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[seedy]

I am in agreement with your requirements above Dom

[Howzat]

Must mean there are no custom batmakers in the world then if thats the case Seedy

[SillyShilly]

me, i would expect to choose a part made from a batch of 10-20 and ask for a shape and weight and handle.

i think he was agreeing with this point, i doubt many on the forum would be that picky as to request a cleft from the third round of a south facing tree......would love to hear if people have requested that though.

[Johnny]

would Wright's even supply that level of detail to the bat makers? Aren't Grays are the only bat company who have their own willow ?

[SillyShilly]

I find it hard to believe that they would supply that info. A couple companies have their own willow - Gray Nics, Kippax, Hell4leather, Vantage has a few, Black Cat and Talisman

[GJ]

I wouldnt ask for a different pressing as thats something i would leave the bat maker to decide and they have far superior knowledge to mine.
I think a custom made bat would be best described as choosing the shape, handle shape, grain of willow and middle position to your specific needs. 
I do believe Black cat and Talisman have their own willow so not only Gray Nicolls...

[Talisman]

Warsop have some growing which must be close to being big enough to be felled, Newbery already produce their own along with some from Salix, Puma, SAF and others.

Moisture content can be lowered, J S Wrights will over dry if asked.

[GJ]

Salix have the video on there website showing the process from start to finish from their own willow. Not sure how many bats they produce like this a year though. (Very little I imagine).
Not sure whether warsop press themselves, but if they do then perhaps we could put them in the bracket of "custom bat maker"...

[SAF Bats]

You find that those that offer a custom bat service will offer you, within reason, whatever you want..

I say within reason as you wont be able to chose your tree, but you could select a cleft, pressing, handle, shape etc etc etc etc etc

As for pressing and what you can get and ask for.... I would say that most people have no idea what sort of pressing is on a bat or how it should have been pressed in the first place.  You would get asked for soft pressing because you think it will perform and hard pressing because you think it will last.  Which may not be right for the cleft you've chosen!!!!

But heck it will be custom made to your spec's

[jandgcricket]

Interesting Norbs, can you explain a bit about what difference in makes in the Cleft, of course it will never be the same.  I'm not a big bat lover so don't usually take big interest, but this interests me....

[procricket]

are we forgetting the drying process this to can be customised

[Jamieh]

the way I see "custom made" is similar to buying a suit...
 
You can go into M&S and buy "off the shelf" and get good quality, maybe mass produced, in trend, probably a little cheaper, only set sizes. Equivalent to just buying a bat from a shop or website and getting the standard bat mass produced bat (big brands)

You can buy an off the shelf suit and have it "tailored", have the sleeves shortened, trousers turned, etc etc. This for me would be equivalent of requesting a specific weight, grains, pick up, etc etc. But essentially an off the shelf bat with a little tweak for your needs such as weighting. (middle ground and most would offer this I guess)

Finally you can have a "bespoke" suit where the whole suit is made specifically to your own requirements. This is the equivalent to custom bats and where bat makers earn the corn. You go to a custom bat maker and hypothetically you can have what you want. Pick a cleft, have a chat about pressing, profile, weighting, I could go on but you get the idea. each batmaker similar to a tailor would have his "style" of profile, pressing, branding which is part of the appeal for me.

Of course, as with a bespoke suit a bespoke bat could still be a stinker, but hopefully with a good batmaker you'd be able to develop something unique for you, and get something you really want, and most importantly helps and compliments your game.

Just my opinion, and not sure if the suit analogy works, but for me thats why I like and appreciate the batmakers who offer this, feel free to shoot (suit) me down, ha ha! Sorry if that was a bit long too!

[procricket]

top post mate and that why you should pay more for a top quality batmaker to make your bat through his reputation they have earned

[Talisman]

I have heard the counter argument first hand that batsmen should not be allowed to impart anything towards the making process and leave it to the batmaker to decide what he/she should use.

[harry kovert]

I agree.....let the batmaker know what style you play and personal preferences of an aesthetic nature then let him work his magic.