As with many of you, after spending a month reading this forum, I think I’ve acquired the malaise of wanting to buy more and more bats, more bats that I will ever use in a lifetime (or do the bats justice and score mountains of runs) but still, the bug to possess a handmade English bat of each maker is too strong. Some of these brands even use the same bat maker and yet, I want one of each.
So, I did the right thing and first admitted that I have a problem (of sorts). I came clean to my missus and she seems supportive – she said your money, you do what you please – then she says, just get me an iMac and a Louis Vuitton bag and we’ll call it even (still negotiating on this). She also suggested that perhaps since I’m turning 40 this year, I’m experiencing a mid-life crisis and perhaps I feel like collecting some toys.
So I decide to embrace the madness, we put a budget on it and she’s given me permission to indulge as long as it’s within the budget and once I’m done, I really AM done.
In order to increase the number of bats I can buy, I’m more than happy to compromise on grade. I’m happy with Grade 2 or Grade 3 as long as performance is good and it pings like a trampoline.
My absolute required specs – no compromise:
1. Full, convex profile -absolutely no concaving
2. Mid or low-mid sweet spot
3. Fully dressed weight (with grip, toe guard but without scuff sheet) – between 2lb 8oz to 2lb 10oz.
4. More wood in the hitting area – so don’t mind slightly shorter blades and more wood taken out of shoulder and toe (duck-billing for example).
5. Cost – preferably below £200.00
I’m hoping to make a priority purchase list in that order. I hope you guys will indulge me and perhaps help with the order or offer comments on bats, makers, acquisition strategy (direct to maker or use an agent such as IJC, TCB – custom shape or off the shelf shape), your personal purchase experience with the maker, etc. So without further ado, let’s get to the purchase list.
Purchase list:
1. B1 Blank Bat – Performance grade
I already have a B1 in the Players Grade but want another one. I’m thinking of using the hand-picked option of IJC.
2. Hunts Caerulex – Already have a Super Selected custom one, so this is crossed off the list
3. Phantom Bats – Custom Dark Edition profile or Custom Illusion fuller profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.
4. Garrard & Flack – Stock Original
5. Aldred – Butterfly (not sure which profile has low or mid-middle which can be made in a fuller version)
6. Salix Pod – Alba or Selected grade
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.
7. H4L – not sure shape which is the full profile
8. B3 – 1 stripe (again, not sure which profile is full)
9. Chase Finback R4
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.
10. XX Cricket bat – not sure of which profile
Again, wish to use IJC’s hand picking if possible.
11. A Robert Pack bat
12. JEDI bat – a James Dollive bat
Perhaps using TCB’s custom option
13. Ryan Kelsall
14. Red Ink
15. Vulcan Bat
16. Helygen Bat
17. Redwood
18. Charlie French
19. Elite cricket
20. Choice cricket bat
21. Mighty willow bat
22. Black cat
23. Charlie French
24. Vyper bats
25. Python bats
Honourable mentions (either because of cost or lack of knowledge of maker): Bulldog Cricket, Affinity Bats, Solitaire Cricket Bats, Heritage Cricket, Titan Cricket, Aedos Cricket, Woodstock Bats, Pryzm Cricket Bats, Willostix Bats, Fat Bats, Wombat Cricket, Mars Cricket, Duncan Fearnley, Redback Cricket, Hawk Cricket, Bear Cricket, Stallionz Cricket, Affinity Bats, Vantage Cricket
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Topic: Suggestions for bat collection (Read 9750 times)