It's been a while since I've made such a large thread, but bear with me - I can guarantee that the pics are at least (kinda) worth it! (I think the last time was when I received my Lavers) I'll write a short description of the bats based on my initial impressions, and also include the measured specs.
Okay, so first up, we have pics of all 3 bats together. I completely forgot to add in my B3 stickered BAS, which would highlight how much the volume of bats seem to have changed pretty significantly even over past few years.
Oh, apologies about the quality of the pictures of grains, the lighting in that room isn't the greatest, and flash hides a lot of the imperfections as well as dampening the definition of the grains. Trust me, the Exploder is one of the most stunning bats I've owned in terms of looks!
I have also given them all an oil, so will update with more pics once the oil dries, and hopefully the grains will be clearer then.
Now onto the individual pictures, specs and descriptions! We have the BAS Players Edition up first:
BAS Players Specs:
Weight - 2lb 10.88oz
Edge - 40mm
Spine - Approx 63mm
Shoulder - 14mm
Toe edge - 20mm
Toe - 24mm
Handle - Round
Concaving - Minimal
Width - 106mm
Blessed with a face of 13 grains, heartwood on the RH outside edge, with a blemish or two in places where they aren't too visible and plenty of curves where they are needed, it is safe to say this is an absolute beauty. (As are the other two) The Players grade is the top offering from BAS, and this particular specimen is a pretty damn awesome bat. Boasting impressive numbers for its dimensions and weight, along with a gorgeous pick up and incredible performance, I won't be surprised if this beast finds its way into my kitbag. Profile wise, it has plenty of wood all round, especially in the hitting area. This profile is actually a bit like a hybrid of the following two... Finishing wise, the finish is excellent. Not quite the best I've seen, but very good indeed.
Next up, we have the BAS Exploder (Yup, agreed, not the best model name):
BAS Exploder Specs:
Weight - 2lb 9.51oz
Edge - 38-39mm
Spine - Approx 62mm
Shoulder - 13mm
Toe edge - 18-19mm
Toe - 23mm
Handle - Semi-Oval
Concaving - Minimal to none
Width - 104-105mm
With at least 20 grains and no blemishes, it may seem strange that this isn't a Players - that's because it was apparently stickered up for a sponsored player who would normally use the Exploder range. (Not been told who, but if it is a reject, I'm wondering why it was rejected!) I think almost everyone on here will agree with me that this is a superior piece of willow aesthetically compared to the Players above. With a semi-oval handle, and a feather-light pick up, this will also be in contention for the match bat spot. Not quite as responsive as the Players, which is understandable as it's more than an ounce lighter. Funnily enough, the profile is actually pretty similar, if not the same as the usual Players profile! One of the best looking bats I've ever had the privilege of owning.
And last, but (despite the lower grade) not least, a BAS Commander:
Peculiar duckbill - dubbed the Dolphin:
BAS Commander Specs:
Weight - 2lb 9.68oz
Edge - 39-40mm
Spine - Approx 64mm
Shoulder - 14mm
Toe edge - 22mm
Toe - 26mm
Handle - Round
Concaving - Minimal to none
Width - 104-105mm
Not quite as pretty looking in terms of looks as the previous two, however is all sapwood, which is my preference. I do like the blemishes on this one, as it adds a bit of character to the bat, which also has a rather unusual profile. Dubbed the 'Dolphin' profile, you can probably see the reason for the profile name! The pick up on this one is lovely, not quite as light as the Exploder though. The Players and this actually feel very similar, which speaks volumes for the balance and pick up of the Players, as this Dolphin is an ounce lighter! The performance on this Dolphin is staggering for the grade, I would say it is on par with the Players. It looks very peculiar in the stance due to the 'dolphin-beak' shaping at the toe. This does help with the pick up and balance, as there is a LOT of wood down low, so a very good shape design by BAS. It also doesn't seem to have an absolutely dead toe, which is probably the case as the toe is pretty thick!
Oh, and a final picture, just to illustrate the size of a BAS bat a few years back:
Specs:
Weight - 2lb 10.32oz
Edges - 32mm
Spine - Approx 60mm
Shoulder - 12-13mm
Toe edge - 15mm
Toe - 25mm
Handle - Oval
Concaving - Medium
Width - 106mm
Where has all the extra volume come from? My guesses would be a mixture of extra drying, flatter faces, thinner handles, perhaps even a little extra drying of the cane in the handle! Width may also be a factor, which I've tried to highlight with the measured widths on the specs lists. Before anyone says that the bats aren't that much different, the older BAS is noticeably more concave and is a rounded face, between 5-7mm in camber. The older BAS isn't really a small bat either, but would be considered rather modest by todays standards!
Now that I've given a brief overview of the bats, and said what I like about them, I'll move onto literally the ONLY real negative I can think of - the handle. It seems like this is an ongoing issue with BAS bats, I sent my first one to B3 to rehandle because the handle was not straight. It seems that these bats also have varying degrees of displacement, which is extremely disappointing to what are, otherwise, some of the best quality bats I've ever had. I've been told that they cut their handles and splices without a jig. Seriously, if anyone works for BAS and reads this, please try get a jig installed for cutting the splice and handles! (You can probably see that they are slightly off from the pictures of the back of the bats)
All in all, extremely chuffed with my purchase. A big thanks to Hanif at Eclipse All Sports for hitting me up with these. Always a pleasure to chat to retailers, but I'm going to have to stop, as a friendly chat with them often ends in a purchase. (Or three!)
Enjoy the pics!
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Topic: 3 Big Beautiful BAS Bats - An Initial Review! (Read 13196 times)