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[WalkingWicket37]

Right then, I've tidied it up, so it's only fair I do a review of my latest purchase.
I initially contacted Jake about this, as I wasn't sure about the grade. Turns out it is a lower end model, but I like the less aesthetically pleasing willow this price range offers, so I took a punt.

Looks
Now the stickers divide opinions. I really like Hunts County but a lot of people think the branding is "gash"
The red and pink clash beautifully which isn't to everyone's taste, but as the shy and retiring individual I am they're part of what drew me to this particular stick.

Now onto the willow itself. I counted 7 reasonably straight and mostly even grains. About a third of the bat is heartwood (on the right handers inside edge (exactly where I like it) and there aren't any real blemishes in the main hitting area.
Just below the stickers there is what I believe is a small butterfly stain (along with the dark wavy lines to accompany it). It has character but is what I'd think of as a good looking bat.

This first picture was taken in the kitchen as the lighting was best to show the stains on the face and the heartwood/sapwood contrast.



Now onto the pictures that include the animal themed rug!





Shape & Specs
Being a slightly older model this bat isn't big by today's standards. It does have wood in the correct place though.
The swell makes this a mid/low middle, but it isn't a drastic climb or drop so the middle,looks long due to even willow distribution.

Weight: 2lb9.875 (with 1.5 chevron grips and a scuff sheet applied





Edge peak:32mm
Edges at shoulder: 10mm
Edges at toe: 16mm
Toe at thickest point: 23mm
Peak spine height: 60mm
Handle: semi oval - not overly thin or thick, it feels nice in your hands.





Concaving: medium/gentle. It's visibly present but not over the top. Plenty of wood in the middle still but the balance is aided by the wood being taken out.





Pickup
Weighing less than 2lb10 this is a fairly light bat anyway. It is well balance, and if I had to guess the weight I'd probably say "about 2lb9" (make what you will of that).
Playing a few air shots it feels light, but you know when swinging it there's some meat lower down the blade.

Performance
How to judge this having never used the bat?
Using a mallet and a ruler I came up with this:

The bottom 48mm of the bat are a bit dead. (That's the toe, basically)
The ping starts to improve 48mm and more up from the toe, then dies down about 320mm from the toe of the bat.
What I would call the "sweet spot" is around 214mm long, starting 86mm from the toe and ending 300mm from the toe. (The mallet rebounded nicely off this whole section).
The "middle" is around 204mm from the toe. (Going up and down the bat with a mallet, this spot made the nicest sound and the mallet came back off it the quickest!)

And finally, a quick ping test video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AtIu1rRh-kQ

[Boondougal]

whats not to like about that bat (if you ignore the stickers and don't mind the willow) The willow is fine for me but i'm not sure i would choose it, but if someone was to give it too me it would be greatly apreciated.

Personally i have always liked county bats but only owned one as a child.... I'm sure this will be a fair bat and thanks for a full write up.

[leatherseat]

I like the look of the willow - nice bit of character with the heartwood and butterfly stain and would happily have chosen that look. The stickers would have put me off - but they are the easy bit to change / remove.

Enjoy,

David

[Ridenmarke]

The colours really do clash. But the convergence of the edge stickers with the face stickers is quite aesthetically pleasing.

[uknsaunders]

I was going to report the youtube video but they didn't have a taste filter. Pink Butterflies and birds on the Duvet Cam? I think you need to invest in some more manly colours before you buy another bat!

[WalkingWicket37]

I was going to report the youtube video but they didn't have a taste filter. Pink Butterflies and birds on the Duvet Cam? I think you need to invest in some more manly colours before you buy another bat!

The bedding is for the benefit of any "visitors" mate, and speaking of manly colours you wait until you see my next new bat (watch this space...)

[Boondougal]

whats not to like about that bat (if you ignore the stickers and don't mind the willow) The willow is fine for me but i'm not sure i would choose it, but if someone was to give it too me it would be greatly apreciated.

Personally i have always liked county bats but only owned one as a child.... I'm sure this will be a fair bat and thanks for a full write up.

Bad taste to quote my own post but what i was supposed to be saying is that the willow i have no issues with - love an ugly bat but its the stickers that i'm not sure i would choose.

like @leatherseat said though - they are easily changed.

[dannyhall04]

The bedding is for the benefit of any "visitors" mate, and speaking of manly colours you wait until you see my next new bat (watch this space...)

Pink Blueroom? Go lovely with this beautiful bat