Thought I would review these two.
Stats
H4L NV
Weight: 2lb10oz
Grade: 2
Cost: £80 second hand
Handle: thin semi oval
Edge: 37mm
Spine: 58mm
Carbine
Weight: 2lb11oz
Grade: 2
Cost: £215 inc full length cover
Handle: medium semi oval
Edge: 37mm
Spine: 62mm
The maximum swell positions have been indicated by the location of the pound coin
Both bats perform extremely well though the carbine has not been fully knocked in. The carbine possibly has the performance edge towards the bottom of the bat though the NV has a very long middle and performs outrageously well from an inch from the toe to an inch below the stickers. The carbine is slightly less responsive higher up the blade.
The carbine has a fairly large bow but the bow is consistent thought out the bat and not just an under pressed toe
The NV has a slightly less pronounced bow and starts further down the blade (I'm not suggesting an under pressed toe)
The NV has a slight hint of concaving and the carbine none.
Aesthetics:
They are both grade 2 bats and I have come to believe that grading has no impact on performance so I'm not bothered by the grains. Sticker wise I prefer the front of the carbine, less is more in my view. The back of both bats in my view are way too cluttered.
Pick up:
I have the smallest hands in the world so the very slightly thinner NV handle feels good for me. The NV also has a slightly larger knob? (Don't know the technical term) at the top of the handle and I personally like that. Weight wise there is little between them and I would be comfortable batting a long net session with either. Both pick up well and both feel well balanced.
Handle:
As I said both are thin semi ovals. I broke the handle of the NV at the end of last season and sent it to H4L for a rehandle. They did a brilliant job and applied the latest stickers. The carbine has a stiff handle and NV's has a slight flex.
Psychological:
When standing at the crease and looking down at the bats the NV just appears wider. It isn't, so I can only put that down to the slight concaving? Another issue for me is having a bat that other people in my club/division don't have, both fulfil this criteria well.
Which is best?
They both pick up well, respond extremely well off of the centre line of the bat and more importantly, off centre and they are not common in the league I play. I have not use the carbine yet but I will probably use this early season or when there is a low bounce. It is likely that when it is fully knocked in the performance of both bats will be roughly equal. I am now happy that a bat from a top maker will likely perform extremely well and the difference between these bats is minimal. If I could only have one of them I would choose the NV.
Author
Topic: H4L NV v Affinity Carbine (Read 4094 times)