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[tim2000s]

We've seen a lot of discussion over previous weeks about different grades of willow and how performance is more important than looks. But when buying a bat from a bat shop, or a selecting a cleft with a batmaker, how do you go about ensuring that you get that performance that you're after?

Do you have an approach that says "Pay the money, get the best bat that WILL have the best performance"? Do you tap it up, with a mallet, finger, something else and say "That's the one"? Do you trust that batmakers know their onions and simply go on what the bat feels like?

I'm intrigued, as generally, I'll let a batmaker make a bat and take what they give me, trusting that they know what they are doing. When I've been present (the once) the batmaker and I tapped up all the clefts and selected the one that felt and sounded the best. If I go into a shop to buy I tap the bats with my finger and then select on this and pick up, but generally on pick-up more.

We talk about wanting bats with the best performance, so how do we as a group try and ensure that we are getting that?

[Alvaro]

Well, Tim.
Please see my Hits Hard purchase. I think that the first thing is to go to a shop not actually wanting a bat! Or at least, not a specific thing.
I agree that pick up helps, but I would have bought what felt a rock hard SS if that were the only proviso. So, tapping with a finger and then a ball meant that I couldn't leave it.

Also, sometimes a bat maker might know what they think is the best cleft for you, but this may not actually come to be true if he balls it up and makes a toothpick. Having a mate go with you often helps. 

I think, also, even if you buy too many bats, like me, it doesn't make you an expert! Heck, even my wife helped me pick out the cleft for my birthday bat (it's a beauty). You can do your research, have all the mystery of crafting a natural product clear in your head and it can still go wrong. It's luck of the draw really, between getting a good bat and 'THE ONE'. Taking your time until there is one you can't bear to think someone else may own is also a giveaway. One guy I played with took a blindfold with him and collected four or five he liked the pick up of and would then do a blind test.

Also, the forum fad of giving a bat time (!? ) should really be followed. How long is long enough to judge the best performance?

[ProCricketer1982]

I trust the bat maker. They should know more than I do and so you have to trust their judgement. Of course, my only fear is that they just pick from a set stock where the best ones are already gone so you actually don't end up with as good a one as you would want.

tbh, I'm too crap at the game to notice anyway. I mean, I had a light hit with a aldred butterfly last night, no knocking in etc.. just defending.. it flew!!

[Buzz]

I just take what ever bat the (trusted) batmaker sends/picks for me - within my weight confines of 2lbs9-2lbs11.

Ideally I like a larger oval handle - but have found ways to get around that with grips and binding.

The key is "trusted".

I have also been pretty successful picking bats from eBay.

At the end of the day, I have been lucky enough to score runs with terrible bats and good bats - best not to think too much about it and
a. like the person you are giving your money to
b. like the branding
c. use the bat as much as possible

I do get jealous when at a batoff and someone wonders up with a bat which feels amazing with the mallet - but they have usually paid a fortune for it and I am way to tight for that (witness my £40 purchase!)

[Nickauger]

Definitely agree about the 'like the person you're giving the money too when buying a bat'.

[Northern monkey]

I tend to ask the shop owner/bat maker for their recommendation initially
Then try the pick up, play a few shots etc with what they have put forward

Then for me, I have to bounce a good quality ball on it, ,I know a lot prefer a mallet, but I play cricket with a ball,not a mallet.
That to me, is gonna give me an idea of how long the middle/sweet spot is, and if the sweet spot is centralised or not

Two of the best bats I've had regarding long and wide  middles,(ace, and a gray nicks) were both not the prettiest looking bats, the Ace bat was a grade two bat. The GN bats middle is huge, still the best bit of willow I've ever come across.

I think, cost does come into it a little bit, ,but if that perfect bats there in front of you, ,it's very hard to say no to!ha

As regards trusting a bat makers choice, hmm, suppose so, , I had a laver made, that was ok after removing three ounces of it
Had three M&H bats,which have all been well below my expectations
But then my Affinity,(made from what Marcus recommended) is stunning .

[ProCricketer1982]

I tend to ask the shop owner/bat maker for their recommendation initially
Then try the pick up, play a few shots etc with what they have put forward

Then for me, I have to bounce a good quality ball on it, ,I know a lot prefer a mallet, but I play cricket with a ball,not a mallet.
That to me, is gonna give me an idea of how long the middle/sweet spot is, and if the sweet spot is centralised or not

Two of the best bats I've had regarding long and wide  middles,(ace, and a gray nicks) were both not the prettiest looking bats, the Ace bat was a grade two bat. The GN bats middle is huge, still the best bit of willow I've ever come across.

