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[shax12]

CA for me and it is still my top bat out of all my bats. No H4L yet.

Which CA you have mate?

[InternalTraining]

CA-SM 18 - http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=32133.0

[shax12]

CA-SM 18

CA-SM 18 look really nice. How's the balance and ping on the bat. Also how big is the sweetspot on it. Does it ping lower down the bat too as its a mid middle bat.

[InternalTraining]

CA-SM 18 look really nice. How's the balance and ping on the bat. Also how big is the sweetspot on it. Does it ping lower down the bat too as its a mid middle bat.

The bat weighs 2-11.0 and is a little bottom heavy. I normally use 2-13 so it is still easy to use for me.

It pings everywhere. When I got it, I was concerned that toe may not ping as I drive and flick from the bottom part of the bat but this was not an issue. The response near the toe is amazing! I drive from the pitch and also flick to the leg side any full/york length deliveries, bat's response has been great.

I gave this bat a good round of mallet knocking before it saw the nets. What I found interesting was how quickly the bat starting pinging during the mallet knocking process. The only other bat that came close to that performance level is one of my B3s. I have consistent ball marks of my hooks and pulls between 9-11 inches off the toe. These are boundary shots and the bat is pinging that high.

Also, this is my first duck-bill shaped bat and I have just fallen in love with the shape.

[alee]

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=33330.0

Yes the CA's look good grain wise but they are never the weight declared and are often shorter blade too.

Got a CA for a friend. Sticker on the side says 2.7 it turned out to be 2.12. No joke, i'm serious. And now he has to sell it, and it was one of the top model, CA 12000.

[Vitas Cricket]

Got a CA for a friend. Sticker on the side says 2.7 it turned out to be 2.12. No joke, i'm serious. And now he has to sell it, and it was one of the top model, CA 12000.

I've never seen one that is the weight stated on the sticker. The number of people who come into the shop with their shiny new CA, and without saying as much basically criticise the size/profile of the bats I have in stock compared to their huge CA at 2'7 is in the dozens every season. I take great delight in putting their 2'7 on the scales. My best result so far is just over 2'14! I've seen a couple at just under 2'9 but unsurprisingly these were ones that were visibly smaller in terms of overall size and also blade length.

It's a minefield, and totally not worth the risk in my opinion.  Don't even get me started on their other pointless sticker. 'Fully knocked' - ridiculous statement!

[Vitas Cricket]

I just want bat with good balance and pick up. And one that's pings brilliantly and has big sweetspot.

Don't we all?

Seriously though, I am going to see Matt very soon, and within reason I can pick out (or arrange to be made) anything that you like.

[InternalTraining]

I've never seen one that is the weight stated on the sticker. The number of people who come into the shop with their shiny new CA, and without saying as much basically criticise the size/profile of the bats I have in stock compared to their huge CA at 2'7 is in the dozens every season. I take great delight in putting their 2'7 on the scales. My best result so far is just over 2'14! I've seen a couple at just under 2'9 but unsurprisingly these were ones that were visibly smaller in terms of overall size and also blade length.

It's a minefield, and totally not worth the risk in my opinion.  Don't even get me started on their other pointless sticker. 'Fully knocked' - ridiculous statement!y

I know quite a lot of people who use CAs. The stickers always indicate a lower weight - theory is that it is the weight without add-ons (grips, stickers, toe-guard). The most variance I have seen is 2 ounces. Another thing I have heard is that they use drier clefts for performance. Is it possible that there is weight gain due to moisture difference. Despite the weight difference, they are very popular bats.

Regarding the "Fully Knocked" sticker, in my experience, my bat came alive very quickly and I am wondering if I had to knock it at all. Our team opener took his KP version CA straight to a bat and was hitting sixes. By the same token, lot of "knocked" bats require net time because, they theory goes, the fibers straighten up and have to be knocked back into place.

My Lavers were 2,3 ounce heavier than what was shipped by Laver & Wood; they were also knocked by the bat makers and still required knocking.

The weight of the bat and knocking/readiness is something, I feel, that can't be pinned down 100%.

