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[100 not out]

I have been using this forum almost on a daily basis for a long time now. In that time i sussed out that the three guys listed above in my opinion are extremely knowledable when it comes to bats.

I am sure that you guys have had literally hundreds of bats pass through your hands.  So heres a few questions that i would be grateful that they could each answer.

1. When choosing a bat for personal use, what do you look for.
2. What do you avoid?
3. Are there any tests /indicators that you perform to look for perfomance.

Thanks in advance.

[Talisman]

I'll give my own view but no mention of kettle drums you will get later from Norb.

For a shop bat I will look at the grains, shallow but true, we are all grain tarts at heart. I will then assess density, the lower the better, and if possible tap any that are still in the reckoning with a mallet. If I'm buying for myself I want performance first but they have to look good too if possible. The mallet will give you a good indication of the pressing, you want it to have a mid range sound, too high and it will be pressed too hard, too low and it will be soft and require lots of careful knocking in. After hitting bats for 20+ years I leave it to instinct and it is hard to convey the exact sound, John Newbery would tap all his bats and proclaim it's a "Screaming Cat" to Tim and Julian when he got one, I'm sure that sound will still bring a smile to their faces.

I tend to avoid poorly made bats, seen some lovely clefts butchered on the press and also ruined by poorly fitted and shaped handles. I have had some of my best ever bats from James Laver but still cannot stand his handle shape and have then rehandled now before use.

As before I think that low density plays a very big part in potential power, it needs to be pressed well and those 2 factors are the biggest, super stiff tight grains are too hard to find to go looking for too much.

When I have bats made the situation is simple, I have my own willow, I know most places here and abroad that make and can pick and choose, I choose the best possible quality and price plays no part.

[Tom]

Tbh when I pick up a bat there's a load of things which go through my brain at the same time and I sometimes just choose a bat on instinct. Some bats they just make you go wow.

What I would say is most important a bat on though is:

1. Pickup - If it doesn't feel right I won't use it regardless of grains, ping or profile.
2. Profile - Probably similar to Mike's density, I like to look for a big profile not just for huge edges though. I like it to be big all over where possible, as bigger middle while still retaining a decent profile.
3. Willow - Look for something 15+ grains, any less doesn't really impress me much anymore unless they're perfectly straight. No large blemishes in the striking area but will happily take one with a mark just above the middle.
4. Ping - I'm not great with tapping it with my fingers, try to tell by sound and also by holding the bat in one hand and throwing a ball off it quickly. Picked the latter one up off one of the BDM head honchos and I much prefer it than trying to feel rebound off a mallet or bouncing a ball up and down.

Then other minor things, handle type and thickness. I try to avoid bats with poor quality handles, very thin shoulders and very thin toes.

[golden_duck]

so tom what make of bat do you play with on a saturday then ? out of interest ?

[Tom]

Last year I used an experimental bat which I had made in India. Although didn't play much as I worked most weekends.

If I play this year will probably be with the CoR3.

[Colesy]

Same question for Mike I spose

[procricket]

tom sorry for this are you the tom of ITIAS fame

[Tom]

Haha hardly fame but yes.

[procricket]

that grade 3 bat you sold me still going strong give it my mate to knock in it still going well he liked it 600 runs in 12 innings and a nice little development contract at Lancashire but like most he sticker d it up something else

[Talisman]

I use one of Sachin's match bats, actually have 2 but struggle to use both at the same time....

I also have one of my own from my willow which is a gem but still not fully powered despite many net sessions and have Afridi's personal bat to use yet which taps up the best of the lot.

[Colesy]

Jeez, I wish I had that selection

[golden_duck]

mate !! where you get these from :L

[Tom]

Mike, was it used by Tendulkar? I understand he gets given a couple of hundred bats a year, so must be good if he actually used it.

[procricket]

random question here but anybody used a mg2 bat i think there called and hasn't grant elliott got a company in nz ?

[cd0070]

I had emailed Grant's company in NZ, Buzz but it seems like the sticker up bats from India.. Not a bad thing by any means but just don't think they have a resident batmaker making bats for them..

Sorry for going off topic just answering a ?

http://www.buzzbats.co.nz/