It doesn't come cheap, with a recommended retail price of £390, but – in the grand scheme of bat prices these days – you wouldn't be wasting your money on a dud
RRP: £390, Edges: 38mm, Weight: 2lb 8oz
"A Len Goodman bat," said tester Nick as he offered sevens all round to the SF's offering for 2023.
That was the general gist. Everyone enjoyed it; no one was unreserved in their praise, but no one was affronted by its output.
Design-wise, there isn't much to be said; it is typically clean-cut but not necessarily one to stand out on the shelves.
"Its overall performance is great," said tester Tommy. "I found it so easy to manipulate the ball with it – just so easy to play a full spectrum of shots. I just wanted to keep on hitting with it."
At 2lb 8oz, it's easy to understand why. As a result, it doesn't come cheap, with a recommended retail price of £390, but – in the grand scheme of bat prices these days – you wouldn't be wasting your money on a dud.
Georgia Adams, the Southern Vipers batter, liked the narrow handle but offered a single warning, admitting that she found it a bit bottom-heavy.
"Two-tone, a lot of grains – that's a good sign," said tester James. "But it's a bit square for me; the wood is cutting a bit."
Tester Nick added: "Quite heavy, I thought, but with a decent pickup and even weight distribution. A lovely sweet spot. In the main, a solid bat."
Initial impression: 7.8
Build quality: 7.2
Pick-up/feel: 7.8
Performance: 7.8
Overall score: 7.5