Help me select a bat

[goldenduck]

I am in the market. I am looking for a bat that has mid-to-low sweetspot, more wood near the toe, light-weight / pickup, not too bottom heavy. The profile need not be meaty, but the sweetspot has to be spread towards the lower end of the bat. My current GM Icon is quite weak towards the toe.

My budget is about 200 USD and I am agnostic to brands. I was looking at online stockist and other stores and short-listed a few... please give me more suggestions if you know of other models I could consider

BDM Aerodynamic
BDM Dynamic Power Super
BDM Master Blaster
SG Sunny Tonny
SS Heritage / SS Limited Edition

Does anyone have experience with these models? If yes, I'd love to hear about them.

Does any Malik or AS models fit my requirements better? How do they perform compared to these Indian brands?

Are there any English brands I could consider as well? I see that Asian brands are better value for money.

 

[Sidney]

I am in the market. I am looking for a bat that has mid-to-low sweetspot, more wood near the toe, light-weight / pickup, not too bottom heavy. The profile need not be meaty, but the sweetspot has to be spread towards the lower end of the bat. My current GM Icon is quite weak towards the toe.

My budget is about 200 USD and I am agnostic to brands. I was looking at online stockist and other stores and short-listed a few... please give me more suggestions if you know of other models I could consider

BDM Aerodynamic
BDM Dynamic Power Super
BDM Master Blaster
SG Sunny Tonny
SS Heritage / SS Limited Edition

Does anyone have experience with these models? If yes, I'd love to hear about them.

Does any Malik or AS models fit my requirements better? How do they perform compared to these Indian brands?

Are there any English brands I could consider as well? I see that Asian brands are better value for money.

There are loads of bats on the market with the profile you are after. I would say stay away from sg ca and recent SS bats as they tend to have a mid type position middle. with the budget you have i would say BDM is the best withought a shadow of doubt. AS MB good value for money too but consistency a problem with them sometimes.

BDM all the way, i have never owned one but check out some reviews on you tube and you will see weight grains etc are excellent for the money

 

[FreeBird]

I have used both BDM and AS (also SG and SS).

I personally don't think BDM can beat AS vx-100 LE; however, I am not taking anything away from BDM.
Top end BDM bats are really, really good.

But since you are gambling to buy online, your best bet is to start with the weight if u r looking for a lighter bat.

No matter what the seller says, like, "2.12 bat that feels like 2.10" is just pure speculation.

Look for a bat that is NOT more than 2 lbs 8 Oz. That should be your first and non-negotiable condition.

Then move up to other specs , sweet spot position, thick toe, minimum scalloping, bowed profile, thick edges, round handle and what not.

If you contact AS, they will custom made a vx-100 for U for 200 odd.

They can even send you pic of cleft they will use to whittle your bat. You can check the cosmetics n grains if that fancies you.

BDM won't do that.

 

[Sidney]

good idea, start with your weight and work from there. I have purchased many AS bats and even visited their factory in sialkot etc and offer good value for money bats if you can get the right cleft. personaly i would research UK suppliers that way have more say and input into what is actualy made up and so see pics etc. or US sellers if there are any ofcourse
from what i recal the best easily in the UK are sq sports stock BDM and eclipse all sports stock BDM and AS bats

 

[goldenduck]

Thanks guys.. this is very useful information. My leather ball cricket started with a BDM years back (super test 2000), so I have a little sentimentality to the brand. But apart from that, you replies brings me closer to selecting a BDM as well. Does anyone have experience with ordering a BDM bat straight from factory?

I see that many first class players in India use SG Sunny Tonny. (VVS Laxman and Raina have used them too), So that bat seems to be a battle-tested specimen. Wonder where the bad repute comes from.

I am quite attracted to AS VX-100 too. The bat seems to have a lovely profile and a thick toe (I hate weak toes when dealing with fullish yorkerish deliveries)

Another separate question: Do lighter versions of the same model typically come with fewer grains? Let's say a bat is advertised with 8-12 grains, do 2 8s and 2 9s have fewer grains than 2 11s and 2 12s?

