for themselves, which means that you will not be getting any G2/G3 clefts in their range. These clefts will be used only for the HH side of things, which I'm guessing will be more affordable and also have a 'louder' feel to the brand.

However, on the forum we are a minority that are quite knowledgeable about the industry with who makes bats for who etc - I feel this has completely downgraded Salix for myself and I'm sure that I'm not alone in that. I did see Salix as the best out of the retail brands, personally - but I feel this has cheapened the feel of their identity.

Hi mate just a few things, as I said earlier every company that buys from wrights, only has a small % of true grade 1. This is the same for all companies that will buy in bulk from Wrights, others may and are able to hide the ugly grade 3 as you say behind big stickers etc, Salix still sell there grade 3/4 bats as the select option and that will still be the case. HitsHard is not some brand to take of Salix's rubbish! An ugly looking grade 3 will often still play very well if pressed, crafted in the best way to get the best from that piece of willow!

Every one is entitled to there opinion, but HH is there to provide a handmade option to the market place. It supports players by offering another price point for a truly handmade bat, it supports the industry by allowing a UK batmaker to showcase a dying art and all is done in the Uk including the stickers and grips. Finally HH allows people like myself to learn under the supervision of a true master craftsman and get an insight into the industry etc.

Anyway I will take your opinion on board and thanks for your comments.

[Vulcan Cricket]

so sailx only use grade 1s for there bats ? and hits hard are going to sell 2s and 3s??

[Tom]

No.

"Salix still sell there grade 3/4 bats as the select option "

[Vulcan Cricket]

No.

"Salix still sell there grade 3/4 bats as the select option "

ok tom cheers

[Chad]

I have to agree with the comments about Mr Kember putting bats in both categories... I don't have anything against Salix, in fact, I love Salix. I just don't feel it is very fair that they could put in a 'sister' brand in the other category... Won't stop me from buying a HitsHard bat if I wanted one, but I echo Tom's thoughts that another brand like Aldred or Vulcan would have been a better boutique brand to win it...