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2011-04-13T12:13:32+00:00

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Shot! Bat Specifications

2010-12-25T20:02:54+00:00

Like the profile of your old bat?

We will work with you to come up with the best profile and shape of the cricket bat.

This may include a longer blade, thicker edges, concaving shapes, spine height etc...

All customized according to how YOU play.

Finest cricket bat. Guaranteed.
Any attribute of the bat can be altered forFREE
Choice of round/oval 12 piece cane handle
Available with or without stickers
Great balance and pick-up as standard
Ready to play
Please allow up to 20 days for delivery.

Any Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Professional pressing only for custom mades...

Our custom made bats are unique as they are pressed to the same specification as the bats of the professional players.

This means softer pressing leading to a better ping off the bat.

If you are the type of player who likes a fresh bat every season, then there is nothing better then having a custom one made for you!

So there is nothing to stop you playing like a professional player! Apart from your talent, that is!

If you are an up and coming player and would rather go for longevity over performance, then we can also press the bats harder. This means it will last longer and therefore it will be even better value for money!

So what exactly can I get done to my bat?

In a sentence? Anything you want!

We realise many people will not have an idea on how/what they would like their custom bat to be. Therefore, we have listed below some of the modifications that have been requested by previous customers.

Blade length
If you are quite tall or small, and the normal length is not right for you.
Handle length
Affects pick-up – hard to tell before the bat is made, many people get this chopped later depending on how they want the pick-up to be.
Number of grains
There is a general perception that more grains equal better performance. But the bat with the most/best looking grains doesn't always perform the best. We are so confident that our bats perform the best, we offer a 7 day money back guarantee on every cricket bat!
Amount of heartwood
The ‘dark red’ area on the bat – many believe it strengthens the bat, especially on the edges, but it is open to debate.
Profile
If you like a certain profile and want us to replicate it. (See above)
Weight and Middle Area
e. g. Low middle, high or in the middle.
Pressing
If you are likely to use a bat a season, then you want it lightly pressed so that it pings more, otherwise for longer life you may want it to be pressed more.
Number and type of grips or any miscellaneous items e.g. anti scuff sheets, toe guards etc...

How custom bats are made, hand made cricket bats tradition

2010-12-25T19:46:20+00:00

A Bat made just for you.

As soon as we get our supply of cricket bat blades (called in the trade a "cleft") from JS Wright & Sons (the only worldwide suppliers of clefts, based in Essex) we immediately separate the best grade 1+ from the rest, meaning only the very best playing clefts are used for your bat.

We believe all Shot! hand made bats deserve the best of the best available and so these high quality clefts are separated solely for Cricket Haven's Shot! bats from hundreds of ordinary Grade 1s at our warehouse. You won't be able to get anything better elsewhere - especially as many 'off the shelf' Grade 1 bats would be our Grade 2s!

Once we have selected the best piece of cleft based on your specifications, our bat maker gets to work to make the bat patiently pressed to perfection. Pressing can make or break a good cricket bat (literally!), hence with over 50 years of experience in bat making we know the optimum pressing levels to retain the best ping.

The 14 grains were ruler straight, with a bit of heart wood on the edge, and the pressing was very professionally done. I like to have my bats lightly pressed to retain the ping which Cricket Haven understood perfectly whilst producing this bat.

Having had many custom bats in my 20 years as a cricketer, Shot! Custom made bat has impressed me more than anything with the sheer craftsmanship of the bat maker. The pick-up of this bat is absolutely beyond belief.

I am definitely going to buy all my new bats from you again and would recommend any cricketer a Shot! custom made Cricket bat.

- Assad Naeem, Sussex, UK 07/02/2008

Order your Shot! custom made bat today!

While each bat is individually pressed it is also continually shaved to produce the most beautifully balanced bat you will ever use. Our bat maker strives to maintain a superb balance and an outstanding pick-up for any shape or weight by making sure the right amount of wood is left in the key areas.

This influences the pick-up of your bat, and with the custom made service you can specify the exact shape you want according to your natural game. This will certainly give you the competitive edge when you are at the crease, sending shivers down the bowler's spine every time you make contact with the ball!

The custom service is thoroughly admired by many international players and here you have the chance to experience it for yourselves at the best prices around.

I can't remember for sure how I came across this website. I would guess that I probably ran a Google search at some point and stumbled upon it.

It was more of a luck thing, but one I am glad of.

The bat arrived quickly and my initial impression was 'wow'. The willow of the bat was beautiful and I was pleasantly surprised by the ping generated at my net session. Recommended to anyone looking for a new cricket bat!

- James Taylor, Suffolk, UK 12/03/2008

Order your Shot! custom made bat today!

