Interview with World's Finest Podshaver, James Laver [Questions Thread]

[Cover Drive]

I'm delighted to announce that we will be interviewing James Laver .

James is head batmaker at Laver&Wood since 1999 and before Laver&Wood James worked at Millichamp & Hall. Over the period of time James made his name in cricket bats field by making impressive bats for likes of Steve Waugh, Brain Lara and many many more.

So here is your chance to ask James whatever you wanted to ask him (off course within the limits )

As usual 20 or so questions will be selected for interview.

 

[Waleedk11]

Yay! Ive always wanted asked this question to Premium bat makers

"What on earth makes your bats special apart from the fact that they are "traditionally" made and that they have "selected" willow like every other L.E bat???"

 

[JN1301]

omgomgomgomgogmomg dfhsohighosfhgoshogfihs so excited! gotta think of some questions now and ahah brain lara

 

[100 Not out]

Yay! Ive always wanted asked this question to Premium bat makers

"What on earth makes your bats special apart from the fact that they are "traditionally" made and that they have "selected" willow like every other L.E bat???"

A car is a car.

But is a BMW different from a Ford???

 

[bigfan]

"When you are pressing a bat, what role does adding or removing moisture play in creating / enhancing ping?"

"Is the ping of the bat a result of the cleft itself or pressing?"

"Do you press your clefts before or after you cut them to size (4 1/2 inch face, toe etc)"

"How did you learn your secrets to pressing a bat?" "How long did it take you to learn?"

"What role does CAD / CNC play in bat manufacturing in the future?"

"What scientific testing do you perform on clefts? what advancements have been made in cleft selection? What advancements have been made in cultivation of English Willow? Any ideas regarding GM for enhanced qualities?"

"What are the causes of low density clefts?"

"What is your opinion of high density / low density cleft bats? which is preferred and why?

"What is your opinion on handles? what handles do you use in your bats (which type of cane) how many pieces? What do you make the rubber from?"

"How does this affect the performance of a bat? do you use lighter and heavier handles?"

"Do you play catch up with bat design? or are you the one leading the way with bowing in the face and sculpting of the back and the trend towards larger shoulders and smaller spines?"

"Should you get your bat pressed or rolled after purchase as "recommended" by some retail outlets?" "How would this affect performance?"

"what is your opinion of heartwood in clefts?" "Sapwood preferred over heartwood?"

Those are just some I have a lot more. Bet he doesn't answer half of them if asked.

 

[AamerM]

Does the way a bat looks have any bearing on the way it plays?

 

[Waleedk11]

A car is a car.

But is a BMW different from a Ford???

Good point but a car has many components whilst a bat only has one, the willow. And as far as know, Laver use same woods as GM L.E bats so whats so distinctive about laver that makes it better than the rest?

 

[SalmanK]

Since knocking is just compressing the bat willow, why does a hard-pressed bat need more knocking/playing in to open up?

Also, why isn't it possible to over knock a bat? Wouldn't it over compress the blade and cause it to lose ping?

 

[Cover Drive]

Some very good questions there, bigfan don't worry all of your questions are top question so will send all (if they are not repetitive)

Salman Bhai, long time no see? I hope all is well at your end!

 

[SalmanK]

CD bhai, indeed have been absent for long. Work commitments and general laziness to blame...
When is Laver being interviewed? Will it be live or just answering a set of preselected questions?

 

[Cover Drive]

Glad to see you back, keep posting

Yaar this thread will be here for few more days depending on the numbers of questions. No it will be text interview, all questions with answer will be posted.

 

[TimothyStuckey]

I have seen a lot of pics of your bats with a really exaggerated spine but not much meat around the toe or splice...how does this style/profile of bat cope if the ball does not hit the middle??? have you tested this style of bat much to ensure it is as cable as more traditional styles/profiles???

 

[100 Not out]

Can you please explain your grading system??
how do u grade a cleft into a reserve for exmaple rather than private bin??

 

[100 Not out]

Good point but a car has many components whilst a bat only has one, the willow. And as far as know, Laver use same woods as GM L.E bats so whats so distinctive about laver that makes it better than the rest?

Well you get a completely hand made bat for starters with the batmaker being able to adjust to suit the willlow properties of the cleft before him. GM have a CNC machine. . .

 

[Waleedk11]

Well you get a completely hand made bat for starters with the batmaker being able to adjust to suit the willlow properties of the cleft before him. GM have a CNC machine. . .

Fare point but there are many UK bat makers who offer the same service for a fraction of the price, solitaire, fusion, vantage, black cat ect.

 

[ExtraCoverDrive]

Fare point but there are many UK bat makers who offer the same service for a fraction of the price, solitaire, fusion, vantage, black cat ect.

2 pointers for you:

1)Laver & Wood is a brand name that is praised by professionals at the top level who use them or so Ive heard. If the best in the business really use it, then surely L&W makes some of the best bats in the world.

2)Think of it like this: Hand over a piece of paper of the same size and material to two kids and tell them to make a paper plane. The 2 paper planes will turn out different. Its the same paper, but one plane is better than the other. Its all about who makes them.

Not to say that Black cat and other smaller brand names dont make bats that are just as good or better. Just saying that the bigger the brand name is, the more trustworthy that brand name is, the more it'll cost you.

 

[Waleedk11]

2 pointers for you:

1)Laver & Wood is a brand name that is praised by professionals at the top level who use them or so Ive heard. If the best in the business really use it, then surely L&W makes some of the best bats in the world.

2)Think of it like this: Hand over a piece of paper of the same size and material to two kids and tell them to make a paper plane. The 2 paper planes will turn out different. Its the same paper, but one plane is better than the other. Its all about who makes them.

Not to say that Black cat and other smaller brand names dont make bats that are just as good or better. Just saying that the bigger the brand name is, the more trustworthy that brand name is, the more it'll cost you.

Well that answers my question perfectly. So i have another one.

"People say that traditional bat making is dying. Is it possible to teach and nurture a new generation of bat makers from a young age to preserve the art for another generation to come?"

 

[Cover Drive]

All of questions have been emailed to James.

(All of yours bigfan )

 

[bigfan]

Cool, interested to hear back what he says.

Thanks Cover Drive