I own a CA 9000, those in the know, it too, is a laminate.. I bought it as a bit of a novelty.. it's over 2'15 and 50mm edges with 9 straight even grains.. it was sleeved and hand knocked by kingsgrove sports in Sydney.. I somehow doubt I'll ever use it in a game.. it's more of a conversation piece when the lads come over for a beer.. it's a dead set monster, and I understand why they were outlawed.. I really just wanted to own something controversial, that are no longer being made.. interesting to see another laminate out there.. another great, informative review Marc.. cheers mate!👍
This is really interesting because i have bought my last 2 bats from this company and they have both gone like absolute guns. I have been to his workshop since i live in the same town. Good that you passed on that they dont offer this as a standard option. For a club cricketer they are excellent bats and excellent value.
Great video, would never consider purchasing a laminate bat before seeing this review, thought it was just doggie bat makers trying to sell lower grade bats to unsuspecting customers.
Its a tough one. The big brands mass produce. You know what it will look like, you can walk into a store and swing it around and but from multiple locations where there is competition. They buy heaps of willow so you can spend and buy top looking willow. I think the skill of a experienced bat maker can provide things beyond this. You can find better performing bats because the cleft is treated with attention to detail when pressing. Handle shape, bat shape and length can all be customised. You can develop a relationship with the bat maker. Things that go beyond the retail experience. He/she may not have the same amount of willow so your variety may be limited. He/she may not have access to the same pricing so his cheapest option may be compete with the shop stuff, but the the performance may rival more expensive mass produced bats. He/she will not have the sponsored player, but may be able to replicate or improve on its balance.
There are some very good and average examples in both camps, so I will remain unbiased. I own a Laver and a GN at the moment and soon a Rob Pack. I have tried many and found gems and duds in either.
I know this is a late reply...😅...but I thought I'd share my experiences. I bought a grade 1/players grade bat from a small UK bat maker called Jedi a couple of years ago. I was able to pick the entire spec for the bat...weight/sweet spot/ handle length...and they oiled it and knocked it in (by hand they claim). It cost me around £300...which is pretty much half the cheapest price I would have paid for a similar bat from a recognised brand. The bat looked amazing...10 beautiful straight grains and a great pick up...but I was never really happy with it tbh. It just didn't have the ping I expected. To compare, at the same time, a friend of mine got me an SF bat from their factory in India (he is a pro and sponsored by SF). It cost me £200 - 8 beautiful straight grains with a slightly heavier pick up than the Jedi. I didn't have any input into the making of it other than saying I wanted a bat between 2lb 8 and 2lb 10 with a short handle. I'd say its probably a grade 2. Overall the SF was much much better than the Jedi. The ball just flew off the SF...to the extent that when I used it for the first time in nets, 3 or 4 of my club mates immediately came over to ask me about the bat after seeing me hit a few balls. I did start the season with the Jedi...but I ended up swapping it for the SF after a few overs in each of the first 5 games because the ball was simply not coming off the Jedi as I wanted it to. In the end I switched to the SF full time and I used it for 3 seasons...scoring my highest ever knock of 147* and having 3 great seasons overall. The Jedi stayed in the bag and now I've decided to sell it for £50. Maybe it was just my luck...but I won't be buying from a small producer again.
Hi, not sure I understand the question. You mean LV roller? It’s from Elivars Shed. See my playlists. There are a few videos on laminated bats i have done. I prepared them to see the difference. Unfortunately some has pressing cracks as the top laminate was either too thin to press or perhaps air pockets trapped. Not sure. Preparation was the same and I comment to that on sequel videos. If you’re entertaining buying one. My thoughts are 1. They are 100% banned in the laws of the game. 2. They were not any more pingy than some of the better bats I get in, but they can definitely make an average piece of willow perform as the glue layer is hard. If you prepare a decent bat well I cannot see a benefit. Still would love to get my hand on some Malik MB laminates to review as I think the price would be better bang for buck.
