The forum has changed over the years as I've been on here as a member via my @Ayrtek Cricket account since 2009 but prob longer under my own name. As mentioned earlier kit sales used to be rife on here and brands could shift 5-6 bats with ease. The change in the forum came and people were looking to offload used or unwanted kit that drove sponsors away as members expected bats at cost price or below from us. Most of the bat makers were doing it outside of work hours so time in front of a PC/phone was limited in terms of being able to offer input into the forum.
I will offer a different point-of-view.
As someone who bought a lot of kit (bats, accessories) from the forum bat makers, I had very specific requirements both in terms of quality and price. I purchased some bats that were discounted but for most, I paid the asking price - whatever the custom bat maker wanted. I was looking for quality. Bats that pinged. Bats that were made well. prior to joining the forum, I had had some very bad experiences with bats I bought earlier in my club cricketing days and my goal was to avoid all the headaches/frustrations that results from a poor purchase. Those poor purchases wasted a lot of my time. That's what brought me to the forum - good (or great) bats at a good price. Not all bats I purchased thru the forum bat makers were great. Some were really bad. But most were very good. The forum also introduced me to other bat makers - established names like Keely etc. and even GN top tier stuff made in AUS. Over all, in terms of cost averaging, I did not come out ahead but I ended with a lot of great (above average) bats.
What are some of the lessons I learned?
1. For a clubbie, especially a newbie clubbie, a well made G3 (or a price discounted G2) is a very good option. GM with their 606 and above have that market down pat. There is an area where custom bat makers could offer value to bat buyers thru the forum.
2. Unless, a batter has had a few years of experience using bats, they have no business customizing their own bat. I made that mistake and I ended up designing really poor bats. Funnily enough, the shapes that did wonders for me were stock shapes and I stuck them for many seasons and many sixes (and runs
).
3. A custom bat maker is well within their rights to tell a customer that their ideas are bad and that shape wouldn't work. To a degree, Aldred does that which, in hindsight, is a good thing for the customer/buyer.
4. Good bats are good bats no matter where they come from. My favorite comes from a big brand. My second favorite comes from a big name bat maker, the shape was commercially available and I had him make me several copies. Many sixes.
Both more expensive than average but worth every penny!
5. More than anything, a batter's physiology determines which weight and shape bat they can swing well. I have two but tried many and settled for the same two no matter which bat maker. The science of bat shape/weight etc. is too complicated for an average club players to comprehend. Bat makers don't have the time nor the energy to explain every nuance which is understandable. Bat buyers must try different shapes until they find the shape and weight that works for them. After that, it doesn't matter which bat maker or corporate brand makes that shape. If you are going to be in the game of cricket for many years, trial-and-error is the best teacher in determining the type of bat that works for an individual.
6. The second best way of finding a great bat is to have a pro/semi-pro pick a bat for you.
This becomes easier when a pro/semi-pro is hunting for a bat himself. Friends. Friends of friends. Family network. All are good ways of hunting down a great bat at a great price. My first great was picked by someone else and was not made by a custom bat maker.
7. Work with a custom bat maker to replicate a bat EXACTLY to the spec. as you prefer. That is the best way of utilizing the skills of a custom bat maker. If you have direct access to a shop, then it is easier to work with a custom bat maker. If you are an overseas buyer, it is very hard. For someone who bought bats from 3 continents, I wish I could walk into a shop and wave a bat or different shapes /weights before deciding on one.
8. Many will disagree with this but cost averaging will not work for you if you are buying from custom bat makers. You will end up paying more and may not get the results you seek. I know this is harsh but this was my experience. What is the value of a custom made bat in tangible/practical sense? You can get a bat with great ping for much less if you are buying in India. GM makes bats that offer incredible value at 505/606 levels for a weekend warrior/clubbie. What is the value proposition of a custom bat v/s a commercially made bat?
9. Other problem with this type of a business model is that your market is local and limited. Unless someone walk into a shop, it'd take a big risk taker to make an internet purchase. Ultimately, custom bat makers are catering to local/smaller markets. For an overseas buyer, bat maker needs to understand their customers. What are their needs? Do they even like to oil and knock their bat? Do they have time for it? Do they perform seasonal ritual of sanding/oiling a bat after season's end? I know people who just want a bat to perform without extensive knocking. They don't have time to oil a bat nor do they know how to oil a bat. For them a cricket bat is no different than a tennis racquet or a golf club. Use it and put it away - that's all they care about. Is the risk of buying a product sight unseen (from an overseas custom bat maker) worth the risk of marginal performance gains over a popular brand like GN/CA/GM?
10. People leave the market and the forum because value is else where. To attract a buyer and make them return, you have to offer them value. Simple. Everybody would agree that cricket participation/market size is dwindling everywhere except for India (and Indian diaspora) . I have said this before (you can search my old posts
) that cricket equipment is not easy to buy or maintain. Cricket is a hard sport to play as gear is NOT user friendly. Prices are high. In the age of shorter attention spans (tik tok, video games), who wants to toil in cold weather or burning sun for
house hours when cheaper, more entertaining, and less physically demanding options are available. If you only want the purists and passionate ones, you will find yourself with a very small pool of buyers. This is the reality.
What is the value of the forum then? Information. It made me an informed buyer. It helped facilitate some great contacts. I bought a bat that was made for Aaron Finch and what a great bat it is! I still haven't used it because it is just too nice.
This is also a place where bat makers can share their thoughts about the market and have open discussions like this one. This forum is a great marketing tool. It may not be a great market place though. Good product will attract buyers. Laver and Wood is a prime example of that. They are located in NZ but ship bats all over the world.
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Topic: Is 2024 The Year Of The Bat Revolution? (Read 5353 times)