Gentlemen:
Here is the promised review of my new Oblivion 4 Star and also an observation on the whole bat buying experience from cricketstoreonline.
First, I need to clarify my choice of the bat: as some of you might be aware I already had Nitro, Evo and Powerblade. The only one missing in action was the Oblivion.
My choice of the grade is quite typical of me; I have always thought that anyone can get and suggest a good bat for 400 bucks but it is the mid-range model when chosen carefully which will provide you with the best value. The problem with buying online (if you have seen my previous posts on the Slaz) is that you never know what you will get. I am in the USA and unfortunately it is really difficult to get people like Michael, Asadbhai or Basharatbhai who will take time out of their busy schedule and hand pick a bat for you. How many times have we asked for one with a particular weight and profile and handle and edges and pickup and the works and have been disappointed in the end? A few times to say the least.
If you have read my thread on the ‘recommended cricket store’, Jason had been taking quite a beating from the majority of the forum contributors, including me and CD.
So I decided to try him out. I contacted him and told him my specifications:
Low-mid range bat, 10 grains, 2.8-2.10 in weight, good pick up, thick edges, and should look good for the grade. After some discussion we decided on the Oblivion.
He took about a couple of days and sent me a few pictures. I had told him that though looks matter, but since I am not going for a L.E or custom made model, even a half-decent look and more importantly a pleasant profile and performance are the ingredients I am looking for in this deal.
So Jason sent me this one.
Model: Oblivion 4 Star
Grade: Grade 3 Willow
Grains-12-13
Weight: Sticker says 2.7 but my machine says 2.88—well within my weight requirement.
Edges: 35mm
Spine: 67-68 mm
Pick up: Quite decent for the low sweetpot; overall, I feel my Nitro and Powerbow still have better pick ups. But the Oblivion has a better pick up than the Slazenger Powerblade;
Ping: Very good response with the mallet and the old ball. I still need to take it out in the middle, before which no review can ever be complete. But the response with the mallet and the old ball is much better than my Evo, Slazenger V200 and at par with my Nitro Carbo;
Handle: Oval at the bottom; much thicker than the average Indian and Pakistani bats.
Value:
Excellent; I paid 200 dollars for the bat (Jason gave me a discount of 9 bucks). As I have said elsewhere, buying any cricket bat ultimately comes down to the value and for a 200 dollar bat this one looks, feels and performs (from what little I have seen) awesome.
The pictures:
1st set: close up of the oblivion
2nd set: Comparing the Oblivion with some other models
Again, sorry for the clumsy shots; my camera is really bad and it is only at night I am having the time to do all these. I need to get my Rebel back from my friend
Inference:
1. Do not buy a bat online before exchanging opinions and suggestions from the retailer; remember, he is in the best position to judge bats as he is always looking at them and handling them and can compare and contrast a lot of bats simultaneously.
2. If you pick the right bat you can save hundreds of dollars unless you like expensive bats per se; there is no harm in that of course; if I could afford the L.Es I probably would keep going for those only.
3. Jason at cricketstoreonline has the right to earn our business if he promises to choose our bats the way he did with mine; we know and appreciate the fact that it takes time to do this but if he can continue doing this he will definitely be crossing a lot of rivers of customer appreciation. We know that cricket retailing is not just a marketing hype which he does better than anyone, but also knowing one’s own stock inside out. We have come to expect that from the shops we have been dealing with whether it be Uzi or Sialkot or OnlineStockist ; so if cricketstoreonline can deliver like this consistently we would have for ourselves another reputable and trusted source of cricket equipments. I have really been impressed by the sagacity he has displayed in coming to this forum and to some other ones in an effort to reach out to his customers.
Here is the promised review of my new Oblivion 4 Star and also an observation on the whole bat buying experience from cricketstoreonline.
First, I need to clarify my choice of the bat: as some of you might be aware I already had Nitro, Evo and Powerblade. The only one missing in action was the Oblivion.
My choice of the grade is quite typical of me; I have always thought that anyone can get and suggest a good bat for 400 bucks but it is the mid-range model when chosen carefully which will provide you with the best value. The problem with buying online (if you have seen my previous posts on the Slaz) is that you never know what you will get. I am in the USA and unfortunately it is really difficult to get people like Michael, Asadbhai or Basharatbhai who will take time out of their busy schedule and hand pick a bat for you. How many times have we asked for one with a particular weight and profile and handle and edges and pickup and the works and have been disappointed in the end? A few times to say the least.
If you have read my thread on the ‘recommended cricket store’, Jason had been taking quite a beating from the majority of the forum contributors, including me and CD.
So I decided to try him out. I contacted him and told him my specifications:
Low-mid range bat, 10 grains, 2.8-2.10 in weight, good pick up, thick edges, and should look good for the grade. After some discussion we decided on the Oblivion.
He took about a couple of days and sent me a few pictures. I had told him that though looks matter, but since I am not going for a L.E or custom made model, even a half-decent look and more importantly a pleasant profile and performance are the ingredients I am looking for in this deal.
So Jason sent me this one.
Model: Oblivion 4 Star
Grade: Grade 3 Willow
Grains-12-13
Weight: Sticker says 2.7 but my machine says 2.88—well within my weight requirement.
Edges: 35mm
Spine: 67-68 mm
Pick up: Quite decent for the low sweetpot; overall, I feel my Nitro and Powerbow still have better pick ups. But the Oblivion has a better pick up than the Slazenger Powerblade;
Ping: Very good response with the mallet and the old ball. I still need to take it out in the middle, before which no review can ever be complete. But the response with the mallet and the old ball is much better than my Evo, Slazenger V200 and at par with my Nitro Carbo;
Handle: Oval at the bottom; much thicker than the average Indian and Pakistani bats.
Value:
Excellent; I paid 200 dollars for the bat (Jason gave me a discount of 9 bucks). As I have said elsewhere, buying any cricket bat ultimately comes down to the value and for a 200 dollar bat this one looks, feels and performs (from what little I have seen) awesome.
The pictures:
1st set: close up of the oblivion
2nd set: Comparing the Oblivion with some other models
Again, sorry for the clumsy shots; my camera is really bad and it is only at night I am having the time to do all these. I need to get my Rebel back from my friend
Inference:
1. Do not buy a bat online before exchanging opinions and suggestions from the retailer; remember, he is in the best position to judge bats as he is always looking at them and handling them and can compare and contrast a lot of bats simultaneously.
2. If you pick the right bat you can save hundreds of dollars unless you like expensive bats per se; there is no harm in that of course; if I could afford the L.Es I probably would keep going for those only.
3. Jason at cricketstoreonline has the right to earn our business if he promises to choose our bats the way he did with mine; we know and appreciate the fact that it takes time to do this but if he can continue doing this he will definitely be crossing a lot of rivers of customer appreciation. We know that cricket retailing is not just a marketing hype which he does better than anyone, but also knowing one’s own stock inside out. We have come to expect that from the shops we have been dealing with whether it be Uzi or Sialkot or OnlineStockist ; so if cricketstoreonline can deliver like this consistently we would have for ourselves another reputable and trusted source of cricket equipments. I have really been impressed by the sagacity he has displayed in coming to this forum and to some other ones in an effort to reach out to his customers.
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