Well I can't put it off any longer.
I was nagged about getting a thread up by a couple of people yesterday, and I've just uploaded the pictures to prove my trip happened.
I made the trip down to Kent yesterday to visit Matt at
@hell4leather cricket H4L is a brand I've only heard good things about, have seen a couple get used to devastating effect and when I finally got to have a hit with one it was love at first
agricultural swipe to cow cover drive!
After the fun of accidents on the M27 and M25 I finally got to Kent after about 2 and a half hours!
I met
@simonmay5 at his place and he drove me to Matt's workshop, a further half hour in the car. Upon arrival Matt greeted us and made me a bangin' cuppa (much needed after my trip, the first of many great "little things" Matt did to make me feel welcome).
I already had some softs put to one side, and had a look at Matt's bat covers too. This wasn't a particularly important part of the trip, but Matt was going out of his way to help, and no question was too stupid or any request too much effort, within minuted I felt as if I was speaking to a friend rather than a salesman.
After a bit of smalltalk about all things cricket, I was given a guided tour of the workshop, being shown the press and how Matt had set it up, then all the tools for making the bats and the machines for finishing the bats off once down (more on this later!)
I was then given free reign of all of Matt's boxes! I had a job to chose what to go for here, as I had a choice of handled clefts to nearly finished bats to chose from.
After going through all the clefts I had picked about 15 I liked. I then moved onto the boxes in the showroom of nearly ready bats. I had already decided on which profile to go for by this stage, and a few bats grabbed my attention.
I finally settled on a G2 Warbird, based on the lovely light pickup and response off the Mallet. Picking a bat based on response at Matt's is another mission in itself, I could have spent all day tapping up bats and clefts without deciding on a best performer! I was just lucky to find the feather light feeling cleft when I did or I could still be there now enjoying the selection of willow!
Having picked my bat, Matt kindly put it on his magic knocking in machine and we went back to our chat. Speaking to Matt was worth the trip on it's own. You can tell that he is truly passionate about what he does, and this is reflected in the service and end product. I have no idea how long it actually took, but in what seemed like no time at all Matt disappeared and was back again with my now knocked in bat. This is where I failed my audition to be Matt's apprentice! He let me give my own bat a polish, I thought I had done a good job but evidently not! A final proper polish from Matt the master, and some stickers applied meant the bat was finished and I was the owner of a beautiful G2 Warbird!
At this moment a delivery of 20 (meant to be 21) boxes arrived, which myself and Simon helped Matt unload. After a particularly heavy one which made the delivery driver tell me "I f**king hate cricket" Matt realised there was a box missing, this was located and we got on with moving the delivery. It was at this moment I was given a world exclusive! Myself and Simon got the first look at the new Warbird Duffle, and I was the first person to get their grubby hands on one! It's a beautiful bag and may finally be "the one" for me!
All this said and as wonderful a day as I had, I did see a darker side of the industry that not everyone will be aware of. There was a rather significant pile of what I thought were clefts for Matt to use. They were however clefts that were not able to be used due to various damages, it was really heartbreaking to see the amount of wood that was going to go to waste, but as willow is a natural resource this is unfortunately something that cannot be avoided
I could have written pages and pages on my trip, but have tried to give an abridged version of events to keep the thread a respectable length. I cannot sing Matt's praises enough and the quality of the good speaks for itself. Anyone thinking of paying a visit please do so, I promise you won't regret it! The only thing I regret is that I had to leave and that I was having such a great time watching Matt work and talking I didn't take more pictures. Maybe next time
The showroom
A few beauties on Matt's wall
A few names on the door, I didn't get to add my autograph to it!
A few bats in for copies, refurbs or repairs
So many handled clefts (including a couple I'd put to one side)
How was I meant to pick just one?!
And lastly, Matt putting some finishing touches to my new toy
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Topic: My trip to the workshop of my dreams! (Read 4948 times)