Once the bat is shaped and pressed it is then ready to be oiled after being lightly sanded. The bat is lightly oiled so that it doesn't become unnecessarily soft but still has a good ping and strength, giving you the confidence to take on even one of the most feared bowler of the modern era - a certain Brett Lee.

But that's not the end of it. To make sure that you do not suffer the monotonous and frankly frustrating process of knocking in your brand new bat, we even hand knock the bat for you, ready to play. We will also fit a full anti scuff film (thinner and stronger version of the sheet) so that your new bat lasts as long as possible.

Finally, the hugely popular Shot! chrome stickers are added to your bat and and like every work of art it must be signed to reflect the quality, so we will stamp your initials to show that it is one of a kind, unique in every way...the envy of your club mates - just like a custom car registration.

You will certainly feel like a Test batsman when you hold this piece of art in your hands.

Purchase your hand made bat today!

Hand Made Bats help guide, custom cricket bats using professional willow from £99 + VAT

2010-12-25T19:30:00+00:00

Custom Bats Buying Guide

Grade

Grade 1+: Finest English willow cricket bat. Usually has 10/11 grains, willow usually specially reserved for professional players. There may be some red wood evident on the edge of the bat. The grain on the face will be straight and there will be at least 4 grains visible. There may be the odd small knot in the edge or back but the playing area should be clean.

Grade 1: Some blemishes but most of the blade is clean. Usually has 6-8 grains, mostly straight. Rest as above.

Grade 2: Blade is also very good quality and normally a larger amount of red wood can be seen on the edge of a bat. This has no effect on the playing ability of the bat, it is purely cosmetic. Again there will be at least 4 straight grains on the face of the bat with maybe some blemishes, pin knots or "speck" visible.

Grade 3: Blade has up to half colour across the bat. Again, this has no direct relation to the playing ability of the wood, it just has less visual attraction. There will be a minimum of 4 grains on the face of the bat which may not always be perfectly straight. Again, some small knots or a little 'butterfly' stain may be present with perhaps more prominent "speck".

Weight

Shot! Cricket Bats come between 2lb 04oz right up to 4oz. Please use these as a guide only, and for advice based on your build & style of play please email us.

Opening bat

A lighter bat is recommended, usually in the region of 2lbs7ozs – 2lbs9ozs. This is due to the faster bat speed required when facing the new ball. A heavier bat means that there will be a slightly slower reaction time, which can be the difference between playing the ball too early or too late (another point would be “the difference between a thick or thin edge”)

Nos 3 & 4

A slightly heavier weight is often required for a more aggressive style whilst still retaining the balance needed for facing faster bowlers. 2lbs8ozs-2lbs10ozs.

Nos 5, 6 & 7

One would generally require a larger size bat so that when one hits out the ball is sure to travel beyond the boundary. A good weight range for a middle order player would be 2lbs10ozs – 2lbs12ozs.

Nos 8 & 9

This depends very much on your build and what feels comfortable to you. Players tend to use bats of around 2lbs12ozs, sometimes with a longer blade (depending on player height). You are very often required to stay at the crease so it is not always necessary to have a big heavy bat.

Nos 10 & 11

These are very often crucial batting positions in the game as you may find yourself in a position where you are needed to score the winning runs. If you find that you are a pretty good timer of the ball and like the heavy bat (3lbs +) when in the heat of the final over, then a good balance is crucial due to the way it improves your timing. If you feel that the bat has to be light as you cannot use a heavier bat well, we would recommend one in the region of 2lbs10ozs while making sure that the bat length is correct.

Lower order batsmen should be particular about the bat they use. Being in the lower order means you need every advantage you can get. Lower order batsmen do not have the skill that those batting up the order have, and having the correct bat can dramatically improve your batting performance.

Shot! custom bats have a very light pick-up, so if you think your current bat has a particulalry heavy pickup you can increase the weight by a couple of ounces or more to get a more 'meaty' bat.

Handle Type

Oval or round handl?

The oval shape in the lower handle also gives the bat a better directional feel. It is hard to grip the bat too hard with the bottom hand. One can only hold with thumb and forefinger, which encourages the top hand to control the shot.

The oval shape improves the pick-up due to it having a larger mass nearer to your body. Most batsmen who use our oval handle never go back to a round one.

The round handle is best suited to those who like to use their bottom hand to hit the ball hard and lift it.

The size of a batsman’s hands can alter the specification of the handle. This is changed by either applying extra rubber grips or in the case of needing a thinner handle, specifying you have small hands when you place your order.

We can provide a standard round handle on request, but recommend the oval handle for anyone who wants to bat technically correctly.

