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[100 not out]

I think it would be good to have a pressing video Mr Aldred, it would be the icing on the cake for me. I believe it is the pressing which makes the biggest contribution to a bats performance rather the visual appearance or weight of cleft. Hence the need to customise the pressing to the individual characteristics of the cleft, in order to obtain optimal response.

However, i also understand the reluctance of various batmakers to share such knowledge, as it can be a source of competitve advantage for them.

[finbarr44]

I have enjoyed this thread immensely however I don't think its fair to ask Paul Aldred or for that matter any other batmaker to share their personal secrets as  for want of a better word alchemists of batmaking on an open forum. If any alchemist were to give away the secrets of his trade surely he would lose his competitive edge.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Good point bats  what do you reckon do I have a lot to get rid of or am I just telling you what's what in my workshop world. If you look in the background on the videos all those clefts stacked up are top end all the ones on the top shelf are butterfly.

I wasn't suggesting you were being dishonest, Paul. (My response was to a point made about Andrew Kember.)

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

I know bats we will have to get some more in the way we are going

[Number 11]

Loving this thread, more vids please, especially pressing a butterfly

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Steady number 11 I don't want to give everything away.

[Tom]

Sorry Pro but I also have to disagree here, last time I checked Paul stocked bigger brands as well as the smaller brands? All he is doing is stressing that by going with a smaller brand you're more likely to get a better pressed bat as the brand will probably put a bit more care into the pressing. A perfectly reasonable comment based on the topic of this thread?

Whilst I'm on here, the Aldred bats look lovely and thanks for the videos Aldred Paul!

I have to disagree that by going to a small brand you're more likely to get a better pressed bat. Putting care into something doesn't make it great, knowing how to do it and having the correct tools does. You're more likely to get a better pressed bat if you go to a brand that press well regardless of company size, stature or players they sponsor.

Paul here looks like he's spent a lot of time working on his process, and thanks for sharing all the information you have. It's a great thread. And credit for taking the time to learn the craft from start to finish, it's great to see so much passion involved.

[Bats_Entertainment]

I know bats we will have to get some more in the way we are going

Perhaps even one for me?

[Number 11]

Steady number 11 I don't want to give everything away.

Oh well, worth a try

[PassionateCricketer]

When I say each piece is pressed differently it doesn't mean a different process, what I mean is if I was a huge company churning thousands of bats out I would need a multiple roller press and that would be set to a certain pressure and cleft after cleft would be put through that press at exactly the same pressure. Not every cleft needs pressing at the same pressure and the same amount of passes in my opinion as each pice is different. Some are naturally harder some are softer so each on I make is pressed according to that particular piece of willows individuality so I can try and get the best feel and performance I can out of it whether it be a players grade or butterfly grade. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the clarification,. It seems you are treating each bat equally no matter what price they will get sell at, that is admirable.

[ItsJustCricket]

Paul I suspect the 3 biggest presser of clefts in the uk is possibly tk he may be even bigger your telling me he presses one size fits all.  You made a statement which I believe to be inaccurent big time.

As for the stirring the pot part fella please show me where I have done do please show me where I have rubbished something.

As  I have stated before I think aldread finishes a bat second to none by the looks off it an by the reviews  of people like Roco and other people he makes a mean bat.

Do we 100 per cent know that gm and gn and other big brands don't press there bats at the same price points higher up the scale individually do we

Sorry to have my say thought it was about sharing knowledge but the info has to be correct.

I've needed a few days to cool down from you previous comment, Dave, before I could even bring myself to reply...

You stirred the pot with the hand-picking of cricket bats, when you said how you don't believe hand-picking is worthwhile and how it's over-rated in your opinion.  I ended up writing a dissertation of a response and nobody seemed to agree with you, so then you dropped that one, but now you are doing the same about pressing and, surprise, surprise, nobody agrees with you again.  You just seem to go against the grain all the time to provoke, and although you claim you are just asking questions, you can get quite personal sometimes and people will take it the wrong way.  You clearly have an issue with me and think I lack knowledge about cricket bats, so I take it personally...

As others have said, we stock small and large brands, and I am simply giving my opinion.  I am not doing it to push our sales of smaller brands, but like Paul (Aldred), I respect honesty and am a very honest person.  My honest view is that the smaller brands generally press their bats better, and having knocked in over 500 bats myself in the past couple of years, I have a pretty good idea on the differences between each brand.  I believe that the smaller brands generally spend more time and effort pressing each individual bat across their range than the larger ones.

And, regarding Aldred, that was a silly comment too.  Although this thread has ended up being great marketing for them, Paul didn't post this thread just for marketing - he was answering questions that people on here wanted to know, and was praised for doing it in such a classy and honest way, so people comment, and lo and behold it ends up being good marketing - perhaps better marketing than anyone could have expected, not least Paul.  I hope you can see my point.

[procricket]

I've needed a few days to cool down from you previous comment, Dave, before I could even bring myself to reply...

You stirred the pot with the hand-picking of cricket bats, when you said how you don't believe hand-picking is worthwhile and how it's over-rated in your opinion.  I ended up writing a dissertation of a response and nobody seemed to agree with you, so then you dropped that one, but now you are doing the same about pressing and, surprise, surprise, nobody agrees with you again.  You just seem to go against the grain all the time to provoke, and although you claim you are just asking questions, you can get quite personal sometimes and people will take it the wrong way.  You clearly have an issue with me and think I lack knowledge about cricket bats, so I take it personally...

As others have said, we stock small and large brands, and I am simply giving my opinion.  I am not doing it to push our sales of smaller brands, but like Paul (Aldred), I respect honesty and am a very honest person.  My honest view is that the smaller brands generally press their bats better, and having knocked in over 500 bats myself in the past couple of years, I have a pretty good idea on the differences between each brand.  I believe that the smaller brands generally spend more time and effort pressing each individual bat across their range than the larger ones.

And, regarding Aldred, that was a silly comment too.  Although this thread has ended up being great marketing for them, Paul didn't post this thread just for marketing - he was answering questions that people on here wanted to know, and was praised for doing it in such a classy and honest way, so people comment, and lo and behold it ends up being good marketing - perhaps better marketing than anyone could have expected, not least Paul.  I hope you can see my point.

You honestly though nobody agreed. If i say what i want to about your comment it would land me in trouble i will not rise. I love Tom comment on here who know a thing or two....

PS i was not on about marketing about Mr Aldreds bats either i was on about your words of marketing...

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Do we think that we could stop all this bickering please on my thread. If you want to continually argue stick it on your own thread I have to be honest that I don't pay to be a sponsor on here to keep reading people having a go at each other it really does annoy me. If you don't pack it in I will have to put you over my knee and give you a damned good spanking. Take that last bit back I may end up in the dock with Dave lee Travis.

[procricket]

Yes sorry mate I'm going to get a look at one of your bats on Sunday very much looking forward to it. You never know i might put my money where my mouth is if there as good as i think there going to be i just wish JB had a lighter one mate.

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Why what weight do you use. JB?