Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
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i12breakfree

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #30 on: April 28, 2016, 07:55:27 PM »

As much as i would love to get a "Pro" willow bat, its not worth it.
I have seen some many $200/300 SS bats which ping equal or better than  pro bats. I have also seen many grade 2 bats ping crazy once they are ready
So not worth paying extra money for pro willow.
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GoodLeave

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #31 on: April 28, 2016, 08:07:10 PM »

I think a lot of it is mental. I think the collective knowledge on the forum has shown that there's just as many G2 pingers as G1+. A Rolex tells the time just like a normal watch, but I know which one I'd rather have!
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Sitonit

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #32 on: April 28, 2016, 08:09:52 PM »

I think a lot of it is mental. I think the collective knowledge on the forum has shown that there's just as many G2 pingers as G1+. A Rolex tells the time just like a normal watch, but I know which one I'd rather have!

A fake Rolex ?
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Tailendfielder

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #33 on: April 28, 2016, 08:27:21 PM »

One advantage of a g1 is some batmakers downgrade planks. Therefore ur more likely to get a gooden. Ive also been told g1 should last longer with less knots and weak spots.
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #34 on: April 28, 2016, 08:33:09 PM »

One advantage of a g1 is some batmakers downgrade planks. Therefore ur more likely to get a gooden. Ive also been told g1 should last longer with less knots and weak spots.

But don't some blemishes (I'm thinking hard bars and butterfly stains) make the wood stronger, so they'd (theoretically) last longer than a perfectly clean all sapwood G1?
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Tailendfielder

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #35 on: April 28, 2016, 09:26:57 PM »

But don't some blemishes (I'm thinking hard bars and butterfly stains) make the wood stronger, so they'd (theoretically) last longer than a perfectly clean all sapwood G1?

Truth is i dont know. Only going on personal experience and what ive been told. Its a good point, I thought it made it firmer, rather than stronger.
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ProCricketer1982

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #36 on: April 28, 2016, 09:32:11 PM »

Truth is i dont know. Only going on personal experience and what ive been told. Its a good point, I thought it made it firmer, rather than stronger.

People will tell you what will sell a bat for the most £££.. G1 will be sold as better as it fetches more money. Enough bat makers on here have clearly stated that grade doesn't make a difference, each piece relies on good bat making skills and pressing.. Even then, naturally some pieces in all grades and densities will perform better than others
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Bats_Galore

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #37 on: April 28, 2016, 09:52:09 PM »

In terms of the grade of willow I am not convinced as I mentioned before that the grade of willow makes a better bat. I would rather have apparently second rate willow from a fine batmaker than the best willow known to man from a lesser maker. To me the pressing and handling are what determine the quality of the bat. The cost issue surely is something different. Popularity (demand) and scarcity (supply) are what determine the price. Very light and oversized clefts with loads of perfect grains are scarce and popular hence the prices. How many retailers want bats with butterfly even though in the write hands it makes a pinger....
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TangoWhiskey

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #38 on: April 29, 2016, 08:46:48 AM »

You really grind the gears it wasn't a question it was a thought.

Without wanting to derail the thread, you really seem to have a chip on your shoulder SP. The number of times I see threads where you have apparently been insulted is remarkable. All Cam did was make a valid point and because it contradicts what you were saying it rubbed you up the wrong way?

Anyway, back on topic. I've had many conversations about this with people I know. One is a Premier League player who isn't sponsored by but has access to 'Pro Willow' from one of the guys at Newbery. He swears blind that his 'Pro bats' are absolutely worth the outlay. He say's that straight, evenly spaced grains will mean the wood is more consistent throughout the bat and therefore this makes the bat better. I'm not convinced as he averaged about 9 last season, though he insist it's not the stick that is (No Swearing Please), it's what's holding the end of it thats the problem. A fair point.

Another person I have spoken to is an A Level Physics teacher who is the wife of our Chairman and knows relatively little about cricket. When I explained the theory about two bats of equal weight but one bat being physically bigger than the other one, she had a real long think about it. She said while it's not as simple as F=MA, the likelihood of the variables adding up to make a significant difference in performance would be negligible.

