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[Prasanna]

Hi,
I have a bat from India which is 24 years old and I still play in some matches with it. It's an amazing bat and as soon as I take that in my hands, I start to get everything in middle. The ball used to absolutely fly from the bat but finally it has given up. While I am sure all the excellent bat makers on this forum will be able to replicate the bat but I wonder who would be the best to do so given my requirements below. Couple of aspects of the bat were that it weighs 1300g in dead weight but feels like 1180 or so. A few of the questions that I have  and I would really appreciate some suggestions here. For me, the bat must have an absolutely beast of a ping followed by the balance. I am looking for grade 1 bat (budget 400-500, +-10%). I live in North West London and can take a couple of hours journey, if required.

1. With the dead weight so high, I would probably need a low density wood. I saw on B3 website on how they have the best wood etc. hence one of the options.  They also emphasize a lot on the wood being source from JR Wright. While I understand most of the bat makers source wood from JR Wright, some have other UK grown wood as well. Are the other UK grown wood inferior or less probable to perform that JR Wright's?

2. Can a bat really be replicated entirely with the similar balance?
3. What kind of handle is used at these manufacturers? I read a lot  about 12 piece, carbon infused etc. Does it make a huge difference? Gray-Nicolls definitely thinks that.

[gihanrat]

Sounds like you have Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir!

I personally havent had a bat replicated, but many of the bat makers here have produced wondersticks for me in the past, you could reach out to any one of them and they would let you know if they can help you out, or point you in the right direction. Personally, Scott cricket and Red Ink cricket have produced wonderful sticks (the latter a custom SCAT series 1 copy with modern edges), and both have been beasts at v low deadweights, but as I say, many excellent batmakers on the forum and may provide a more cost effective option. Have heard nothing but excellent reviews about Rob Pack sticks, but not had one personally.

Just one point, in order to get your desired deadweight, and esp if it is going to be size compliant, it would have to be HIGH density wood, not low, such as the willow GN is talking about now being able to use with their neocore technology.

I'm sure more knowledgable forumites will help with their suggestions.

Or, find someone who has invented a replicator as in Star Trek!!!!

[Chad]

1. With the dead weight so high, I would probably need a low density wood. I saw on B3 website on how they have the best wood etc. hence one of the options.  They also emphasize a lot on the wood being source from JR Wright. While I understand most of the bat makers source wood from JR Wright, some have other UK grown wood as well. Are the other UK grown wood inferior or less probable to perform that JR Wright's?

2. Can a bat really be replicated entirely with the similar balance?
3. What kind of handle is used at these manufacturers? I read a lot  about 12 piece, carbon infused etc. Does it make a huge difference? Gray-Nicolls definitely thinks that.

1 - You'd probably not need anything low density. That's a fairly hefty bat, and given dimensions 24 years ago, it won't be ridiculously bloated like bats of today.


2 - JS Wright and other willow merchants will be providing English Willow clefts - the thing that sets them apart are really quantity they process and the drying/cutting processes. You'll want a batmaker that is able to pick out the cleft that will suit your bat, and will make sure they get the best out of whatever wood they get.


3 - I would say handle quality isn't really down to the number of pieces, but more the handle manufacturer's build process/quality control. Neither of the 2 makers you've mentioned will be using poor quality handles.


Having visited both, they're very different in their styles and approaches, both different in the sense of traditional vs modern, but both put out high quality products. Both use CNC somewhere in the process, but with Rob, the bats are generally further away from the finished product off the CNC so will require a lot of his own handiwork, while B3 has a higher degree of control of the CNC machine as they have their own, so the bats will generally come out the CNC closer to the finished shape.

I've only really watched Rob make a bat in front of me (Many times, I don't get bored of it) and have recorded a visit too.  https://youtu.be/W-Kwqr_CH4I?si=dcRpgCer21nKroXA

With your budget, you can get a top of the line custom from Rob. I always love to drop in and visit when I'm heading past.

