Here is my view on grading. Personally I refuse to pay the price for a G1 bat as I honestly do not believe that grade or cost equals a better performing bat nor indeed does it mean a better looking bay grains wise or size density in a lot of instances.
This is a selection of some of my bats from GM and GN & Kook. All of these in my opinion could be classed as G1 except the Zelos with the hard bar in the playing area. These range from G2 in the GM’s all being sig grades or 606 in Zelos case to G5 in the case of the Kook.
They all weigh under 2.10 and all have at least 36mm edges with little concaving the Kook ghost being a full shape as well.
Cost wise all under £130. All perform as well as any bat I’ve owned now that they are fully match ready. I guess the only side some may argue is they maybe take an extra few net sessions to reach fully opened up status over some more expensive bats but that’s all in the pressing of the bat maker
The most expensive purchase I have made in the last 3 years is yet to arrive but is still under the £200 mark and is up there with any G1 on looks.