So, my theory is that a piece of willow is a piece of willow. They are obviously natural products and vary slightly but the vast improvement of the performance comes in the pressing and handling of the cleft, so I think any differences in the block of wood make such a relatively minimal difference to the end results in performance that I doubt it really is worth shelling out £350 for a G1+ over a £170 butterfly. 
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Neon Cricket

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #39 on: April 29, 2016, 09:25:06 AM »

I've always sworn by it being the skill of the bat maker rather than the grade of wood that determines the performance. Ignoring anomalies like butterfly stains etc, all willow is largely the same - it's the quality of the pressing and handling that makes the majority of the difference.

You could have the best cleft of perfectly grained willow in the world, if it's pressed to within an inch of its life then it'll still end up a plank!
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ppccopener

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #40 on: April 29, 2016, 09:38:04 AM »

I've always sworn by it being the skill of the bat maker rather than the grade of wood that determines the performance. Ignoring anomalies like butterfly stains etc, all willow is largely the same - it's the quality of the pressing and handling that makes the majority of the difference.

You could have the best cleft of perfectly grained willow in the world, if it's pressed to within an inch of its life then it'll still end up a plank!

agree with this it's the skill of the batmaker also for me, I don't actually own a G1 bat currently, it's not going to make me play any better, having spoken to a couple of batmakers Grade 2 really is just as good providing you don't always want a perfectly asthetic (I think that's the right word) bat.

Personally I don't think i'm good enough to have any significant difference using an absolute top-of-the-range bat.

a grade 2 from salix,warsop, H4L I would consider perfectly adequate to use. One thing to mention is the balance, how they do it I don't know but the best batmakers make it pick up better(whether it's grade 1 or 2)

just my thoughts.
 :)
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Seniorplayer

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #41 on: April 29, 2016, 10:08:26 AM »

Without wanting to derail the thread, you really seem to have a chip on your shoulder SP. The number of times I see threads where you have apparently been insulted is remarkable. All Cam did was make a valid point and because it contradicts what you were saying it rubbed you up the wrong way?

Anyway, back on topic. I've had many conversations about this with people I know. One is a Premier League player who isn't sponsored by but has access to 'Pro Willow' from one of the guys at Newbery. He swears blind that his 'Pro bats' are absolutely worth the outlay. He say's that straight, evenly spaced grains will mean the wood is more consistent throughout the bat and therefore this makes the bat better. I'm not convinced as he averaged about 9 last season, though he insist it's not the stick that is (No Swearing Please), it's what's holding the end of it thats the problem. A fair point.

Another person I have spoken to is an A Level Physics teacher who is the wife of our Chairman and knows relatively little about cricket. When I explained the theory about two bats of equal weight but one bat being physically bigger than the other one, she had a real long think about it. She said while it's not as simple as F=MA, the likelihood of the variables adding up to make a significant difference in performance would be negligible.

So, my theory is that a piece of willow is a piece of willow. They are obviously natural products and vary slightly but the vast improvement of the performance comes in the pressing and handling of the cleft, so I think any differences in the block of wood make such a relatively minimal difference to the end results in performance that I doubt it really is worth shelling out £350 for a G1+ over a £170 butterfly.

No chip just of the opinion certian people on here. Are always ready to pounce with a condensending comment regarding what others write mabe best to ignore them.
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #42 on: April 29, 2016, 10:24:17 AM »

No chip just of the opinion certian people on here. Are always ready to pounce with a condensending comment regarding what others write mabe best to ignore them.

My comment was in no way meant to be condescending. You posted your thought and I added something to it that popped into my head.

If it came across in that way I apologise, but I was in no way pouncing on anyone or trying to put anyone down
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Neon Cricket

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #43 on: April 29, 2016, 10:32:36 AM »

Ladies! Lets not de-rail another thread lol
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Is Pro Willow Worth it ?
« Reply #44 on: April 29, 2016, 10:51:55 AM »

Ladies! Lets not de-rail another thread lol

When I try to keep it on topic I get acused if pouncing on people and being condescending so I thought going off on a tangent was safer (as long as I don't mention sex, as that's boring apparently)  :(
« Last Edit: April 29, 2016, 11:58:22 AM by WalkingWicket37 »
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