Topic: Butterfly Willow Bats - What are your thoughts? (Read 15075 times)

Chad · « **on:** March 19, 2021, 11:10:45 PM »

Hi folks, aware this topic may have been done to death in recent years, but figured I'd ask the question.

What do you all think about Butterfly Willow? It would be great to have a vast range of answers, from folks who have used it extensively, folks who avoid/swear by it, what you like about the stain and what locations you like them in, and of course, folks who make it. I'll have a simple poll of a few answers, but looking for actual posts.

For those of you who don't know what Butterfly Willow is - there are examples below - you can see they have varying degrees of staining, but the stain is quite distinct.

I'll be updating this thread later on with what I've found to be my limited experience, and what differences I've found in the way Butterfly bats are made across approx 9-10 different makers. (All will be completely subjective)

Jimbo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2021, 11:17:38 PM »

I've had a couple from Chase, one of which is now the favourite bat in my club's bag. If the stain is on the face I've found it needs a bit more patience when you're preparing it but if you put the time in they're every bit as good as a clean faced bat.

Buzz · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2021, 11:45:36 PM »

For those of us on a budget, they do just fine.
I have two and love them.

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2021, 11:49:33 PM »

Having worked with 20 plus butterfly clefts, they are not the easiest to shape, they tear out and are an absolute PITA to finish cleanly.

However, they usually perform very very well and when offered at the budget price point they should be, they are great!

What really boils my blood is the price point that many manufacturers offer them at.

Paul Aldred selling effectively a G4 cleft at G1 money is a prime example of this. His markup on his �emperor� butterfly range is an insult imo.

AJ2014 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2021, 08:01:19 AM »

Totally surprising post, and even tougher to comment on, but very exciting one
As these pics show, amount of butterfly stain is varying on every single bat, which makes it even more difficult to assess their quality.
Butterfly stained bat with no bar in the face or on the back will play the best, even if it is colour only stain.
These bats will sound hard.
Butterfly bars don't add/deteriorate bat performance, only esthetic, they add hardness if not pressed correctly especially near to splice.
Mostly their grain structure will be as good as, at least, grade 2 willow, they do feel bigger for their weights.
Why not asking a high price if they would perform as grade 1.
For me this stain is purely cosmetic but it takes longer to find the right one

jayralh · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2021, 08:10:22 AM »

I have one butterfly bought last year. I used it in 2 small innings and absolutely smashed it. Butterfly mark is away from playing area so it doesn't get involved in hitting ball so when I say smashed it I mean that's sign of well made bat overall plus me playing well on given day.
Like buzz said for people on low budget it is a must have if you manage to buy one with clean face that's just gold.

ch1p · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2021, 08:18:42 AM »

I wonder if these marks below would be classed as butterfly?

If yes, then I�d pick it every single time. I imagine like all bats it is down to the press. Personally I�m not a massive fan of its looks especially some of the larger stains so would prefer to cover with a sticker if possible. But if it performed and I couldn�t cover it then I wouldn�t let it pass.

ppccopener · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2021, 08:59:53 AM »

Don't have an answer but a question. Why are these types of bats now up marketed in price and sold as desirable over a grade 2 for example as some manufacturers in the UK are doing...

The look horrible, which is fine for a certain price, I don't think I'm going to be convinced they are now equivalent to a standard grade 2 or 3.

Gut feeling is its total BS.

Vulcan Cricket · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2021, 09:25:20 AM »

Love butterfly willow love some of the markings and if made right will play awesome!!!

Whispering Death · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2021, 10:11:00 AM »

Never been a fan until I got one yesterday. Response is outrageous.

In the modern world of swiping left/right etc, most people don't go past the superficial.

I could sell the most beautiful G1 plank for �300, try and get someone to buy the ugliest trampoline for �100 and I know what most people would do

Gurujames · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2021, 10:35:26 AM »

Huge fan. Only got 3 bats left from a former collection of 14. 2 of them are butterfly�s. I�ll let the poseurs buy the G1++++ and I�ll get the ugly munters at a bargain price.
But keep it quiet or the prices will go up.

procricket · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2021, 11:35:29 AM »

Like any bat if used enough they will play well 🤫 only issue is consistency and were the stain is they tended to sound slightly different but people go off sound too much. I also like a hard bar in certain areas of the blade.

Dead Knott's I don't mind in the blade either in certain areas but I have never been overly fussy about looks don't get me wrong I like nice clean white wood put in terms of performance have no correlation.

SouthpawMark · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2021, 11:54:31 AM »

Not a fan at all. I think they look horrendous, and aesthetic pleasure is one of the factors I consider when choosing a bat.

That said, I know some people at my club with them, and in the right hands they still go like the clappers.

leatherseat · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2021, 12:03:32 PM »

I've only had one butterfly bat - a B3. Because it isn't very attractive and was cheap, it is my 'wet weather' bat. However, it is one I keep going back to for nets etc. The pick up is fabulous (not that that has anything to do with the butterfly stains) and the bat pings well. I have no qualms about getting a bit of damage to the edge etc. Its got a few repaired cracks and I really enjoy using it.

Over this winter I have tried bleaching it, to make it a little more attractive. We shall see if this has an impact on its performance. I am assuming not, as many manufacturers over the past few decades would bleach butterfly to make it more appealing on the shelves.

In short, the looks are unappealing, the response is excellent and was a cheap way into a bat with nine straight (but slightly uneven) grains. I would not hesitate to look at buying another butterfly, the next time I need (or 'can't resist') another bat.

David

edge · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2021, 12:13:35 PM »

What is there to dislike? A good butterfly cleft outperforms a non-stained one, and from most makers gets sold at a massive discount. In my experience they last longer than white willow too - all the upsides. There's a reason they used to be highly sought after before the cricket world got precious about grading.

One thing though - just because it's sometimes sold as its own grade, don't get fooled into thinking all butterfly clefts are the same. You still want to look for/avoid the same things as you would with a normal cleft. Can be full of knots with wonky grains, can be a beautiful clean cleft - ignore the stain.

Poll

Butterfly Willow - Yay or Nay?

Author Topic: Butterfly Willow Bats - What are your thoughts? (Read 15075 times)

Chad

Butterfly Willow Bats - What are your thoughts?

Jimbo

Re: Butterfly Willow Bats - What are your thoughts?

Buzz

Re: Butterfly Willow Bats - What are your thoughts?

LEACHY48

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AJ2014

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jayralh

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ch1p

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ppccopener

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Vulcan Cricket

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Whispering Death

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Gurujames

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procricket

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SouthpawMark

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leatherseat

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edge

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