Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
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billyb

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Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« on: January 19, 2018, 07:19:15 PM »
Answers on a postcard!
Considering a Kook small mens or GM Academy this season, but I'm a little hesitant.
Has anyone used one before?
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InternalTraining

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2018, 08:24:35 PM »
Heavier weights in those sizes are hard to come by. I suspect the reason prices are low for those bats is because bat-makers choose smaller clefts that are unusable for larger bats. Downsizing a larger cleft to a smaller bat might not cost effective.

The other thing I have noticed is getting the balance right in a smaller, heavier bat. It'd be hard to do it without a high spine or a much thicker evenly spread mass which again leads to a big cleft reduced to fit the size. Hence, costly.

I hate Laver now because they were the first to tout the bat sizing tool but he did make me an amazing size-6 in a 3lb weight...I got a cracker of a cleft too ...could be a Signature worthy cleft but it is stickered as a Reserve.

Because of my tennis-elbow, I will be using a 2-8, size 6 bat in the nets in pre-season. They are fun little bats to whip around. :D
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billyb

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2018, 08:43:02 PM »
Interesting. I might just have to bite the bullet and see! I netted with a harrow a couple of years ago and I was able to time the ball so much better, but assumed I was just playing well... Maybe it's time to have another look.
The prices are really, really reasonable too.
£180 for Kahuna Pro or Blaze Pro (2018)
£200 for a GM Zelos Original.
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jayralh

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2018, 09:02:43 PM »
@billyb I am not sure if I am allowed to say it here but I got GM Chrome 909 brand new.

If not allowed to sell please warn me once.

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Smmatle1

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2018, 09:28:12 PM »
Quote from: billyb on January 20, 2018, 08:43:02 PM
Interesting. I might just have to bite the bullet and see! I netted with a harrow a couple of years ago and I was able to time the ball so much better, but assumed I was just playing well... Maybe it's time to have another look.
The prices are really, really reasonable too.
£180 for Kahuna Pro or Blaze Pro (2018)
£200 for a GM Zelos Original.


Onyx pro small mens £149
https://www.3dsports.co.uk/2016-kookaburra-onyx-junior-pro-cricket-bat.html

Zelos original academy £189 (they did have a chrome original for £164...I was tempted but now sold out).
http://www.morrant.com/cricket_bats/gunn__moore_zelos_original_cricket_bat_academy/161404_p.html

I have one of the old style newbery 7 academy bats (player grade back then, the newer models i think are lower grades) it's a decent size 2'8.5lbs and the performance is good. As previous poster mentioned it maybe harder to balance...mine certainly feels quite bottom heavy. Width as with most academy bats is 4mm narrower but I don't notice it. IJC do a video review of the old version.
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beaver5

Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2018, 09:42:57 PM »
I have a harrow H4L nv that I used as my match bat for 2 seasons. It's 2.8 with 2 1/2 grips and goes very well. The minimal width difference isn't noticeable, it's just in your head! It's a g1 and cost just £125. So significant saving for no realistic difference in performance.
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jayralh

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2018, 10:00:25 PM »
Quote from: billyb on January 20, 2018, 08:43:02 PM
Interesting. I might just have to bite the bullet and see! I netted with a harrow a couple of years ago and I was able to time the ball so much better, but assumed I was just playing well... Maybe it's time to have another look.
The prices are really, really reasonable too.
£180 for Kahuna Pro or Blaze Pro (2018)
£200 for a GM Zelos Original.


If you interested.
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billyb

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2018, 11:43:44 PM »
Cheers for the recommendations chaps, I looked at the Newbery 7 a few seasons ago, but I had an absolute aberration of a Mjolnir SPS a few years back that put me off them (asked for 2lb 7oz, got 2lb 13oz).
That Zelos deal is tasty.
Looks like a nice stick @jayralh, what's the profile on a Chrome like?
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Nmcgee

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2018, 07:25:19 AM »
I love my SM Impala. About 2.6. Well worth trying out and seeing if it works for you.