 

[Sidney]

Thanks guys.. this is very useful information. My leather ball cricket started with a BDM years back (super test 2000), so I have a little sentimentality to the brand. But apart from that, you replies brings me closer to selecting a BDM as well. Does anyone have experience with ordering a BDM bat straight from factory?

I see that many first class players in India use SG Sunny Tonny. (VVS Laxman and Raina have used them too), So that bat seems to be a battle-tested specimen. Wonder where the bad repute comes from.

I am quite attracted to AS VX-100 too. The bat seems to have a lovely profile and a thick toe (I hate weak toes when dealing with fullish yorkerish deliveries)

Another separate question: Do lighter versions of the same model typically come with fewer grains? Let's say a bat is advertised with 8-12 grains, do 2 8s and 2 9s have fewer grains than 2 11s and 2 12s?

i would look to buy an actual bat from a retailer as oppose to getting one from factory as there is always a risk as to what the finished bat will be

no ligther will not defo mean less grains

 

[goldenduck]

Thanks, Sidney. I am now looking at SF Sapphire as well. I love its looks. I am so torn between SF and the BDM Aerodynamic . Anyone with experience?

 

[Sidney]

Thanks, Sidney. I am now looking at SF Sapphire as well. I love its looks. I am so torn between SF and the BDM Aerodynamic . Anyone with experience?

every single bat is different from the sub continent. generaly i find SF bit dry but performance and pick up is excellent. overall bdm probably better option. main thing is what options fit into your budget and go from there. good starting point is look at eclipse all sports and SQ sports as between them they biggest stockists of BDM and SF in the UK and see what bats they actualy got in tock and go from there as good to see pics of the actual bat. if you get stuck message me directly

 

[goldenduck]

Thanks. How does this look?

 

[madaboutcricket1985]

I have mentioned on another thread I went to visit eclipse all sport they have a display room, he has majority of the cricket bats listed above including a wide range of BDM cricket bats a few AS cricket bats SS cricket bats such as the heritage r7 and r9 new for 2015 ton players edition and reserve edition as well as sagakarra players edition cricket bat which was a beauty,

It was difficult to select a cricket bat as he had so many great ones and the prices were very good. In the end I had about 5 bats picked out and ended up changing my mind really wanted the sangakarra players edition bat in the end I went for a plain pro bat kohli shape full profile, lovely balance and pick up nice grains and serious ping and great price as well, you should certainly pay him a visit he is based in wakefield. Top guy top service top bats awesome prices what is not to like.

 

[goldenduck]

I have mentioned on another thread I went to visit eclipse all sport they have a display room, he has majority of the cricket bats listed above including a wide range of BDM cricket bats a few AS cricket bats SS cricket bats such as the heritage r7 and r9 new for 2015 ton players edition and reserve edition as well as sagakarra players edition cricket bat which was a beauty,

It was difficult to select a cricket bat as he had so many great ones and the prices were very good. In the end I had about 5 bats picked out and ended up changing my mind really wanted the sangakarra players edition bat in the end I went for a plain pro bat kohli shape full profile, lovely balance and pick up nice grains and serious ping and great price as well, you should certainly pay him a visit he is based in wakefield. Top guy top service top bats awesome prices what is not to like.

Oops.. I forgot to say I am in the U.S . Not much happiness here when it comes to checking out equipment. But I'll check out his website. Thanks

 

[FreeBird]

Thanks. How does this look?
View attachment 55212

What are the specs and price?

And I agree with Sidney, SF bats are massive for the weight but they tend to have ordinary in performance.

 

[Sidney]

it seems ok looking. im very fussy about looks lols. be good if the seller could send you more pics or even make a video for you showing shape ping etc.... also it depends on price. check out eclipse all sports. the willow on his new batch of BDM bats seem nice. clean white willow with prominent grains. think he has a video on youtube too. his BDM stock flies out quick i know so give him a shout asap and he has done videos etc when my mates have contacted him. that way you know as much about the bat at possible without actualy going all the way to a shop
http://youtu.be/NUEjJHIZgKw