Delivered about a week ago now, just have not got around to taking some photographs!
Ordered from Vitas Cricket early in the year - good, efficient service as you would expect. The order was for OSM GP274 pads and gloves and two long bladed bats - a GP274 at 2lb 14 and an Impi at 2lb 12. This is what turned up....
So, the softs first - these I have to say are the classiest looking softs that I've owned. After about six seasons of more or less plain white gear, I like the bits of tan, which give it a very cool retro look. The construction is decent quality and the weight is about what I'd like - not super lightweight by any means, but not feeling heavy or cumbersome. The only observation I'd make is that, for Oversized gear, the gloves are not THAT roomy, though they should relax a bit with a few nets.
Now to the bats. Aside from liking to have more than one match bat, I was really curious to see how the South African made G1 would compare with a Tim Kelley original, albeit one advertised as "performance grade".
Out of the box, the GP274 really grabs attention - its a very big piece of wood, especially given it comes in almost half an ounce UNDER the weight specified, and the stickers are absolutely brilliant, much more impressive in the flesh than they looked in photos beforehand. The shape is...well, its basically a Kudos2 guys...and the wood is actually top notch - two tiny blemishes that make no difference whatsoever and a lot of nice grains. The pick up is nice and the response off the mallet is very good - definitely has that characteristic hard Keeley ping - with a middle that is more or less everything not covered by sticker.
Weird thing is though, I reckon the Impi is going to be the better bat. This one came in a fraction under 2lb 13 but picks up like its not even there - which is weird as all hell because it very definitely is - considering that its a very full profile at the back and has 40mm edges I would have expected it to be a lot weightier. Not complaining on that point by the way! I wondered if it was perhaps a very light pressing but the mallet barely dents the face and the response is good to great already, though there is not quite as much middle as on the GP274.
Overall, for under £600, I'm seriously impressed...
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Topic: My new B&S Gear (Read 18433 times)