Topic: appraisal of bats we havent used (Read 5124 times)

Hads45 · « **on:** November 22, 2010, 09:46:00 AM »

I just thought id make a comment on people declaring how good bats are without seeing them, and in this instance Screaming cat.

While I am sure they are a very good brand, it seems so many people on the forum are very quick to praise JM and declare these one of the best brands in the world, if not the best. Most people generally talk without using it, and thats fair enough, everyones guilty of it.

While I am sure they are very good Id just like to comment that I have seen two in the last few weeks. The first one was the second from the top model and I had a net with it as it was a mates at training, and to be honest it was ok, but nothing special, far from what I expected given the talk.

The other was a bloke I ran into at work one day brought his new one in. t was the top of the range elite, six hundred and how many ever dollars one in and I gave it a hit on the mallet and once again, decent bat, but nothing special, and to be honest nothing which id say seperated it from anything ive seen on the shelf.

peplow · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2010, 09:52:19 AM »

It because money talks, if a bat is sold for �400 we assume its better than one for �200, just like we assume the new newbery cenkos to be the very best for �1000! Its a perception we get that higher prices = better quality which then means better brands. But obviously its also word of mouth, i know tom milsom loves his and it does go very well, so rave reviews only enhance this feeling of it being the creme de la creme!

kenbriooo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2010, 09:59:55 AM »

You raise an interesting point and I agree with much is said. I think the reason Scat and Laver are held in such high regard is due to their scarcity over here. In my opinion, at the end of the day these guys use the same willow (pretty much) as everyone else, granted they may press and shape it differently but you will only get 'X'% performance out of the bat(presuming same grade). Granted some may perform better than others and some worse. But will a �200 SAF bat only perform half as well as a �400 Laver? I suspect not.

Hads45 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2010, 10:12:10 AM »

I was more just commenting on the fact that SCAT seem somewhat invincible on these forums and more just adding that they are certainly not. I am sure they are good bats and I have no doubt most customers would be happy as really if you middle any bat it generally goes and you think "wow this is a good stick". As you say, some are definetly going to play better than others.

And im not saying these were bad ones but I have definetly played with and hit alot better bats.

peplow · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2010, 10:26:18 AM »

Not that invincable, they got beaten into the final by redback

so not everyone feels that way!

roco · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2010, 10:42:39 AM »

the myth is based around the maker as by most in the cricketing world rate jm as one of the top batmakers in the world so with a name comes the price

tim2000s · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2010, 01:13:41 PM »

Quote from: roco on November 22, 2010, 10:42:39 AM

the myth is based around the maker as by most in the cricketing world rate jm as one of the top batmakers in the world so with a name comes the price

Agreed on JM/Cost perception.

Having now experienced the Laver myth, I'd have to say he made a lovely bat, I couldn't fault it, and it really did fly. However, going on his recommendation didn't quite work out for me and I'd be more likely to get a custom done for me locally now, if I didn't know what shape I wanted. I've learned that maybe price isn't everything, and "legendary" batmakers maybe aren't that much better than upcoming ones...

steelcouch · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2010, 02:10:20 PM »

Interesting.
I have not used one so cannot comment. I like the shape of them, looking lke they have more wood behind the middle areas than they should for the weight without stupidly thin shoulders and toe.
I guess you only really feel the benefit of that when you middle an attacking shot.
Not sure i would lend my new SCAT to anyone at an indoor net, unless they had the highest regard to what they had in their hands

In the end of the day they are all lumps of wood with most people knowing what they like or what weight distribution feels familar to them so possibly just a bit different to what you use.

Finally, and not discrediting this, but how many shops let you bang a mallet on off the shelf bats these days?

He certainly has good pedigree and his bats were always popular with the International aussie players.
Would i buy a SCAT made by Julian, Absolutely

Colesy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2010, 02:13:45 PM »

Slightly less expensive, but I would like a GM Hero (yellow) as I think they look very nice. I was talking to Byo when we last played his team as he used one and I wanted one then aswell lol.

tim2000s · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2010, 02:31:42 PM »

Quote from: steelcouch on November 22, 2010, 02:10:20 PM

I guess you only really feel the benefit of that when you middle an attacking shot.

I agree. You do, but as I said, it wasn't the bat that was the issue really, it was the shape in relation to me. When I hit the middle, it just went. Best example of this was a stright six hit straight back over the bowlers head off the second ball of my innings. Slightly short of a length and I didn't put much into it. Just didn't find that spot on the bat often enough!

steelcouch · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:02:13 PM »

Tim 2000 I was talking about the SCAT rather than the Laver, but pretty sure they learnt their trade in the same places and make similar bats.

