This is a cricket bat, made by the Australian based manufacturer Puma. Puma make all sorts of sports equipment, but have only recently moved into the manufacture of cricket bats. They have, however, exploded onto the scene and are now amongst the most popular manufacturers.
This particular bat is a Puma Ballistic 4000. All the Puma bats come in a series of grades, 5000, 4000 and 3000. Therefore, the 4000 is a middle range bat, but as the quality of all the Puma bats is so high, this is like a high grade bat from any other producer.
The Ballistic is characteristic for its thick edges and enhanced sweet spot, making it a bat for players of power rather than precision. The 4000 model is made from Grade 1 English willow, the highest you can get. The only thing that differs from the 4000 to the 5000 is that the 5000 is lighter pressed, and therefore has greater power.
I plumped for the 2lb 9oz model, which is a little lighter than average for a cricket bat, but means you can swing the bat faster!
The Price
I purchased my bat for £120 from a small chain of cricket shops called Romida. Although this may sound expensive for a single piece of sporting gear, my previous bat was a Kookaburra bubble and lasted me 4 full years, so cricket bats really prove the rule that you get what you pay for. I looked around and could have got the bat for maybe £10 cheaper had I purchased online, but I prefer to have a feel of a bat before purchasing, and I have been to Romida before and they have always offered good service.
Experience of the Product
Thus far, I have only used the bats for one or two matches and indoor nets, so cannot comment fully on how the bat plays. However, I have been very impressed with the bat so far. It seems to have increased power from my previous bat for no extra weight, and the enhanced sweet spot makes it easier to find the middle!
Problems
The bat did take a long time to 'knock in', and even now I am not sure that it is fully ready. This however will not be a problem unless I find that it cracks because of this!
Overall
I would highly recommend this bat, and although it is a bit pricey, I am sure it will last me a long enough time to be good value for money.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Well reviewed! ~ £120 is expensive, but this bat is made from top quality Willow, and you have to pay for quality. Let's hope this one lasts you 4 years ;-) Electra.
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