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[Bats_Entertainment]

I was in a shop once where the assistant used car makers as an analogy to a mother, who came in with her young son to buy a bat.

What I can vaguely remember:

Hunts County were like VW - Solid and dependable
Salix were like a luxury car brand ie Mercedes
they had some Kippax bats in.. cant remember what he said about them...

Made me think what would he describe Keeley as...? The fact they seem guns for hire, making for so many brands...

Blokes, eh?

[Bats_Entertainment]

I'm out, I have no idea what you are on about

Okay.

[mo_town]

Its not the first instance in history where a batmaker makes bats for other brands as well as have his own brand. Suggesting that the batmaker would reserve the best for his own brand and pass the less inferior ones to others is poor.

Regarding the pricing etc., honestly, away from this forum how many people would really have all this information when buying a bat? All people care about is budget, brand, look, feel, ping; in that order. An average guy will buy a Keeley bcos he has seen 'X' player play with it on TV or if he heard from a friend that the brand makes wonderful bats.

[Kulli]

Even if they did cherry pick the very best for their own brand what % of all bats the sell is that sub 5% I'd guess. I'd be surprised if that had a noticeable effect on what they supply white label.

They also cannot afford to sour relationships with their white label customers, who would presumably let them know if the quality suddenly dropped off for the same price.

[Bats_Entertainment]

An average guy will buy a Keeley bcos he has seen 'X' player play with it on TV

Oh, the irony!

[GarrettJ]

without going out to the middle how does he know which are the best performing ... surely its just aestetics he will keep aside fro himself? Straight 12 grains etc .... which doesn't mean it will play superbly or better than an 8 grain wobbly thing.

[InternalTraining]

^ that's true. Bat buying process is a crap shoot.

[Neon Cricket]

without going out to the middle how does he know which are the best performing ... surely its just aestetics he will keep aside fro himself? Straight 12 grains etc .... which doesn't mean it will play superbly or better than an 8 grain wobbly thing.

My grade 3 match bat would concur with this... bearing in mind I have access to a plethora of top grade bats.

Had a really good comment on Facebook the other day that I'm definitely stealing for some upcoming advertising:

"Brains before grains"

[jamesisapayne]

If TK is keeping all the crackers for himself and not dishing them out they'd be the best performing bats anyone had ever seen, as every Blank Bat I've used or seen has gone like the clappers. TK's own must be something else if he's keeping the cream for himself. Or he's not and just makes great bats all round which I suspect is the case.

If you want a TK made bat just get a @Blank Bats and be done with it, you won't regret it. Tai is a top guy to deal with too.

[Bats_Entertainment]

If you watch the Antiques Roadshow Newbery thing, TK tests two bats with a mallet and rates one above the other.

[mattw]

If you watch the Antiques Roadshow Newbery thing, TK tests two bats with a mallet and rates one above the other.

That's the beauty of a natural product

[Bats_Entertainment]

That's the beauty of a natural product

So, potentially, he could keep one; and pass the other on?

[tushar sehgal]

So just a serious question.

Can anyone claim they've had a bad Keeley bat (no matter what brand stickers on it)? I don't recall seeing a single bad review of bat that was truly made by them, which kind of boggles the mind.

[Canners]

So just a serious question.

Can anyone claim they've had a bad Keeley bat (no matter what brand stickers on it)? I don't recall seeing a single bad review of bat that was truly made by them, which kind of boggles the mind.

yep i have it was an utter plank, it was a black cat voodoo and looked and felt stunning but had the performance of a robin reliant

[Buzz]

yep i have it was an utter plank, it was a black cat voodoo and looked and felt stunning but had the performance of a robin reliant

Probably the bit at the other end of the handle.