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[MWilson14]

Hi Guys,

Wanting to buy a new cricket bat.
As you guys know, one of the hardest decisions in buying a bat, is what one to buy?
I want to buy 1 of these four sticks, Heard some amazing stuff about Screaming cat, and Laver and wood and a bit about Affinity. But almost nothing about Fisher cricket bats? (Made by Lachlan Fisher in Melbourne) Is the screaming cat worth the 125-225 dollars? From what I believe, Fishers best wood, is the same as Julian s professional grade?
Please help me out about this, Comment opinions, and I would love for you guys to post some pictures of these bats if so.

Regards Matt

[Wickets-then-runs]

Welcome to the forum mate! As a "newby", you will soon learn that it is not "I want to buy one of these fours bats" but rather, "I have just purchased my fourth bat (possibly this month!), and which should I take pics of and review first?" 

[Wickets-then-runs]

In all seriousness, I have owned L&W, Scats and a few Affinities and can recommend ALL three of them wholeheartedly, although I found the L&W a bit hit and miss with regards to weights and performance. I must admit that recently, I have bought a H4L off IJC and a Black Mamba Pro for Uzi and am seriously impressed with their performance! You can't go wrong on here, mate! Consider Paul at Aldred also, he has a fantastic, no bulls%#t attitude towards bats and what works! Very much the same with Julian from Scat and Marcus from Affinity! The BEST performing bat I have every had is my current Persona from Affinity! The H4L and Uzi aren't far behind though...

[smilley792]

Just been on fishers website,


Nothing shouts "buy me". The stickers are awful, and they show the same profile over and over again.


Interesting that they claim you should buy a net bat as the "bowling machine blunt performance, and kills rebound" on a match bat?

Is that BS?

Makes me think "stay away" than "buy buy"

[tim2000s]

How much do you want to pay? They are all good brands and all work very, very well. The one which will make you a better player is the cheapest with the remainder spent on coaching.

[WalkingWicket37]

Interesting that they claim you should buy a net bat as the "bowling machine blunt performance, and kills rebound" on a match bat?

I'd go the other way, bats get better the more they're used, so using your match bat in the nets is a good idea as it helps the bat 'open up'z

That's only up to a point though, after a lot of runs and balls a bat starts to die (apparently, I'm not sure anyone on here would keep a bat long enough to find out!) 

[WalkingWicket37]

How much do you want to pay? They are all good brands and all work very, very well. The one which will make you a better player is the cheapest with the remainder spent on coaching. one with most grains, biggest edges and whichever one they tell you is Pingier!

[Number4]

I'd go the other way, bats get better the more they're used, so using your match bat in the nets is a good idea as it helps the bat 'open up'z

That's only up to a point though, after a lot of runs and balls a bat starts to die (apparently, I'm not sure anyone on here would keep a bat long enough to find out!) 

I think it comes down to the type of balls used... I don't like the "bola" type balls as I believe it does kill a bat. Bit like using cheap and nasty cricket balls... Not good for bats are they

[smilley792]

I think it comes down to the type of balls used... I don't like the "bola" type balls as I believe it does kill a bat. Bit like using cheap and nasty cricket balls... Not good for bats are they

Couldn't agree less. A ridicolous statement,

My Malik has done about 10hours against bola balls, without a single issue. Yet the one kid with the sports direct ball put a 2inch round indent in the dam thing and a fair few cracks. And that was just one ball! I refused to face him again and just let it hit the back.


Maybe you have different "bola" balls, but ours are kinda rubberised, and IMO softer than a normal ball. While also been made to last as they get a fair amount of abuse.

Edit:

A quote from bola's website

"BOLA 5oz Practice Balls. Polyurethane practice balls in red or yellow with soft case to protect bats from damage. Dimpled like a golf ball for stable flight. These give the best accuracy and realistic bounce. Yellow balls for better visibility indoors. Red for realism."

[Buzz]

I have just bought a £45 bat from MSR.

Based on the above bat options that will leave me somewhere between £200-£300 to spend on coaching...

Too many bat snobs around here!!

Edit: I am just off to wash my mouth out

[fasteddie]

I have just bought a £45 bat from MSR.

Based on the above bat options that will leave me somewhere between £200-£300 to spend on coaching...

Too many bat snobs around here!!

Edit: I am just off to wash my mouth out

A life on the backbenches awaits......

[Rob580]

I think it comes down to the type of balls used... I don't like the "bola" type balls as I believe it does kill a bat. Bit like using cheap and nasty cricket balls... Not good for bats are they

Agreed, having tried to do catching practice with Bola Balls before they hurt your hands a damn sight more than a cricket ball!

And i've been told at Warsop before to stay away from Bowling Machines with a new bat, and they do know a thing or two about willow. Which is why I find this notion of using the bowling machine to knock in a bat totally absurd.

[fasteddie]

You have found the right and wrong place.

Right; You'll get loads of no bs opinions and people with a lot of experience of many brands.

Wrong; You'll end-up buying a room full of bats.

Middle ground?
Tim came closest.
Buy the one which gives you wood and scores you runs.
Spend the rest of a great bottle of wine (I'm off with Buzz tin hat on).

Enjoy. 

[Vitas Cricket]

A bowling machine ball is the perfect way to get a bat going. There are plenty of established bat makers who promote the use of a bowling amchine to knock in the face of a bat.

If BOLA balls should be avoided because they kill the ping, then so should cricket balls?! They are just as hard, and the same weight. The only difference is a BOLA ball doesn't have a nasty hard/sharp seam, which is what makes a BOLA ball ideal for knocking a bat in, as you don't have to worry about the seam bursting through the top layer of wood while it is still vulnerable.

I think the batmakers advising against BOLA balls are doing so for a different reason. Everyone knows a hard indoor surface has no give, nor does a BOLA ball, so when you jab a yorker the bat is the one that is likely to go. Toe repairs are the most common repair work in my experience, so these bat makers are sensibly minimising their after care workload.

Never play at a yorker at indoor nets or when using a bowling machine and you won't have an issue.

I knocked in my laver and wood on the edges and toe with a mallet and sink rim. I then spent many hours on a bowling machine to get the bat going. To start with it was hard, with a lot of vibration feedback and the performance bordered on planky. It is now one of the best bats i have owned.

[Rob580]

I was just going on what i'd heard from them and the feedback from my poorly palms! Your reasoning makes perfect sense Mr Vitas, and i'm sure works great.

But it won't annoy my girlfriend and neighbours in the same precise manner knocking one in with a mallet does now will it?