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[Neon Cricket]

With your own extensive willow supply you can choose the best for your own bats and flog the rest to India

Do you honestly believe that... the Indian market is probably a hell of a lot more picky than we are when it comes to grading. The fact companies over here can even get away with selling "performance" graded willow says enough.

Whilst everyone has their own opinion (this thread clearly shows that!), until an industry standard for willow grading comes into play then grading is simply a way of marketing a product.

Due to not making bats personally the process is a lot simpler for me. I simply trust my batmaker when it comes to grading and leave it with them - if I order a "Grade X" bat then whatever arrives is "Grade X".

[Novak]

I am really glad it's kicking off about the fact retailers are grading
On performance  . So what happens when you pay full wack high end price and the bats a dud

[Kulli]

I personally think GM have got a lot to hide. They are clearly making the case that clean willow performs better when most of us, and many very capable batmakers, believe that not to be true.

Even Soulman, who currently seems to be GMs biggest fan, champions the cause of their lower end bats.

On the flip side though, if there are 2 bats of the same model, nearly all of us would choose the prettier one. You see it here all the time.

While there is obviously an argument for them being better performance wise, I think a lot of it is supply and demand. People want pretty bats with pretty stickers.

[kaustav]

So what happens when you pay full wack high end price and the bats a dud

You become a philosopher.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Due to not making bats personally the process is a lot simpler for me. I simply trust my batmaker when it comes to grading and leave it with them - if I order a "Grade X" bat then whatever arrives is "Grade X".

But, if memory serves, you have a grade 2 or 3 match bat yourself?

[Bats_Entertainment]

On the flip side though, if there's 2 bats of the same model, nearly all of us would choose the prettier one. You see it here all the time.

Not if there's a couple of hundred quids difference in price?

[Bats_Entertainment]

You become a philosopher.

Or a CBF seller?

[edge]

I personally think GM have got a lot to hide. They are clearly making the case that clean willow performs better when most of us, and many very capable batmakers, believe that not to be true.

Do they? Where? The only place performance is mentioned in any way in their grading chart is that OLE's are tested 'to ensure 5 star performance' - 5 star being OLE-808. So the only case they're making there is that an OLE is tested to make sure it's better than a 606. What's the problem with that?

I quite like what Kippax do to be honest, but they charge more money than I'm prepared to pay for a cricket bat. Difficult for brands not in their particular position to follow suit too.

[Kulli]

Not if there's a couple of hundred quids difference in price?

I meant if for example there are Two GM Noir Signatures available, nearly everyone on here would go for the prettier one.

[Tom]

So the only case they're making there is that an OLE is tested to make sure it's better than a 606. What's the problem with that?

How can you make that case unless you test all grades for performance?

[SLA]

On the flip side though, if there are 2 bats of the same model, nearly all of us would choose the prettier one. You see it here all the time.

While there is obviously an argument for them being better performance wise, I think a lot of it is supply and demand. People want pretty bats with pretty stickers.

If all you can go on is looks, then all you can go on is looks.

If you actually had the chance to test the bats, I doubt many people would go for the cleaner looking bat that didn't play so nicely ahead of a blemished bat that went like a rifle.

[Seniorplayer]

I am really glad it's kicking off about the fact retailers are grading
On performance  . So what happens when you pay full wack high end price and the bats a dud

You send it back with a nice letter.

[Kulli]

If all you can go on is looks, then all you can go on is looks.

If you actually had the chance to test the bats, I doubt many people would go for the cleaner looking bat that didn't play so nicely ahead of a blemished bat that went like a rifle.

But is rebound in the shop an indicator of rebound once it's played in for half a season?

It's also not easy to compare the performance of bats in a shop even if they do let you loose with a hammer/ball. Unless one is an absolute dud then I struggle.

I think realistically all a manufacturer can do is grade on looks (which is I believe generally a passable indicator of performance) and then adjust a few down the way if they're real stinkers.

[Seniorplayer]

If all you can go on is looks, then all you can go on is looks.

If you actually had the chance to test the bats, I doubt many people would go for the cleaner looking bat that didn't play so nicely ahead of a blemished bat that went like a rifle.

Generally though retailers don't stock blemished  bats on there shelves as they have no  appeal to the general bat buying public.

[Bats_Entertainment]

The only place performance is mentioned...

It was mentioned when I asked the MD the question.

People pay big money for high-end because they belive that will get them a superior cricket bat; not a superior looking cricket bat.