I think, cost does come into it a little bit, ,but if that perfect bats there in front of you, ,it's very hard to say no to!ha

As regards trusting a bat makers choice, hmm, suppose so, , I had a laver made, that was ok after removing three ounces of it
Had three M&H bats,which have all been well below my expectations
But then my Affinity,(made from what Marcus recommended) is stunning .

does a brand like say M&H have one bat maker? or several? Maybe there is one top end bat maker and then 'apprentices' who, without being rude.. aren't going to be as good so produce less quality bats (excluding the odd one who will turn out highly skilled).  You have to trust the guy making your bat really, that's probably why we as bat geeks go with smaller brands more and even then, we tend to try most out, then go back to the one who we 'feel' gives us the best work.

less informed or ones that don't care people will always but a Kook, GN etc purely because they know no different or just won't believe that GN etc aren't the best.

[Northern monkey]

I was a bit naive really, with the M&H bats, ,they all looked amazing and just presumed they would be good bats
I'm not sure who makes or made them, ,but I've only seen two of their bats that have been exceptional
And for what they cost, I would expect exceptional performing bats

One of the lads at our club,is sponsored by them, ,I use the term sponsored loosely,as he only gets a little discount, ,
He has eight bats, and they are all crap! Most have either broken, or just not really that good
When he goes back to Taunton, they just offer a discount on another bat

I would much rather put my faith in someone like Marcus@Affinity or Aldred bats to sort me a decent bat

[Seniorplayer]

My approach to selecting a new match bat is that the cleft needs to be multi grained light and low density. Handle thickness, pickup and feel in my normal batting stance are more important to me than how far The ball will travel of the blade.Then a swing of the bat to check my balance is the bat to heavy or to light ? Followed by a tap up with a ball across the full width and length of the face. Having said although I know what my requirements are there are no cricket shops in my area therefore I have to take a risk and trust a batmaker to manufacture what I have requested including how  and when the bat will eventually perform.

[fasteddie]

For many years I would use whatever Claire at Warsop suggested. Happily walking out with a new bat every year or two.

The older I get the most fussy I become. Now I like too root around a workshop like a truffle hound.

Does it make a difference? Nope, I just feel better.

How do I pick a bat? I trust the bat maker. It's their job after all. The only main stream bats I've used are my old pro grade Newbery and my current Newbery SPS Mjolnir. I trust TK.

[ppccopener]

im going with fast eddie here 

trust who makes the bat has got to be the important thing. TK is the original and prob still the best. salix are great but expensive, there seems to be a shadow over M and H for some reason and dont even go there with Woodstock-although I would have a woodstock bat because I think I know where they come from...

personally ive got a rob pack puma off ebay and i'm happy that care and attention went into making it. it was second hand and quite cheap.
i would'nt pay 280 or whatever it is for the custom one,but that's just me

so it needs to be value for money as well

[Blank Bats]

1. handle needs to be right
2. pick up and feel
3 rebound
4 cosmetics

[tim2000s]

So what I'm reading of the respondents so far is that mostly, when you buy a new bat, you don't really know how it's going to perform. You buy a brand that you trust will (eventually) perform, and you make sure you find one which you like the feel and look of.

I'm also sensing that many of us don't ever see a bat before we buy it and go on the batmaker or shop owner's word rather than test anything ourselves?

Or am I missing something?

[Stuey]

I put a lot of weight on the personnal service, if somone is willing to spend the time to proivde me with a good bat and good service, I'm  willing to pay for that service, fairs fair. I favour batmakers like Mr Aldred over the big retailers.

[ProCricketer1982]

So what I'm reading of the respondents so far is that mostly, when you buy a new bat, you don't really know how it's going to perform. You buy a brand that you trust will (eventually) perform, and you make sure you find one which you like the feel and look of.

I'm also sensing that many of us don't ever see a bat before we buy it and go on the batmaker or shop owner's word rather than test anything ourselves?

Or am I missing something?

This is where the likes of jake will in theory have an advantage as he offers the ability to actually have a hit with bats. It's the same theory I'm going with, have a bat in each model for people to actually have a hit with. True that won't help buyers in Scotland but it should get anyone within an hour/hour and a half heading your way rather than a local competitor etc.