« Last Edit: January 21, 2018, 07:30:30 AM by Nmcgee »
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Six Sixes Cricket

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2018, 08:06:48 AM »
Quote from: billyb on January 20, 2018, 08:43:02 PM
Interesting. I might just have to bite the bullet and see! I netted with a harrow a couple of years ago and I was able to time the ball so much better, but assumed I was just playing well... Maybe it's time to have another look.
The prices are really, really reasonable too.
£180 for Kahuna Pro or Blaze Pro (2018)
£200 for a GM Zelos Original.
Kook also do a kahuna 1000 in small adults as well
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jayralh

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2018, 08:15:18 AM »
Quote from: billyb on January 20, 2018, 11:43:44 PM
Cheers for the recommendations chaps, I looked at the Newbery 7 a few seasons ago, but I had an absolute aberration of a Mjolnir SPS a few years back that put me off them (asked for 2lb 7oz, got 2lb 13oz).
That Zelos deal is tasty.
Looks like a nice stick @jayralh, what's the profile on a Chrome like?
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GM-Chrome-909-Cricket-bat-Grade-1-brand-new/173103661850?hash=item284dc8431a:g:jRkAAOSwVRtaXleb

Edges are actually 35 not 37. You can do with second grip and good to go.
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billyb

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2018, 08:48:04 AM »
Quote from: jayralh on January 21, 2018, 08:15:18 AM
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GM-Chrome-909-Cricket-bat-Grade-1-brand-new/173103661850?hash=item284dc8431a:g:jRkAAOSwVRtaXleb

Edges are actually 35 not 37. You can do with second grip and good to go.

Sorry buddy, I'm after a small men's instead of a harrow! Thanks though.

Quote from: DorsetDan on January 21, 2018, 08:41:33 AM
A slightly shorter blade Kook sounds mighty tempting! I didn't realise they did them. Do they do Ghosts as well?

Only the Kahuna and Blaze this year I think!
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Smmatle1

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2018, 02:18:07 PM »
Found that kook onyx pro small men's cheaper. They also mention weights between 2'8.5 and 2'10.5. £129.99

https://seriouscricket.co.uk/equipment/clearance/kookaburra-onyx-pro-junior-cricket-bat-2016/

I'm also tempted by the kook kahuna 2000 small men's for £89.99!

https://www.3dsports.co.uk/2016-kookaburra-kahuna-2000-junior-cricket-bat.html
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billyb

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2018, 12:12:56 AM »
I thought I would offer an update on how the 'Small Adult' experiment went.
I will qualify by saying that I've only played a couple of games with it, so if I had time to give it longer there is a slim chance it could work for me.

However, I don't think it will make a difference.

My Blaze is very light, at around 2/4 I think, and ultimately it is too light. It seriously lacks the power to make big shots, especially with my limited muscles.
I've been out twice now basically due to the bat (.... kind of) - both times I've been caught short by the lack of 'go' after timing it well. I found the increased vibrations through the handle really frustrating too- it made it feel flimsy when batting against a not-very-sharp bowler.

Whilst my RPC is very, very dead, it is for me at the moment a better bat. In the future I'd probably look to go for a SH at around 2 10 to see what having a little extra weight could do for my batting. I miss the power!

I think there is probably a place for small adults bats, but unfortunately it isn't my kitbag.
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InternalTraining

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Re: Are Small Mens/Academy bats actually any good?
« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2018, 12:39:10 AM »
I have never understood (nor accepted) the romance with small/light weight bats. They simply don't pack a punch. PRos who are able to use them effectively basically hit the middle everytime which is not possible for clubbies. At minimum you need a 2-8 bat but with a tremendous muscle power/bat speed.

With weights 2-10 and up, you can develop your reflexes by practicing in the nets as well as lifting some weights. :D Once you have sorted out the muscle, reflexes, getting-in-position-quickly issues, these bats are a lot of fun. :)

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