The somewhat plain design doesn’t mark the Volante R7 out as an especially edgy product but it earned plaudits for its pick-up, especially given a weight of 2lb 10oz
RRP: £280, Weight: 2lb 10oz, Edges: 38mm
Chase have built a strong reputation over the past three decades from their impressive set-up in the Hampshire countryside just south of Basingstoke, and the Volante R7 is their latest offering from their growing stable.
The somewhat plain design doesn’t mark the Volante R7 out as an especially edgy product, and tester Shams said he personally “wouldn’t pick it out from a line of bats”, but its simplicity certainly appealed to Nick, Caleb and Frankie.
And the Volante R7 earned plaudits for its pick-up, especially given a weight of 2lb 10oz, although Shams noted that the follow-through wasn’t perhaps as kind, possibly because of the hefty toe.
Nick and Caleb also reported struggles with a bottom-heavy toe.
As a pro, Southern Vipers captain Georgia Adams feels strongly about the feel of her bat handles, which led her to say: “The handle feels a bit chunky compared to most modern bats”, but she liked the rest of the bat.
Most importantly, there’s the performance of the willow itself.
Though it was a bit light for Archie, the middle “pinged”.
Nick said: “The willow is objectively quite good.” Frankie thought it would be good the moment she picked it up, and it lived up to her expectations.
Initial impression: 7.8
Build quality: 8.6
Pick-up/feel: 8.8
Performance: 8.2
Overall score: 8.4
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