I'm really pleased these guys (Kippax) are on here now so I can offer a full review of them and their bats.
I started playing cricket again in 2011 after a 15 year break. After looking on custom bats for ages trying to pic a bat, I thought I'd go to the Kippax factory ( My U14s captain had one back in 1994!). The website doesn't do them justice, there were about 30/40 bats, all different weights, low middles, high middles and middle middles, from 7-20 grains to choose from, so you can pic your perfect bat. Non of them graded, as they are all the best (Kippax sell clefts, and so save the best for themselves). Chris (not Chris Kippax but the other chap) was really helpful, as I hadn't played for a while, and wasn't sure what I wanted, but I chose a low middle 2lb 13. A great little bat, and after many a SIX over the bowlers head, I fancied something a little bigger.
I wanted a custom bat making, around 3lb 3-5, with 9-12 grains, and heartwood on one edge. They had the perfect bat already made up in the workshop:- a "Super King" 3lb 4, mid/low middle and 9 grains with a lovely pink edge. When knocking a few balls up it felt soft, as when it hits the middle, you cant feel it through the handle, but the ball doesn't ping off, it springs off! When knocking it in with a mallet, I was shocked at how much the mallet fires back off the bat.
After 15 mins in the nets, my wrists were a bit sore, but I was in awe - when you middle it, be it a drive, defensive shot or slogging a spinner you can't feel anything through the handle, and it sounds different from any other bat, it makes others sound like brittle fence posts! It's the sort of bat that you can blast spinners over the mid-wicket boundary, right over the heads of any fielders standing by the rope! The sort of ball loosing sixes that make people laugh, and smash the top row of the pavilion roof (when I don't clear it completely!)
After using it for 2 years, I just taken it to them for a service. I thought £40 was a bit over the top for a bit of a sand, but collected it today, and it looks AMAZING! The latest stickers, new tape, sorted all the marks when my wife through it off the kitchen table! Just like a brand new £300 bat. Shame I don't have any before pics, but watch this space for pics!
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3161/2qa4.jpg
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Topic: Kippax Review (Read 11279 times)