You can have the best bat on the world and if it does not suit your play then it will probably not perform as well as a lower graded bat that is made to the right spec for you.

I have to say there are quite a lot of people on here buying bats that turn out to be wrong for them and then selling them on at a loss, which is great for people who are interested in trying new bats.

Part of me thinks though that rather than getting caught up in the excitement of buyng a bat, as we all have done make an "honest" assesment of your batting style, the quality of the cricket you play, where you actually score most of your runs.
In our mind i am sure we all thinks we bat like Ian Bell, with the concentration of Tendulkar and the power of gayle where in reality we actually strangle cover drives through mid on and off the bottom inside edge.
in fact we do not hit it out the middle too often and dont have the assurity to use a heavy bat.

AND that actually we dont actually know what bat we shoudl have made, not actually listen to the advise people give you.
Unless people on here are MUCH better cricketers than me, and by and large i dont think they probably are.
most people in my opinon should be buying more forgiving bats, with thinner edges and probably 2 lb lighter than they currently have. They are simply not good enough cricketers to get the full benefit from these "pro" bats" made by the likes of Julian or James.
I am not a great batsmen nor a superb knowlege of willow, but sure it is like someone buying a professional surf board and saying actually it felt a bit twitchy on the 3 foot waves and didnt feel any better than the one i got down in Newquay.

I would have to say that my gut feeling is that you have bought the wrong bat, too heavy and too unforgiving and with probably a middle slightly too high for the (No Swearing Please) pitchs you play on

steelcouch · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:10:03 PM »

Sorry, sound a bit harsh.
I mean "you" as in a lot of people on here that do not know better.

My point is that if one is honest with ones self and look and the red marks on the bat, using a more local and affordable bat maker you could work to find the right type of bat for oneself and learn what difference do what to your game.
Then ,when you have more of an understand of things it might be time to ask these master batsmen to style you a bat

only my thoughts, for what they are worth....

Simmy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:15:01 PM »

Quote from: steelcouch on November 22, 2010, 03:02:13 PM

Tim 2000 I was talking about the SCAT rather than the Laver, but pretty sure they learnt their trade in the same places and make similar bats.

You can have the best bat on the world and if it does not suit your play then it will probably not perform as well as a lower graded bat that is made to the right spec for you.

I have to say there are quite a lot of people on here buying bats that turn out to be wrong for them and then selling them on at a loss, which is great for people who are interested in trying new bats.

Part of me thinks though that rather than getting caught up in the excitement of buyng a bat, as we all have done make an "honest" assesment of your batting style, the quality of the cricket you play, where you actually score most of your runs.
In our mind i am sure we all thinks we bat like Ian Bell, with the concentration of Tendulkar and the power of gayle where in reality we actually strangle cover drives through mid on and off the bottom inside edge.
in fact we do not hit it out the middle too often and dont have the assurity to use a heavy bat.

AND that actually we dont actually know what bat we shoudl have made, not actually listen to the advise people give you.
Unless people on here are MUCH better cricketers than me, and by and large i dont think they probably are.
most people in my opinon should be buying more forgiving bats, with thinner edges and probably 2 lb lighter than they currently have. They are simply not good enough cricketers to get the full benefit from these "pro" bats" made by the likes of Julian or James.
I am not a great batsmen nor a superb knowlege of willow, but sure it is like someone buying a professional surf board and saying actually it felt a bit twitchy on the 3 foot waves and didnt feel any better than the one i got down in Newquay.

I would have to say that my gut feeling is that you have bought the wrong bat, too heavy and too unforgiving and with probably a middle slightly too high for the (No Swearing Please) pitchs you play on

i disagree

Ayrtek Cricket · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:24:49 PM »

If you go out and pay �400 for a bat your going to be a brave sole to turn around and tell your mates its not actually any better than what they have got in their kit bag.

perception is that the more money something costs the better is it and will perform. Buy a porsche for example....its cost you an extra �2.5k to have their logo emboirdered on the seats....does it make it any faster?? nope....but you can bet ur life ul be gettin ur mates to notice u have the extra wow factor on the seats as a status symbol (if the car alone isnt enough lol).

steelcouch · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:32:34 PM »

Thanks Simmy, good insight

Author Topic: appraisal of bats we havent used (Read 5124 times)

Hads45

appraisal of bats we havent used

peplow

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kenbriooo

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Hads45

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peplow

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roco

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tim2000s

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steelcouch

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Colesy

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tim2000s

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steelcouch

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steelcouch

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Simmy

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Ayrtek Cricket

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steelcouch

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