Handle Length (please see blade length as well - below)

Affects pick-up – hard to tell before the bat is made, many people get this chopped later depending on how they want the pick-up to be. Unless you have previously used a different handle or are sure you want a long handle or a Super Short handle it is best to leave Short Handle.

Blade Length

The table below provides a rough guide to the length of bat that most cricketers of a given height will find suits their game. This may vary according to individual preference.

AVERAGE PLAYERS HEIGHT	BAT SIZE	TOTAL LENGTH	BLADE LENGTH	BLADE WIDTH
1.3m (4'3")	ONE	64.1cm (25 1/4 ")	43.2cm (17")	8.9cm (3 1/2")
1.3m-1.37m (4'3"-4'6")	TWO	67.9cm (26 3/4")	46.3cm (18 1/4")	8.9cm (3 1/2")
1.37m-1.45m (4'6"-4'9")	THREE	72.3cm (28 1/2")	49.5cm (19 1/2")	8.9cm (3 1/2")
1.45-1.50m (4'9"-4'11")	FOUR	74.9cm (29 1/2")	50.8cm (20")	10.2cm (4")
1.50m-1.575m (4'11"-5'2")	FIVE	77.4cm (30 1/2")	52cm (20 1/2")	10.2cm (4")
1.575m-1.60m (5'2"-5'3")	SIX	80cm (31 1/2")	53.3cm (21")	10.2cm (4")
1.60m-1.68m (5'3"-5'6")	HARROW	82.5cm (32 1/2")	54.6cm (21 1/2")	10.5cm (4 1/8")
1.68m-1.75m (5'6"-5'9")	WOMENS STANDARD	83.8cm (33")	54.6cm (21 1/2")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.68m-1.75m (5'6"-5'9")	SUPER SHORT	83.8cm (33")	55.9cm (22")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.75m (5'9") and above	SHORT HANDLE	85.1cm (33 1/2")	55.9cm (22")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.80m (5'11") and above	LONG BLADE : SHORT HANDLE	86.4cm (34")	57.1cm (22 1/2")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.78m (5'10") and above	LONG BLADE : SS HANDLE	85.1cm (33 1/2")	57.1cm (22 1/2")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.88m (6'2") and above	STANDARD BLADE : LONG HANDLE	87.6cm (34 1/2")	55.9cm (22")	10.8cm (4 1/4")
1.93m (6'4") and above	LONG BLADE : LONG HANDLE	88.9cm (35")	57.1cm (22 1/2")	10.8cm (4 1/4")

Options to change the length of the bat include changing the blade length and changing the handle length. We recommend most players use a standard blade with a standard handle.

The rationale behind this is that a Long Handle dramatically alters the centre of gravity of the bat, which alters the pick-up and bat speed. This usually means having a lighter bat to compensate for the longer handle.

Long Blades are a better option than a Long Handle. A Long Blade has an extra half an inch to an inch in the blade (more on request), and does not alter the pick-up as much as a long handle does. A long blade encourages you to stand up straighter when taking guard, which may or may not help your game.

Long Handle/Long Blade is only recommend for the very tall and those who possibly suffer from back problems. Most people prefer to use a long blade, mainly because it is very difficult to get a Long Handle/Blade that feels good.

Number of grains

Top grade English willow cricket bats usually have 7-14 straight grains. It is generally accepted within the cricketing community that the smaller the number of grains, the 'stronger' the willow will be. It means it would have a lower tendency to chip or break but is suspected to have a slightly worse 'ping'.

On the other hand, the more the grains on the face of the cricket bat, the better its ping. But that means the bat is not as strong and would not last very long.

It is believed that the best compromise between strength and ping is around 7-12 grains. This give the best results over a period of time.

Just to point out, that there is a general conception that more grains equal better performance. But the bat with the most/best looking grains doesn't always perform the best. We are so confident that our bats perform the best that we offer a 7 day money back guarantee on every cricket bat!

Heartwood

Many believe the slightly ‘reddy’ area on the bat strengthens the bat - especially on the edges - but it is open to debate. If you are not too fussed about the looks, we would recommend at least a 1/4 heartwood on the edges as it will protect the edge of the bat, making it less prone to breakage.

Sweetspot

The middle is dictated by the profile through the back of the bat.

Most players will have a bat with the sweet spot in the normal position. This would be about 4” from the toe to 12” from the toe. A bat with a normal sweet spot will suit a batsman who plays the full range of shots and does not favour any shot in particular.

