HOWDY,
I have been on this forum just over month now and I have already accumulated some decent kit. However something was missing and that was a cricket bat.
Well this week has been pretty awesome on that front, on Monday I got my Aldred and today I just got my hands on a DS Custom.
I have already bored everyone on the Aldred so I thought I would start with the DS.
The DS followed the same idea as the Aldred - Long Low Middle, weight 2.10, the rest was up to the bat maker.


Here it are my two together.

DS Stats:
Weight - 2 Lbs 9 1/4 Oz (Requested a 2.10)
Handle - Semi Oval
Middle - Long and Low
Aldred Stats:
Weight - ? ? Either 2.11 or 2.13 (Batmaker and my scales vary)
Handle - Semi Oval
Middle - Long and LowThe DS came in lighter than expected, however Dom mentioned this before sending it out and gave me bit of a discount which was cool.
The Aldred is a weird one. Originally I requested a 2.10/2.11, Paul's scales showed it at just over 2.11, my scales show it at 2.13. At first I doubted my scales, but once the DS arrived, my weight and Dom's weight matched exactly, therefore I will stick with 2.13. Now even though it weighs in 4 oz heavier, the pick up is almost the same (which I know is hard to believe), you only notice the extra weight when you are pretending to do massive crazy shots or pretending to be a helicopter. Oh and obviously when you carry it with one hand.
The mallet test for both is extremely promising, obviously the Aldred takes it here due to the weight advantage, but the DS is not far behind. The middle position is pretty much the same for both of them but the DS I think has a slightly longer middle (only slightly). Now in two weeks I will be going down to the nets and really giving these two bats a good test - would be sooner but I am still have a foot cast on.
Anyway that is my mini review. Need some juice now.