[Vitas Cricket]

I know quite a lot of people who use CAs. The stickers always indicate a lower weight - theory is that it is the weight without add-ons (grips, stickers, toe-guard). The most variance I have seen is 2 ounces. Another thing I have heard is that they use drier clefts for performance. Is it possible that there is weight gain due to moisture difference. Despite the weight difference, they are very popular bats.

Regarding the "Fully Knocked" sticker, in my experience, my bat came alive very quickly and I am wondering if I had to knock it at all. Our team opener took his KP version CA straight to a bat and was hitting sixes. By the same token, lot of "knocked" bats require net time because, they theory goes, the fibers straighten up and have to be knocked back into place.

My Lavers were 2,3 ounce heavier than what was shipped by Laver & Wood; they were also knocked by the bat makers and still required knocking.

The weight of the bat and knocking/readiness is something, I feel, that can't be pinned down 100%.

Knocked in, compared to being ready to hit sixes, to come alive, to ping, or whatever the terminology, is a very personal thing. Some people are happy to use a bat straight away, others prefer to wait and prepare their bat carefully over a period of time, playing it in until a point where it is really performing. What I am referring to is that fact that no CA I have seen has been anywhere near a mallet. The edges are sharper than most knives in my kitchen!

They are certainly dry I agree with you, this definitely promotes performance ahead of longevity.

[InternalTraining]

Knocked in, compared to being ready to hit sixes, to come alive, to ping, or whatever the terminology, is a very personal thing. Some people are happy to use a bat straight away, others prefer to wait and prepare their bat carefully over a period of time, playing it in until a point where it is really performing. What I am referring to is that fact that no CA I have seen has been anywhere near a mallet. The edges are sharper than most knives in my kitchen!

They are certainly dry I agree with you, this definitely promotes performance ahead of longevity.

Edges are sharp, that is correct. Maybe this where retailers can push CA to change/remove their stickers.

Having said that, priorities of a bat  enthusiast/collector v/s a middle class weekend cricketer (in the US) are very different. The latter may only care about a bat that performs well, perform well quickly, and performs well quickly for a reasonable price point. We in America, don't have the luxury of walking into a cricket store to hand pick a bat (all my bats were shipped from overseas). People look for tried and true brands. And for that criteria, CA bats are a great value for money.   

[shax12]

The bat weighs 2-11.0 and is a little bottom heavy. I normally use 2-13 so it is still easy to use for me.

It pings everywhere. When I got it, I was concerned that toe may not ping as I drive and flick from the bottom part of the bat but this was not an issue. The response near the toe is amazing! I drive from the pitch and also flick to the leg side any full/york length deliveries, bat's response has been great.

I gave this bat a good round of mallet knocking before it saw the nets. What I found interesting was how quickly the bat starting pinging during the mallet knocking process. The only other bat that came close to that performance level is one of my B3s. I have consistent ball marks of my hooks and pulls between 9-11 inches off the toe. These are boundary shots and the bat is pinging that high.

Also, this is my first duck-bill shaped bat and I have just fallen in love with the shape.

Looks like you have found yourself a gem of a bat mate.

[shax12]

Don't we all?

Seriously though, I am going to see Matt very soon, and within reason I can pick out (or arrange to be made) anything that you like.

Thanks. Will have a think about it and let you know. When you going?

[alee]

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=33330.0

Vitas Cricket mentioned the details above. The date is Feb 4.

[13th Man]

Hi

Can't comment on CA.

H4L gr8 bats, really nicely pressed, they are good to go from day 1.  Worth knocking them in by hand and taking your time.  Thin handles in my opinion, but easily fixed with a second grip.

Cheers

Mark

[farnham_quins_2]

Just picked up 2 H4Ls this season.

1 Devil, which looks pretty nice, picks up well and has decent power too (got that from Paul IJC). Used in a couple of nets so far.

Also got a G2 Tempo, which I'm yet to use. But I love the old Tempo shape, and it has a ridiculous amount of wood in the middle. Need to get his knocked in, then will try it out.

Having used a few brands like BB, Red Ink, GN, GM & SS - H4L definitely competes with all these brands, and is better value for money. Not used CA but haven't heard great things, also Matt will get you exactly what you want.