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[Chad]

Right, here's something I got up to while cleaning the bat room - which is still a mess... But at least I got some pics done! Just wanted to show the slight differences in the shoulders and bindings of different companies. Remember that there's always gonna be some variation, and batmakers will change the ways they do things from time to time. Also, this is only from what I've observed, so could be different for what other people have found.

FC Sondhi





Traits:

• Curved shoulders
• Thick binding
• Stamps on the knob of the handle
• Number of inserts can vary, even within the same model and grade.

Comments: They don't tend to compete with SS in terms of size, but seem to be the most consistent I've seen to date of the Indian manufacturers. Binding goes quite low - good thing in my books.


Millichamp & Hall Sareen Sports








Traits:

Squared shoulders, with a slight rounding at the top
Thinner binding
Rubber inserts

Comments:
The Puma I'm not too sure of the origins, initially I thought SS as the shape is similar, but the shoulders don't seem to match, but the twine does. The shape isn't far off the Sierra, so perhaps it's SG. Handles tend to be very flexible.


Gray Nicolls






Traits:

• Rounded shoulders with a slight squaring
• • Tend to have 3 inserts, with the middle one being red. (GN500 is the exception)
  • • The outer 2 inserts are cork and the middle is rubber
    • • Thinner binding
      [li]
      
    
    Comments:
    Just from personal experience, GN are possibly the most underwhelming off the shelf bats out of the 4 big brands, bar the Classic range. (In terms of response and feel) I'm sure there are some that are very good out there, but just from the ones I've seen. I have an old Predator 5 Star which is excellent, wish they made all their bats like that! Go back to making thicker handles and less edge and more middle!
    
    
    Gunn & Moore
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Curved shoulders
    • CNC markings
    • Older ones have binding where there are black dots throughout the binding. Not sure if caused by the glue or binding, but the newer models (Six6 and Mana) don't seem to have this.
    • Thicker binding
    
    Comments: Most consistent of all the big off the shelf brands in terms of quality of finish, pressing and shaping. Pic of handle knob and binding is comparison between a B3 and the GM Argon.
    
    
    B3
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Curved shoulders
    • Thicker binding
    • Same dotted trait as the older GM
    • CNC markings, but not quite as pronounced
    
    Comments: Extremely similar to GM, except the shoulders feel a touch more blended/smoothed.
    
    
    Salix
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Curved shoulders, slightly different to the previous ones in that they're more rounded as opposed to a single curve
    • Thicker binding
    • Rubber inserts
    • Binding lathe pin marks
    • Incredible finishing
    • Handles sometimes flare out towards the top
    
    Comments: I only recall the old school Salix bats not having the spine run down to the toe. I've found that the shaping of Salix bats tend to be very even throughout, and their profiles don't tend to vary massively. I think there are two different batmakers, sometimes the spine seems a bit more rounded, and some others have a sharper one. Also, the old chrome stickers are still some of my favourites. The Sabre bat is an example of their dropped shoulders.
    
    
    Laver & Wood
    
    
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Square shoulders with a slight curve in towards the handle
    • Neoprene toe guard
    • Quite a distinctly rounded toe
    • Thin handles
    • Excellent balance
    • Thick vinyl scuff sheet
    • Tend not to be bowed
    
    Comments: Generally have quite a clunky sound when striking the ball. I haven't used many bats which are as well balanced as what James makes, probably the biggest selling point (imo) of Lavers.
    
    
    Newbery/Tim Keeley
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Curved shoulders, similar to Salix, but with slightly less gradient
    • Thicker binding
    • Handles tend to be on the thinner side
    • Rubber inserts
    
    Comments: Not sure, have to double check this, but I think the binding tends to have a yellow tinge because they use animal glue. One of the most sought batmakers, and these performance of these bats explain why.
    
    
    Hell 4 Leather
    
    
    
    Traits:
    
    • Curved shoulders, with a slight rounding to them
    • Excellent shaping
    • Thicker binding
    
    Comments: Well seems like most folk own one on this forum, but they are excellent bats.
    
    
    Conclusion: I've wasted so much time on this cause I'm so sad... Will seem massively incomplete, but I just cba anymore, might expand on this a bit later. Hopefully interesting for some, and I'm bound to have missed out a lot haha.

[Lwesty143]

Interesting post very enjoyable, interesting to see bats from the same maker varying in cleft length or is that just the way they're stood up for pics?

[Tom]

Interesting posts. But some bats don't seem to follow the traits outlined, for example the Vapen looks more like the B3's in terms of binding and the Puma shoulders are completely different to the SS ones.

Did you know the makers before categorising? Or group them blindly on similarities?

[Seniorplayer]

Chad thanks for the pictures and write ups .
Having been a GN bat buyer for years agree  the modern ones  apart from the Classic range don't ping as well as the ones i have that were tmade at Robertbridge.

[Neon Cricket]

Interesting posts. But some bats don't seem to follow the traits outlined, for example the Vapen looks more like the B3's in terms of binding and the Puma shoulders are completely different to the SS ones.

I personally thought Hammer sourced their bats from B3 after using L&W, obviously could be miles off the mark but that was my rough understanding...

[Chad]

Interesting posts. But some bats don't seem to follow the traits outlined, for example the Vapen looks more like the B3's in terms of binding and the Puma shoulders are completely different to the SS ones.

Did you know the makers before categorising? Or group them blindly on similarities?

I did mention that I was unsure of the Puma, that the shoulders were pretty different, binding and shape were similar though. Just happened to have it in the photo, so thought I'd talk about it. I'll double check the Hammer binding, but the shoulders didn't seem very B3 from memory, but I could be wrong about origins.

[Chad]

Interesting posts. But some bats don't seem to follow the traits outlined, for example the Vapen looks more like the B3's in terms of binding and the Puma shoulders are completely different to the SS ones.

Did you know the makers before categorising? Or group them blindly on similarities?

There you go, I don't know exactly if it is TK for the Hammer, but that one was assumed because the binding and shoulders seemed to match. So yes, in this case, grouped purely based on similarity and since they've used TK before!

[smilley792]

Vapens were originally laver and wood when it had the ultra shape.


When the shape changed to more standard style shaped, they were made by b3.


First year black editions were b3 made to.

[Tailendfielder]

Anyone see handles like this often? It is best handle on any bat ive owned but ive never seen another bat with that much cork in the handle and no knob.

[Calzehbhoy]

Am I the only one that is in awe of @Chad collection?

   

[smilley792]

Am I the only one that is in awe of @Chad collection?

   

Always in awe of it!

There's more pics on here
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=38028.15

[Sivlar13]

Always in awe of it!

There's more pics on here
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=38028.15

If you're culling that Salix or Red Ink @Chad , let me know bud haha what a collection! Love this thread too, such detailed yet slight differences between the brands.

[Bats_Galore]

Fantastic post really thought provoking. Thanks for the efforts. Hopefully more insights to come. I had a hammer st that was Newberry made.

[WalkingWicket37]

SF - nails in the handle

Most Hunts have very distinctive shoulders (although I have one or two that don't!)

[Tailendfielder]

Am I the only one that is in awe of @Chad collection?

   

Wish i had a bat cave.