Was intending to buy a Duffle & gloves from OS but don't know why inquired about the bats in stocks and ended up buying SS Gladiator. Firstly about the service, this time around the service from OS was really good, all my emails & inquiries were promptly answered, shared pics of the bat which I ultimately bought. I paid on Thursday, asked to knock it in a bit, was told it'll be shipped on Sat (which it did) and was delivered Monday afternoon at 2 PM, so super fast shipping, was my birthday the next day so was glad to have Gladiator with me on bed on my birthday!
Now about the bat, OS informed it was a special bat and was from batch for International sponsored player, not sure how much of it is true but the bat is excellent.
Specs -
1) Weight - exactly 2.10 (as requested)
2) Handle - Round
3) Profile - Player's fuller profile
4) Edges - 44-45mm, really huge, haven't seen such a size in flesh in this weight
5) Ping - Really good, better than any I had till date
6) Grains - 13 with slight heartwood on inside edge
7) Finish - really good finish, not at par with Laver or others though
Pressing - Soft pressed but not very soft
******Forgot to mention the Pickup)***********
9) Pickup - I would say around 2.9.5, it doesn't feel very light like 2.8/2.7 but definitely feels slightly light/almost equal to it's weight
So all in all a lovely piece of willow, sounds great from tapping the ball, ball does seem to fly from word go. Having paid nearly top of the money I would expect a top grade bat and this one certainly delivers, whether it was a player's bat it may well have been. This bat is huge in terms of amount of wood it has for 2.10, I had a few and have seen plenty of bats but I haven't come across a bat this huge. Profile is full and goes a long way from toe to splice, it is slightly more concaved near the toe & shoulders but the middle is fully non-concaved.
Apart from that bought SS LE sausage style gloves, lovely gloves, very soft and comfortable, finish is very good, very soft Pittard palms. The other thing was TON Duffle in CAMO style (which many on the forum might prefer) very similar to the UK TON Gladiator Elite Duffle. The difference being it does not have bat pocket in the main compartment but it is supposed to be the ones on both sides. Very comfortable duffle, padded straps, looks like it'll fit in my kit easily which does not include wicket keeping kit, with slight adjustment might fit in that as well. I'll let you enjoy the pictures now,
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Topic: SS Gladiator from OS (Read 9563 times)