A high sweet spot is usually 5” from the toe through to 13” from the toe. This bat suits a batsman who opens or prefers playing short pitched bowling and off the back foot. With a higher sweet spot, the weight distribution is higher up the blade, meaning that the bat speed is faster. This type of bat suits those who like playing cuts, hooks and pulls.

A low sweet spot is usually 3” to 11” from the toe. This type of bat suits a player that enjoys driving the ball and playing aggressively during the final overs of a game. It is particularly suited to wickets that do not have much bounce – those that are damp or have good grass cover. The pick-up is affected due to the weight of bat being nearer to the toe.

Please note that hitting the ball regularly in the desired area will enhance the sweet spot. If you have a bat with a high sweet spot you need to be hitting the ball high on the blade regularly to get the best out of the bat.

In general, we recommend a sweet spot in the normal position, but if you have a preference for a particular position then we can make the bat to your specifications.

Profile

If you have a drawing or a photograph of a profile you want us to copy, please attach it here. Our bat maker will do his best to replicate the profile making sure the balance and pick-up remain as good as possible.

If you have more than one photograph, please email them to us with your last name as a reference.

Ready to play

Select this if you would like your bat to be:

Hand knocked in
Oiled
Fitted with a toe guard
Fitted with Anti-Scuff Film

Hand Made Cricket Bats Gallery, custom cricket bats from just £99 + VAT

2010-12-25T19:26:10+00:00

Our Beautiful Bats

Hand made from the finest English willow

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Customer Reviews Custom Made Cricket Bats, English Willow Cricket Bats, Grade 1+ Shot Cricket Bats, Cricket Bats

2010-12-25T19:24:10+00:00

Latest Shot! Grade 1+ Custom-Made Cricket Bat Customer Reviews

Sorry, it's been absolutely ages since I got the bat from you! Anyway it's absolutely awesome - the pick-up on it feels fantastic and you wouldn't think that it is 2lb14oz at all. The sweet spot has a fantastic ping and the ball really does fly off the bat when I make contact. The only thing I would say is that the toe of it needed a bit of knocking in and I got caught out a couple of times from hitting it down there (probably my fault anyway for not using the middle!)

All my team mates are well impressed with it and they will probably be giving your website a visit when they are looking for a new bat - I will definitely be coming back.

So you've a very happy customer and absolutely no complaints!

- Dan Sutcliffe 01/07/2010

I was just searching on Google for handmade cricket bats. I think I have looked at every site that exists for cricket bats, including some foreign ones, and yours seemed to be the most knowledgeable and most professional with regard to bespoke bat-making.

The bat arrived swiftly and first impressions - lovely piece of willow and extremely well crafted. Will send you a proper review soon!

- Andy Nurton 25/06/2010

What lovely piece of willow! was my first reaction when I received my bat. I ordered a 3lb Shot! Grade 1+ made from the finest English willow which was swiftly delivered to my door within 10 days. I had really specific requirements which included a very straight profile as I am quite tall. What's more, I got my initials stamped on my cricket bat!

I was really pleased with my bat and it certainly ticked all the right boxes - considering similar bats are being sold at upwards of £250 - handmade or not.

- Kevin 12/03/2010

I reviewed the bat before buying it which was very kind of Cricket Haven. I was so impressed with the quality of the workmanship of the bat I just wanted to keep it.

The 14 grains were ruler straight with a bit of heart wood on the edge and the pressing was very professionally done. I like to have my bats lightly pressed to retain the ping which Cricket Haven understood perfectly whilst producing this bat.

Even the stickers left me amazed as I was expecting the stickers to be a bit garish but they complemented the bat very well. I am definitely going to buy all my new bats from you again and would recommend any cricketer a Shot! Cricket bat.

- Assad N 07/02/2010

I can't remember for sure how I came across this website. I would guess that I probably ran a Google search at some point and stumbled upon it.

It was more of a luck thing, but one I am glad of.

The bat arrived fairly quickly and my initial impression was 'wow'. The willow of the bat was beautiful and I was pleasantly surprised by the ping generated at my net session. The acid test is still to come in matches but I am sure the bat will more than live up to its expectation.

- James T 12/03/2010

More reviews coming soon!

Order your brand new custom made cricket bat, Shot! custom made cricket bat using the finest grade 1+ english willow

2010-12-22T18:31:13+00:00

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Hand Made Cricket Bats from £99-£169.47, custom made from the finest English Willow

2010-12-04T20:58:49+00:00

Shot! Custom Cricket Bats

A cricket bat hand made to your requirements, delivered anywhere in the world at a price no more than a locally purchased 'off the shelf' bat.

If you are passionate about cricket and your game, you should accept nothing but the best available.

Prices in the graphic exclude VAT @ 20% for EU orders.

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Delivery times

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