Very interesting review this one...something quite different. You can see why laminated bats are not MCC approved based on your experence with this bat.
@@CricketBatInfo I found this quite intreaging as it's not a crappy bat passing-off as a better bat with an obvoiusly fake laminate. This is something quite different. Again a very good review Marc 👏👏👏
@@MichaelChunnz I kinda own one mate.. it's a CA 9000 laminate.. as I said to Marc I wouldn't use it in a game.. it's more of a talking point.. but with it's weight and specs e.g. edge size and spine and sheer brute force.. I'd hate to be the bowler at the other end.. I bought it off eBay to add to my collection for a bit of fun.. more of a conversation piece than a bat I'd take to training.. 50mm edges and an 80mm spine.. at 2'15.. it's not something you'd use every weekend..😉 and you can't really " fake" a laminate.. 🙂
The willow is glued together and set with clamps. I imagine a table planer is used to get the bonded sides perfectly flat. Glue is important. I have no idea what would be used on this bat. Quality pva or even a traditional hot animal fat based glue. Once the cleft is laminated and cured the cleft can be shaped and then treated like any other bit of timber. Love to hear from bat makers.
One of my old ones is actually on sale on eBay at the moment (not by me, sold it last year), if anyone bats to try one for cheap. It’s a bit delaminated but still flies.
Great explanation of what a laminate bat is... nice looking Bat,.. thanks for posting the video Mate!
I own a CA 9000, those in the know, it too, is a laminate.. I bought it as a bit of a novelty.. it's over 2'15 and 50mm edges with 9 straight even grains.. it was sleeved and hand knocked by kingsgrove sports in Sydney.. I somehow doubt I'll ever use it in a game.. it's more of a conversation piece when the lads come over for a beer.. it's a dead set monster, and I understand why they were outlawed.. I really just wanted to own something controversial, that are no longer being made.. interesting to see another laminate out there.. another great, informative review Marc.. cheers mate!👍
Thanks Paul, always look forward to your comments. 👍
So yours is banned twice🤣
This is really interesting because i have bought my last 2 bats from this company and they have both gone like absolute guns. I have been to his workshop since i live in the same town. Good that you passed on that they dont offer this as a standard option. For a club cricketer they are excellent bats and excellent value.
Great video, would never consider purchasing a laminate bat before seeing this review, thought it was just doggie bat makers trying to sell lower grade bats to unsuspecting customers.
It’s the harder wood on top of the softer wood that Makes the rebound more, not so much the glue
In your opinion what is better. Handmade small company bats or big brand name bats?
Its a tough one. The big brands mass produce. You know what it will look like, you can walk into a store and swing it around and but from multiple locations where there is competition. They buy heaps of willow so you can spend and buy top looking willow.
I think the skill of a experienced bat maker can provide things beyond this. You can find better performing bats because the cleft is treated with attention to detail when pressing. Handle shape, bat shape and length can all be customised. You can develop a relationship with the bat maker. Things that go beyond the retail experience. He/she may not have the same amount of willow so your variety may be limited.
He/she may not have access to the same pricing so his cheapest option may be compete with the shop stuff, but the the performance may rival more expensive mass produced bats.
He/she will not have the sponsored player, but may be able to replicate or improve on its balance.
There are some very good and average examples in both camps, so I will remain unbiased. I own a Laver and a GN at the moment and soon a Rob Pack. I have tried many and found gems and duds in either.
I know this is a late reply...😅...but I thought I'd share my experiences. I bought a grade 1/players grade bat from a small UK bat maker called Jedi a couple of years ago. I was able to pick the entire spec for the bat...weight/sweet spot/ handle length...and they oiled it and knocked it in (by hand they claim). It cost me around £300...which is pretty much half the cheapest price I would have paid for a similar bat from a recognised brand.
The bat looked amazing...10 beautiful straight grains and a great pick up...but I was never really happy with it tbh. It just didn't have the ping I expected.
