Here is my Newbery Phantom. I purchased this from Its Just Cricket as I have always been a fan of Newbery bats, I guess a little like M&H for me in that I have not liked shapes, marketing etc at time but never owned or seen a bad Newbery, I'm also past spending £300,£400,£500 plus on bats these days as with the great sponsors on here we can get gun bats in lower grades as well as good looking bats.
Anyway I saw Paul's Review of these in May via YouTube and contacted him about a 2.8 one he reviewed but that had sold, Paul told me he would be visiting again in late June and that he was happy to pick me one. So asked for 2.9 and as he was hand picking a good looker and performer. Well in my opinion this is both of those especially for £120. Now I have no doubt this is one of the Indian made bats and certainly not a U.K. Or TK made bat.
Bad Points - the stickers must have been fitted by a child as they were hanging over the edges and I have had to take a Stanley blade to trim them down espicially the edge ones and even slightly hanging over the shoulder, the toe guard must have been applied with pric stick as was already coming away and peeled off like a butter lid and the tape around the grip was industrial electric tape, minor cosmetic but again a bit like M&H bats the finishing touches that have long been associated with a Newbery were not there in this bat.
Good points - for a G3 bat I think she is a stunner 11/12 grains that are mainly straight certainly in the playing area and for me now iv removed the toe guard are straight through the toe, 35mm edges with what I would describe as gentle concaving, gentle bow with a full spine into the toe. I have had this knocked in by IJC and I must say the performance on this bat is superb, middle is long and bat has a lovely deep sound when tapping up the ball.
2.9 bang on with a really light pick up, oval handle that's perfect for my 1 grip set up.
Personally I like the purple black colour scheme and the Newbery logo and graphics on there range at present time the grip will be changed to a white chevron but that's just my choice and I will add a Newbery hammer edge sheet as well
The only thing to figure out now is how to stop these pictures coming out so big so I'll just share a couple until I do