Select the perfect bat with Woodstock

While the world has changed considerably, sticking with time-honoured traditions is still key to Woodstock's mantra, especially when it comes to the process of selecting bats

Woodstock Cricket have earned an outstanding a reputation for providing the finest quality handcrafted cricket bats for more than a decade.

While the world has changed considerably, sticking with time-honoured traditions is still key to Woodstock's mantra, especially when it comes to the process of selecting bats.

Managing director Johnno Gordon explains: "We encourage our customers to book an appointment for a consultation. This is an in-depth process which will explore the type of player they are and goes into the finest of details. Such as: do they play predominantly off the front or back foot, are they attacking or defensive, what type of pitches do they play on? We leave no stone unturned.

"This includes making sure the customer is wearing a pair of batting gloves to pick up the bats – to ensure the feeling is as authentic as possible. It's a really engaging discussion, usually with a cup of tea in hand, and it's often 30 minutes before they will start picking up bats.

The expertise on tap at Woodstock sets them apart – employees include National Counties cricketers and an Australian state batsman, along with Gordon himself - a vastly experienced club cricketer.

"We know the knowledge we have makes a difference,” Gordon says. "If you were to go into a sports shop for a bat, there's a good chance a salesperson with little knowledge on the game will be pushing the most expensive bat. That's not how we do it here – we find out about you as a cricketer, establish your budget and use this information to enable the right choice when it comes to choosing a bat.

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"Following on from the initial consultation, we might bring 20 bats in the room to pick up – perhaps a couple of different profiles of bat. And these would soon be whittled down; once we get a 'no' we remove it from the room so it doesn't become a distraction. We never discuss weight – or even weigh the bats ourselves – we believe it is all about how it picks up and feels in your hands as the batter.

"Daft as it sounds – you can decide you want a 2lb 7oz bat and it might be too light. Our experts would tell you that this means your hands will get ahead of where you want them to be when addressing the ball, making you more likely to nick off. It is because we follow such a rigorous process that we rarely get returns. Customers get exactly what they want and feel most comfortable with."

It is no coincidence that Woodstock continue to win awards for their bats and there is good news for prospective customers who cannot make it to their headquarters – based at Cuckney Cricket Club, just off the M1 in north Nottinghamshire. A phone consultation service is also available, running through a similar process to get to the perfect bat.

Woodstock's success in bats and classical looking softs equipment has encouraged them to expand into teamwear. This sector of the business is in its infancy but they already have more than a dozen clubs on board – won over by the peerless customer service and reputation associated with the Woodstock brand.

"It is a risk going into teamwear but our clothing is sourced in the UK and we believe we have the experience and pride in our work to succeed in this sector – and we are already looking at expanding into other sports," he says.

"It will be a challenge but our brand tends to relish and excel in these challenges – so we are excited by the prospect of growing the business further."

To find out more about Woodstock and to book your bespoke consultation, visit their website or call 01623 255368.