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Scruffy, Pete and Tim,

You've all said that your bats felt better after a bit of use - can you describe better? Was it the feel of the ball coming off the bat, the sound, the pickup etc. or all of them? Secondly, have you tried playing with the bat you preferred before the Laver to see whether you like it as much now as you did before the Laver "opened up"?

I'm hoping that the bat really gets better rather than the user getting accustomed to it. Because if its only about getting used to it, the other bats will feel better as soon as I switch back - and in such case I didn't really need to get a Laver but could have used any bat and gotten used to it!

[tim2000s]

Scruffy, Pete and Tim,

You've all said that your bats felt better after a bit of use - can you describe better? Was it the feel of the ball coming off the bat, the sound, the pickup etc. or all of them? Secondly, have you tried playing with the bat you preferred before the Laver to see whether you like it as much now as you did before the Laver "opened up"?

I'm hoping that the bat really gets better rather than the user getting accustomed to it. Because if its only about getting used to it, the other bats will feel better as soon as I switch back - and in such case I didn't really need to get a Laver but could have used any bat and gotten used to it!

The way I'd describe it is that the other bats felt softer, perhaps more forgiving than the Laver did at first. After it was played in, it felt more like the other bats.

Have you ever used a bat that's well used but still goes? It feels soft but rebounds really well? That's how I like my bats to feel and that's what the Lavers I've used have become after some use in nets with real balls.

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Tim,

That's exactly what I'm looking for too in my bat! Hopefully it will also turn softer with use - though I don't understand why - if anything the ball compresses the willow so it should become harder ?

[Six Sixes Cricket]

I find that they lavers need to hit cricket balls, mine went pretty good from the off against bola balls but was much better against cricket balls. Personally I find that they feel softer with use as in the sense that the bat has kind of cushioned the ball and cannoned back off it

[tim2000s]

I find that they lavers need to hit cricket balls, mine went pretty good from the off against bola balls but was much better against cricket balls. Personally I find that they feel softer with use as in the sense that the bat has kind of cushioned the ball and cannoned back off it

That's exactly it.

[procricket]

Lavers are a very different breed to almost any other bat
The 8 I have had have all had the same quality when they are fully ready there is not much to touch them in terms of performance in the market for sure but the iron metallic feel of crunching a ball is unforgettable and a great feeling or lack as the ball just goes.

There not for everybody including me currently due to a few factors they take time not the middle mind but the rest and 3 out of the 8 never got any better than there original state.

I not going to knock laver because my best ever bat was a laver I understand they where making flatter faces before most and I like the carbo core technology infact I miss the feel of the none feel through the shot.

They do make good bats but I feel the most re sale on here is due to the fact hey are different for sure to any other bat but not every ugly ducklin turns into a swan.

I would suggest anybody after buying one try one first my 5 year old pb still goes well and is still as hard as metal but I think the crust is pressed to it optimum but some do not get softer as you play with them.

[mad_abt_cricket]

I think both Laver and Screaming Cat give a sharp crisp metallic voice while a TK bat in my experience gives more of a dull thud voice. The feeling also is much softer as compared to a laver or a sreaming cat.

All these bats go really well so it is interesting to know the differences in pressing techniques which makes them sound so different. I don't think Laver or Screaming cats are pressed hard just different.

[Chad]

I think both Laver and Screaming Cat give a sharp crisp metallic voice while a TK bat in my experience gives more of a dull thud voice. The feeling also is much softer as compared to a laver or a sreaming cat.

All these bats go really well so it is interesting to know the differences in pressing techniques which makes them sound so different. I don't think Laver or Screaming cats are pressed hard just different.

Maybe it's because Julian taught James, so their pressing techniques are similar?  Although both Julian and Tim were taught by the same, so maybe it's just a batmaker's preference... I like both TK and Laver bats, I have gotten on pretty well with TKs, which seem to open up quicker than Lavers.

That was my thinking, maybe slightly harder than TK. Thing is, the Lavers I had dented, so they definitely aren't overpressed. They do get better with time, or at least my experience with one has. My PB went pretty nicely from the start, but just keeps getting better. I did nickname it 'Planky' though, as it does have that metallic sound that most people are describing it as, but I can't really complain after about 8 net sessions of use.

Don't worry too much about your Laver sounding like that to start off with, just keep using it, and as Tim and Rob said, they take time to feel right, and mine is slowly getting there. Compared my PB with my brother's SR, which hasn't been used much, and the pitch on the SR was actually initially nicer IMO than the PB, but now it is the opposite. I would say give it another 6 net sessions, and it should feel much better then.

[Six Sixes Cricket]

I think both Laver and Screaming Cat give a sharp crisp metallic voice while a TK bat in my experience gives more of a dull thud voice. The feeling also is much softer as compared to a laver or a sreaming cat.

All these bats go really well so it is interesting to know the differences in pressing techniques which makes them sound so different. I don't think Laver or Screaming cats are pressed hard just different.

The TK I borrowed from Tai sounded like a firecracker going off. Beautiful sound.

[mad_abt_cricket]

I am pretty sure there are certain trade secrets with regards to pressing. If I could think objectively an optimum pressing can be found by pressing the willow starting from a very low pressure applied on the cleft and after each press check the rebound of the willow and then continue on to increase the pressure bit by bit and repeat it till one gets optimum pressing. This can be performed on different types of willow (narrow grains, wide grains, heartwood etc etc) to get optimum readings for each kind of willow. Seems tire some and time taking but certainly not tricky. But in that case every other bat maker should have been able to press like a TK which is not the case. Along with pressing there are certain things which probably makes it so special?

[procricket]

i have a laver here 5 years old around 4000 runs through it only damage or dent to the blade is a slight surface crack..

Yes it has had 2 new shoulders and a busted toe but the face has not cracked at all

[PaceKing29]

johnrockin --> I felt the same - good but not great. Hopefully this changes.

PaceKing29 --> Was your Laver pre-knocked? I don't get why additional knocking is needed when its already pre-knocked and ready to play

Shoab68 and Chad --> I really am starting to believe that it's all about getting used to the bat and not really about opening up or knocking.

Yes was fully prepared before it left NZ, so i assumed it would play from day one, however, as many have said on here perhaps it will take time for it to open up before it starts to really perform. The reason i wanted to knock it in some more is just to speed up that process.

I guess also a part of it is that each bat will perform differently. At the end of the day no two pieces of wood will perform exactly the same.

Talking about SCAT, i have a series 3 and that went like an absolute train from day 1.

[100 not out]

No concave:



Minimal concave:




Minimal-moderate concave:




Moderate concave:




Moderate-heavy concave:






Heavy concave:







Take your pick. I don't know, but the Powerbow looks to have more concave in these pictures than it does in flesh... Pick which one of these you like the look of then tell Andy that you want it like that.

All varying degrees of concave any idea of radius size on each of these?

[Chad]

All varying degrees of concave any idea of radius size on each of these?

Convex:




I'm guessing (CNC) a convex spokeshave or something like that




No concave:




I'd guess no need for a travisher.




Minimal concave:




My guess is Number 1




Minimal-moderate concave:




Number 2




Moderate concave:




Number 3




Moderate-heavy concave:






Number 4




Heavy concave:






Number 4-5




Concaved within an inch of life:




A shovel.

[scottish_slogger95]

Is that a legget and coe legacy in the bottom picture chad? How very Scottish of you!