To compare, at the same time, a friend of mine got me an SF bat from their factory in India (he is a pro and sponsored by SF). It cost me £200 - 8 beautiful straight grains with a slightly heavier pick up than the Jedi. I didn't have any input into the making of it other than saying I wanted a bat between 2lb 8 and 2lb 10 with a short handle. I'd say its probably a grade 2.
Overall the SF was much much better than the Jedi. The ball just flew off the SF...to the extent that when I used it for the first time in nets, 3 or 4 of my club mates immediately came over to ask me about the bat after seeing me hit a few balls.
I did start the season with the Jedi...but I ended up swapping it for the SF after a few overs in each of the first 5 games because the ball was simply not coming off the Jedi as I wanted it to.
In the end I switched to the SF full time and I used it for 3 seasons...scoring my highest ever knock of 147* and having 3 great seasons overall. The Jedi stayed in the bag and now I've decided to sell it for £50.
Maybe it was just my luck...but I won't be buying from a small producer again.
Enjoyed this video a lot very informative.
Thankyou. Interesting topic
Cool review. Sound advice!
Gday Marc! Just wondering how do you get the piece of willow you’ll use to bind the bat? Also is there any other prep work needed on the bat? Cheers
Hi, not sure I understand the question. You mean LV roller? It’s from Elivars Shed. See my playlists. There are a few videos on laminated bats i have done. I prepared them to see the difference. Unfortunately some has pressing cracks as the top laminate was either too thin to press or perhaps air pockets trapped. Not sure. Preparation was the same and I comment to that on sequel videos.
If you’re entertaining buying one. My thoughts are 1. They are 100% banned in the laws of the game. 2. They were not any more pingy than some of the better bats I get in, but they can definitely make an average piece of willow perform as the glue layer is hard. If you prepare a decent bat well I cannot see a benefit.
Still would love to get my hand on some Malik MB laminates to review as I think the price would be better bang for buck.
Can you do a video on a Woodstock bat?
Very interesting review this one...something quite different. You can see why laminated bats are not MCC approved based on your experence with this bat.
Great fun to own though mate.. 😉
Thanks Michael. Appreciate you watching and commenting.
@@paulhobson2391 It would be interesting right to see hiw good one would be & hoe long it would last compared to a standard EW bat.
@@CricketBatInfo I found this quite intreaging as it's not a crappy bat passing-off as a better bat with an obvoiusly fake laminate. This is something quite different. Again a very good review Marc 👏👏👏
@@MichaelChunnz I kinda own one mate.. it's a CA 9000 laminate.. as I said to Marc I wouldn't use it in a game.. it's more of a talking point.. but with it's weight and specs e.g. edge size and spine and sheer brute force.. I'd hate to be the bowler at the other end.. I bought it off eBay to add to my collection for a bit of fun.. more of a conversation piece than a bat I'd take to training.. 50mm edges and an 80mm spine.. at 2'15.. it's not something you'd use every weekend..😉 and you can't really " fake" a laminate.. 🙂
Hey Mate, please review Phantom Cricket Bat Dark Edition and also PS7 VK and MSD Edition
I did many of those n the past. Also older photo reviews on the facebook page that covered more
How these laminated bats are made
The willow is glued together and set with clamps. I imagine a table planer is used to get the bonded sides perfectly flat. Glue is important. I have no idea what would be used on this bat. Quality pva or even a traditional hot animal fat based glue.
Once the cleft is laminated and cured the cleft can be shaped and then treated like any other bit of timber.
Love to hear from bat makers.
@@CricketBatInfo thanks for your valuable explanation..... people would definitely like to see video on laminated bat making....
One of my old ones is actually on sale on eBay at the moment (not by me, sold it last year), if anyone bats to try one for cheap. It’s a bit delaminated but still flies.
Does delamination on a laminate just mean the top layer has come unstuck? 🤔🤣
@@Cameron_Jamie94 could well be, all I know is it sounded horrible, but went miles
I've never seen such a thin laminated face, all the ones I have seen are close to 50/50 then shaped.