Hi guys, I've done a good job of trimming my collection recently, but somehow, I keep ending up with even more bats! I've been pretty crazy about purchases in the past week or 2, thanks to spotting some absolute bargains, and this is one of them! I know, I know, I'm getting sick of reading my new topics too, but I figured this was too good a bargain not to share, so bear with me.
I'll give you the pictures first, and then I'll babble on about the bat etc.
Right, so I saw this on the eBay bargain spots, and I decided to keep a close eye on it, and won it for a bargain price at £107 posted, which is less than half the price of one of these new. The bat was said to have been used for a couple of throw downs, but really, it's pretty much brand new. The seller also packaged it in a ridiculous way, which meant that the bat wasn't going to get damaged, but also in a way which made it near impossible to get out!
Onto the bat itself, initially, it weighed what I thought was 2lb 9.85oz and the pick up was actually not that great if I'm honest. It just felt a touch bottom heavy and not quite balanced, so I decided I'd add a strip of lead tape to counterbalance it slightly. After adding the lead tape, I noticed that the toe guard was peeling slightly, and I managed to actually peel it off with ease, which isn't a great impression. Perhaps the toe guard adhesive needs to be a fair bit stronger! That being said, I don't really like toe guards, as they actually add a bit more weight to the bat than you would think, with this particular one weighing around 0.3oz. The bat then weighed what I thought was 2lb 10oz, and picks up a dream. Turns out I was actually a nugget, and the bat was actually 2lb 11.85oz, (2.12 now) which explained why the pick up wasn't quite right for the weight I thought it was. (Still feel it wasn't quite right for me) Because my scales only weigh in ounces, I took 42oz to be 2.8, so it explains why the pick up wasn't quite what I liked! It's now 2lb 12oz, (44oz) and has a toe weight of 25.64oz, so has a PI value of 5.83.
As you can see, it is a lovely bat with 9 straight grains, (True grade 1) and is very well made and finished. I quite like the stickers, especially the size of the front one, as it shows off the wood very nicely. The concaving actually looks pretty heavy from a side on view for some reason, but it is actually nothing major, I would say it is a minimal-moderate concave, which I quite like. The size of the bat isn't anything outrageous for the weight, but it is a good size. The edges are a good size, at 34mm, and a 60-61mm spine, and the face has a camber of 4mm. The response is good, and I feel it shouldn't take too long to get going and become something rather special. The playing area on this is pretty big, and reaches pretty low down, thanks to the spine running through the toe. After teaching the brother how to oil a bat, and making him give it an oil, the grains look even nicer! (Yes, I intend to train him to be a human knocking in machine)
All in all, a great product at a great price. (£220 I believe) I actually chatted to Garrett a while back about a potential purchase, (On Facebook) and he was very knowledgeable about everything. He was very open and honest about things, and didn't try to BS or push me into buying a bat. (Don't ask me about the exact origins, I didn't ask) Quite simple, if you want a premium product at a mid-range price, then maybe have a think about Python - proper grade 1 clefts, which have been hand picked by someone who knows more than a thing or two about bats and batting, made in England by a very good batmaker, judging by the quality of this bat, and at the price point of a Gray Nicolls Players grade bat. I know he isn't popular with everyone on here, but from my own experience and view, he's a passionate guy who knows his stuff and is just trying to get the best gear to people without them paying ridiculous prices.
Author
Topic: Python Cricket bat initial review (Read 8164 times)