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[Contrails]

Wonder about the press/factory knocking, perhaps a little bit too hard on the bats I have sampled, so a long playing in required before they hit their peak.

I think you can ask for a more performance orientated press which I am guessing is softer.

[well past my peak]

My bat is supposed to be around 2lb 8oz - 9oz Jules Classic.

LLt's see how it turns out to be. Hopefully, I will get it by next week. Have any of you tried their Jules Classic before? Are they comparable to legendary Screaming Cats?

Yeah I have a classic and seen many a scat, Julian had his workshop in the same street and my work place. Julian's scat shape had lesser spine but more timber in the shoulders, could be wrong but I think the L&W classic is based more on the M&H shapes. Both very nice. The spine on the L&W is huge and I think you will be happy with the alternations you have made to the shape, eg bringing the middle up higher and a bit of wood removed down low,
In fact IMO the L&W is one of those bats that picks up heavier than what it is.
Hope you make plenty with it,

[sachin200]

I think it's deteriorated since Andy left

I agree that the communication wasn't the best but I will give them the benefit of doubt since they were running the money raising campaign and my bat is the cheapest in their range as well. Though any Indian bat maker would have responded a million times to my requests. I have tried to get the Scat profile copied in India and it was quite close but not there. Let's see how this one turns out. The bat has reached my hometown so hopefully will receive it tomorrow or on day after tomorrow.

[Centurion]

Got my bat. I am delighted! It pics up like a charm! Very very light as I had requested. Though they forgot my instruction about not applying the face sheet to the bat (I like to do it myself after oiling and knocking) hence I had requested it to be sent with the bat I applied whereas I got it applied to the bat. The bat sounds nice upon tapping. Wood isn't too spectacular looking since it is a grade two but I will give them 10/10 for the pickup which is extremely light as requested. I haven't placed it on a scale yet but my wife felt it being lighter than my 2lb 8oz Millichamp and Hall original low bat. She could tell that its weight was more concentrated towards the handle which exactly what I had requested.

From the side profile, it looks like mid and low sweet spot (I had requested mid and high), but I can't tell for sure since I haven't given it a go in the nets yet. Once it is oiled and knocked, I will post the pics.

I am very happy with the purchase. I will surely buy from them again but I just wish they pay more attention to the customer emails and overall communication aspect.

Forum rules state: Pictures or it never existed 

[sachin200]

Alright, I am finally getting around to do the review on this bat. I received this bat after 4 weeks of ordering. I agree with the members who think that their responses are slightly slower than what you would expect after ordering (or maybe it is just my own over-enthusiasm).

My requested bat specs :
I had asked for a high to mid sweet spot, light weight (no more than 2lb 9oz) and extremely light pickup with the Jules Classic shape. I requested a thick and very oval bottom hand whereas thinner and round top hand handle. I told them that I don't care how it looks like as long as it pings well. I like their green shield stickers so I asked for them as well. I also specifically asked them for not applying scuff sheet since I like to oil and knock my bats myself.

My bat was finally shipped after 4 weeks (although I was told 2 weeks turnaround at the time of order) but the delay is understandable since they were busy in their money raising campaign as well as NZ was hit by an earthquake during that time.

I received my bat with scuff sheet applied weighing around 2lb 8.5 oz. It came with already two grips applied to it. I took the scuff sheet off, oiled it, knocked it with a mallet a bit and took it in nets against a bowling machine @ slower speeds. After a couple of bowling machine sessions, I sanded it, applied a new scuff sheet and also applied a new thick grip (the ugly looking green grip that you see in the picks herewith).

My Opinion :

The pickup is phenomenal. After oiling with two generous coats of linseed oil and applying an extra grip (it is a very-very thick grip), the weight increased to 2lb11oz but it picks like a TOOTHPICK! It probably picked up like a  2lb6oz When I picked it up for the first time, I wondered if I had received a harrow bat (a kiddo bat) by mistake! I have an old M&H original low 2lb 8oz final weight and I gave both the bats to my wife to judge which one was lighter and she said my 2lb11oz Laver and Wood felt lighter in hands by far! I will give them 10/10 on getting me a lighter pickup! It probably has the best pickup I have even seen on a bat!

The bat is a gun at the bottom (6 inches above the toe). I drilled a check drive in a casual winter net against a slower bowler and everyone had to get out of the way. It went like a rocket and I barely felt it at all! Whereas on the other hand, it isn't that great higher up yet. Cuts and pulls or backfoot punches aren't flying off it as I had expected but I think it will eventually open up and hopefully it will be better in the upper portions (4 inches below the stickers).

I will say that they need to pay closer attention to the customer requests especially after placing the orders. The communication is great before ordering but after ordering it becomes slower! I know that I ordered their lowest grade bat (cheapest bat) but then again, we buy from such companies since we want customization (customer service) in the first place or one can easily buy better looking off the shelf Asian bats for the same price.

Final Verdict : I will still buy from them in the future. I simply love this shape!