Been a while since I've updated this thread! (Also been a while since I've made these and been on the bench)
First up, a pair of non-identical twins! One shorter blade and the other standard blade length, both standard SH length overall.
The Shorter Blade:
The Standard Blade:
I believe these both ended up being around 2lb 11.7oz, with the SBLH setup being slightly bigger, thanks to being able to redistribute saved weight from the blade shortening. I had actually been asked to make a bat based on the Adam Gilchrist Ballistic shape - which I tried to get a better idea of by taking half a dozen or so screenshots from an excellent video review from CricketBatInfo
@sarg . I decided to make 2 of these, one in SB and one in standard SH. In the end, the requester ended up going for the SBLH bat of the two.
For a physical reference, I used an old green Ballistic 3000, however with the moderate bow did make it slightly awkward to use as a template for edge profile, but somehow made it work. (kinda)
In terms of how close I feel I got, I guess without the bat in hand, it is quite difficult to say, but judging by side by sides, I wasn't a million miles off - but having had a good couple of months since making these, I can say the differences are distinct and numerous enough to pick up on. I do feel that the edge of the Puma is less curved and the spine is higher - hence the more exaggerated spine aesthetic, but I guess most of the fundamentals/ideas of the profiles kind of resemble the target, so I'm happy with them in that sense. (Thick oval, convex profiling with the spine running high from the splice, peaking in a mid-low extended driving area then flowing and blending into the toe with modest edges and an exaggerated spine height) I do think the knotted area in the SBLH inside edge area did affect the overall presentation/flow of the profile, but I also feel I did my best to rectify that tricky area. In the end, I'm merely a hobbyist - the process and joy it gives me to improve and struggle with something I'm passionate/interested in outweighs my fussiness/lofty expectations. The bats were then finished with Puma/Millichamp replica stickers, which seemed to complete the look.
A huge thanks to Matt
@hell4leather cricket for supplying these 2 G3/Butterfly clefts with round cambered faces - don't think the bats I make would quite look right without his willingness to help me with how I want the clefts machined/handled.
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Topic: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!) (Read 30364 times)