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[CricketisLife]

Guys,
I have been thinking hard on the bat to buy this year as I am now a regular opener. I have one of Mike's beauties, cricket bat that is before you all go off on a tangent, the Distinction from M&H. I used to have the Retro but the new Amplus looks like Mike's bat.
Given that I need to buy one soon, any suggestions from anyone who can help me chose a bat ?
Mr. Hosk, given that you are a bat collector and hard hitter, i am sure you would have a couple but looking for some options here...
thanks guys...

[yvk3103]

Mate the best is to go to a shop and select a few based on the pick and then tap them up to see which is the one for you.

Remember as a opener the most important is the pick-up and feel.

Also the middle position on the bat would depend on the kind of wickets you play on....

[procricket]

stop

the best weight is what you feel comfortable with facing opening bowlers

[jonpinson]

Just to clarify, do you have a Distinction and one from Mike, or is that the same bat?

Do you like that bat(s)? If so, what do you like about it (them)

What would you improve upon?

What kind of pitches do you play on? What is your playing style?

There are a world of top notch bats available for you, and thankfully a motly crue here who know one or two things about them 

[CricketisLife]

@ jonpinson - they are different bats mate. Distinction I use when there is no bounce and it comes of the middle of the bat as the middle is quite low on that one. The one which Mike gave has a higher middle which I use to tracks that give good bounce but the bottom is almost good as dead as there isnt much to drive and I got caught in the covers many times.
Playing style - I love to cut through covers and point, go above the cover fielders, basically very attacking and love to punch down the ground straight..
Pitches - I play Thames Valley Division 4 (we lost at 3 last year) so the pitches are normally ok.
The very fact I messaged here was as there are so many experts here I would have to have a few more than 1 lifetime to learn the tricks of the trade...
@ procricket - I got done by that theory mate, as the oppo sussed me out and used to get the spinners to open the bowling after I hit them all over the park the last time.. :-(
@  yvk3103 - I havent found any shop that gives me the full range of bats to look for mate..any suggestions ?

[procricket]

So mate you change your bat depending on the bowling?

[CricketisLife]

@ procricket - not really mate. I haven't tried that but my theory is that the pitch determines the bat. Even with the spinner you get the ball to bounce you need to have a bat that gives you the ability to play with the bounce..unless I am wrong...

[jonpinson]

Ok mate, so are you looking for the low or high bounce tracks?

[CricketisLife]

something that does both ?? or is it too much to ask ? I would like the profile of Amplus and Distinction put together :-(

[uknsaunders]

you play TV4? - I played that for Marlow for many years - which club do you play for?

I can probably tell you the best bat as I've played on most of the tracks :-)

[CricketisLife]

@ uknsaunders - I play for Theale and Tilehurst Cricket Club mate...near Reading. whats your best bat mate ?

[jonpinson]

something that does both ?? or is it too much to ask ? I would like the profile of Amplus and Distinction put together :-(

Then my advice to you would be to get in touch with some of the makers on here. They all make good bats, can't really go wrong. They'll be able to advise you as to what will do the job, and then make it for you.

We could sit here and throw bat types at you, but unless you can actually get to feel them its pretty useless.

[Canners]

You want a cross between an amplus and a distinction....... You must be referring to the M&H railway sleeper

[Canners]

If you do however found that combo please can you let me know as I was after a bat that performs like a retro/distinction but picks up like the harlequin and am yet to find it

[uknsaunders]

assuming you have been relegated downwards you'll have in 4b:-

FINCHAMPSTEAD 3    EVERSLEY 2    HURST    READING 3    ODIHAM & GREYWELL   COVE 3  OMT Bracknell

OK - High Bouncing - Finch, Reading 3 - both lovely decks
Low Bouncing - Bracknell, OMT, Hurst
Don't know much about - Eversley, Odiham (played at both 20 years ago) or Cove 3 (played on main ground and that's low)

I don't know your ground but remember 50% of your matches are there.
 Give me a few minutes and I'll have a think about bat types.