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[Aldred Cricket Bats]

there is actually a 3-7 one set up for standard sh standard blade but I have just put it to one side for someone but if he doesn't get back to me its coming on here as I have sent several emails asking to let me know one way or another which is a tad frustrating because I could have sold it yesterday but ho hum 

[brokenbat]

regarding grains, what is your view on how straight they run through the toe? in your experience, have clefts with grains that run vertically through the toe, performed better than ones where they are more slanted when entering the toe?

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Its something that I always looked for when I was picking bats and have always felt that that is one of the key factors towards the bat performing but that then needs to be pressed properly to gain the performance needed for that particular cleft. I use that as a key part when handling and pressing my bats and. some people want coloured wood on an inside edge or outside edge for example but if the grains don't dictate it as far as where they run true through the toe the colour of the wood on the edge is totally secondary to gaining the performance out that cleft. personally I have never found having colour  on one edge or the other makes any difference. if the bats a goer its a goer.   

[brokenbat]

Its something that I always looked for when I was picking bats and have always felt that that is one of the key factors towards the bat performing but that then needs to be pressed properly to gain the performance needed for that particular cleft. I use that as a key part when handling and pressing my bats and. some people want coloured wood on an inside edge or outside edge for example but if the grains don't dictate it as far as where they run true through the toe the colour of the wood on the edge is totally secondary to gaining the performance out that cleft. personally I have never found having colour  on one edge or the other makes any difference. if the bats a goer its a goer.

so do the grains have to run absolutely straight through the toe for best performance? or is a little waviness through the toe still ok for "top end" ?

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

this is how I tend to judge. there is a little more to it but the pictures give you an idea
perfect


acceptable


not acceptable

[Bats_Entertainment]

One of the reasons toe-guards can be a bit of a turn-off?

I know Andrew Kember is keen on the "straight grains through the toe" thing.

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Well it also makes the toe weaker in my opinion if the grains are not straight.

[Neon Cricket]

Well it also makes the tow weaker in my opinion if the grains are not straight.

That was my understanding of it too - from what I've been told when the grains run off at an angle they're more liable to cracking when digging out yorkers etc

[Shortpitch]

Paul, what wud you do the clefts with not acceptable grain pattern at the toe???

[potzy248]

Paul, what wud you do the clefts with not acceptable grain pattern at the toe???

Chucks a toe guard on them 

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Chucks a toe guard on them 

Agh toe guards cover a multitude of sins. I don't use them, don't like them never have and have found more bats get damp seep under them in this country because people don't inspect their bats and they can't see what's happening beneath the guard. May be they are fine in dry countries but I don't like them at all.

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Paul, what wud you do the clefts with not acceptable grain pattern at the toe???

Don't get many that haven't got straight grains through one end. That's part of the process choosing which end is the handle end. The duff ones? Well generally make fielding bats out of them to be honest for coaches I know. Proper fielding bats

[TBONTB]

Don't get many that haven't got straight grains through one end. That's part of the process choosing which end is the handle end. The duff ones? Well generally make fielding bats out of them to be honest for coaches I know. Proper fielding bats

You could always start a 'student' cricket offering the slightly lesser quality bit of willow to students at nock down prices??!

I am super surprised that nobody has started to do that.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Don't get many that haven't got straight grains through one end. That's part of the process choosing which end is the handle end. The duff ones? Well generally make fielding bats out of them to be honest for coaches I know. Proper fielding bats

There was a pro in one of the magazines saying one of the things he looked for was straight grains in the shoulder!

[Bats_Entertainment]

Proper fielding bats

I wish I could have, just once in my life, done fielding practice...