[Prasanna]

Yes, it really is my Mjolnir. Now that you have put this thought in my mind, it's really making me feel like Thor which means I will step out and try to hit the ball to planet Asgard (only in my imagination) and then get caught at the boundary after barely clearing the circle 😂. My next few dismissals are on you.

Noted on low/high density willow. I am not very fussed about dead weight as long as it has the same pick up feel.

Hope to find my Stormbreaker soon.

[gihanrat]

Yes, it really is my Mjolnir. Now that you have put this thought in my mind, it's really making me feel like Thor which means I will step out and try to hit the ball to planet Asgard (only in my imagination) and then get caught at the boundary after barely clearing the circle 😂. My next few dismissals are on you.

Noted on low/high density willow. I am not very fussed about dead weight as long as it has the same pick up feel.

Hope to find my Stormbreaker soon.

Remember, it works both ways - power of positive thinking - if you get a hundred - you're welcome! 

[Jimbo]

Both make a lovely bat, but every Rob Pack I've seen has lasted better than the couple of B3s I've had.

[brokenbat]

Never tried rob pack but b3 generally are very precise getting specs spot on. They pick clefts that will suit your specs and a visit to their factory is highly recommended. One thing to consider is that these days b3 are using a flat face press - your old bat is most likely a rounder press. Just a different feel - the ping is fantastic.

[InternalTraining]

For me, the bat must have an absolutely beast of a ping followed by the balance.

You are trying to replicate the ping of a "24 year old" bat which, by your accounts, aged extremely well and improved in performance over the years. Bad news: You are chasing the dragon.

1300 grams roughly translates to 2lb-14 ounces. That's an extremely heavy bat. Just the weight is enough to get distance for your shots if the balance is correct as in the original one you had. A reasonably well-pressed bat at that weight will get you there; question is do you want to persist with those specs or want to try something lighter, contemporary, and easy to acquire?

1. With the dead weight so high, I would probably need a low density wood. I saw on B3 website on how they have the best wood etc. hence one of the options.  They also emphasize a lot on the wood being source from JR Wright. While I understand most of the bat makers source wood from JR Wright, some have other UK grown wood as well. Are the other UK grown wood inferior or less probable to perform that JR Wright's?

Are you trying to match weight of the original bat or volume? Does the original bat have thicker edges and spine compared to other bats of  the era ? IIRC , heavy India made bats did not really have disproportionately large volume, the batmakers used high-density willow to make heavy but normal sized bats.

2. Can a bat really be replicated entirely with the similar balance?

If the bat maker holds and sees the original bat, probably yes if you are lucky. A bat resulting from written/verbal specs will not satisfy your senses. General answer to your question: No.

3. What kind of handle is used at these manufacturers? I read a lot  about 12 piece, carbon infused etc. Does it make a huge difference? Gray-Nicolls definitely thinks that.

Laver & Wood have a handle that puts a carbon honey comb in the top tip of the handle to manage handle flex. You are going down a rabbit hole. You are better off playing the "how it feels in my hands" game rather than technical minutiae.

Save yourself lot of headache, heartache, and money by testing modern bats instead of replicating an old dream. Newbury has some great options. Millichamp and Hall used to have a bat called Amplus and in heavy weights too - it hit like a dream. I'd stay away from Gray-Nicolls. If you can find a reputable dealer/shop, CA is a great options. If you can find an older CA, you'll save tons of money too.

You can search my old posts for other information but my favorite bat shapes are Newbury Blitz (designed by Tim Keeley) which I had replicated (custom made) by Keeley as well. You can hit easy sixes with a CA.

[mr_reagan]

Save yourself lot of headache, heartache, and money by testing modern bats instead of replicating an old dream. Newbury has some great options. Millichamp and Hall used to have a bat called Amplus and in heavy weights too - it hit like a dream. I'd stay away from Gray-Nicolls. If you can find a reputable dealer/shop, CA is a great options. If you can find an older CA, you'll save tons of money too.

Is there a reason your are avoiding GN?