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[lazza32]

O.K guys,
my question is, when making bats that aren't specifically for clients do batmakers make the bat to the standard shape and the weight is whatever it comes out to be or do they make the bat to that specific weight and hope the shape isn't to lean on wood when producing lighter weights?

[WalkingWicket37]

Total guess here but I think they'd make the standard shape and whatever it weighs is what it weighs.

With GM they CNC their bats, so theirs would all be the exact same shape, with the difference in weight being down to the density of the willow.

P.s I am no expert, so if what I think is totally wrong, can someone who knows what they're on about please correct me 

[Hayden2012]

All off the rack bats are pure and utter crap, cost to much ,and even the sound they make is crap

[lazza32]

thats what i was thinking too cameron.

[WalkingWicket37]

All off the rack bats are pure and utter crap, cost to much ,and even the sound they make is crap

Thanks for your helpful and constructive answer mate 

[Fearless Fly]

All off the rack bats are pure and utter crap, cost to much ,and even the sound they make is crap

What do you base this on mate?? rather curious

[tim2000s]

All off the rack bats are pure and utter crap, cost to much ,and even the sound they make is crap

So you've had a bad experience... Many have. Many more haven't. If this was true, none of those rack bats would ever get shifted...

[WalkingWicket37]

What do you base this on mate?? rather curious

Sounds like utter rubbish to me mate, you can get some off the shelf bats that go like stink (and not always the highest grade either). There are some off the shelf bargains to be had in my opinion.

[Fearless Fly]

Sounds like utter rubbish to me mate, you can get some off the shelf bats that go like stink (and not always the highest grade either). There are some off the shelf bargains to be had in my opinion.

sounds like you have had a bad experience, in saying that i havent bought a bat from a store for 5 years (been sponsored and bought online)

[Vitas Cricket]

I must be a quality salesman because i sell an awful lot of crap!

Personally, I have one custom made bat, a Laver and Wood Reserve, and whilst it is a lovely bat, it's not so much better than the off the shelf bats i own that it blows them out the water.

[WalkingWicket37]

sounds like you have had a bad experience, in saying that i havent bought a bat from a store for 5 years (been sponsored and bought online)

Sounds like I had a bad experience?? I was defending the humble off the shelf bat, even those in the cheaper price category.
I'm a fussy beggar when it comes to bats, but I wouldn't ever rule out an off the shelf bat just because it's an off the shelf bat.

[WalkingWicket37]

I must be a quality salesman because i sell an awful lot of crap!

I'll also add that you're incredibly friendly and helpful when the customer is searching for a particular kind of crap, Jake!

[Fearless Fly]

Sounds like I had a bad experience?? I was defending the humble off the shelf bat, even those in the cheaper price category.
I'm a fussy beggar when it comes to bats, but I wouldn't ever rule out an off the shelf bat just because it's an off the shelf bat.

My mistake i thought you were blasting them
i agree with that, i had a GN Viper few years back that had been downgraded from the players model to 750 (3rd level) all because of a butterfly stain, the bat was a gem and i ay have cried a little the day is broke in 2, was one of the best bats i ever owned

[Chad]

All off the rack bats are pure and utter crap, cost to much ,and even the sound they make is crap

Not true, I had a hit with my brother's Ricochet 250 yesterday, which has pretty much not been used at all. It goes as well as most bats I've tried, which was a surprise it has a high middle, but it seemed like a pretty generous sized one and when you hit it out the middle, it just made a lovely sound. (Normally use a lower middled bat) It's certainly worth every penny I paid, and goes to show that a hand-picked bat is the way to go. If I'm honest, every Kookaburra I've had has been excellent, not really had a bad experience with any of them, I have no idea why my perception of them has changed over time... There's been absolutely no reason for that!


Generally speaking, I think that the batmaker will generally have a pretty good estimate as to what kind of weight he could get off a specific cleft, and makes his mind up on the weight and size then gets crafting. This will not always be 100% accurate, as willow density varies throughout the cleft, and I find that edge sizes can very often vary with handcrafted bats, I think one of mine was 41mm on one side and 38 on the other!

[WalkingWicket37]

Not true, I had a hit with my brother's Ricochet 250 yesterday, which has pretty much not been used at all. It goes as well as most bats I've tried, which was a surprise it has a high middle, but it seemed like a pretty generous sized one and when you hit it out the middle, it just made a lovely sound. (Normally use a lower middled bat) It's certainly worth every penny I paid, and goes to show that a hand-picked bat is the way to go. If I'm honest, every Kookaburra I've had has been excellent, not really had a bad experience with any of them, I have no idea why my perception of them has changed over time... There's been absolutely no reason for that!

As far as Kookaburras go I don't think I've seen one I've not been impressed with. There were a couple of low end Kahunas floating round our club last year, but they were unreal off the middle. On the other end of that scale my mate has just got a players ricochet, what a beautiful price of willow. I now want to buy myself a ricochet...