I have reviewed both the Masuri TON and the Gray-Nicolls Prestige bats previously and have included the individual reviews below for completeness. This review is a comparison between the two cricket bats.
First up there is a noticeable price difference: £450 for the Masuri, £300 for the Gray-Nicolls but they are both Pro Level cricket bats – albeit different levels of Pro according to the manufacturers – so they are both bats that you would expect to be somewhat different aka better than bats most club cricketers will use, or indeed need.
They do not dissapoint!
Appearance and feel wise the Masuri is clearly the more expensive bat, with a blade that is a thing of beauty for sure.
They both sound amazing, with the Masuri again slightly more of a crack, and the Gray-Nicolls a ping.
Pick up they are quite different, the Masuri feels lighter than its 2lb 8oz and the Gray-Nicolls heavier than its 2lb 10oz, in a good way. The Masuri feels more like an all round stroke players bat, whilst the Gray-Nicolls feel smore suited to the power player.
Whilst it is pretty obvious, and no great surprise, that the Masuri feels and performs best (it does cost £150 more after all), the Gray-Nicolls is not as far behind as the price would possibly lead you to think – I would say this is a £375 bat for £300 so take that into consideration if you looking at these bats.
Neither will disappoint and both will help you through the long winters either shadow batting or just sat caressing them in a dark room, on you own, dreaming on bygone years – or is that just me!!??
Masuri TON T Line Cricket Bat
My Review
This bat really is a thing of beauty so even if you get out for a duck you will be able console yourself by looking at it for the rest of the innings.
The stand out feature has to be the quality and beauty of the blade. Almost too good to use (see above), but when you do connect, for a split second you will feel like a pro, which is just as well as you are using a Pro level bat and have paid a fair amount for it.
Second feature to hit you is the size of the blade the edge is huge!!
The pick up, balance weight and sweet spot are all perfect as you would expect neigh demand for the price.
Probably the real question will be is it worth it: as a means of improving your game probably not but as a way of making you feel good then absolutely.
This bat is expensive, it is very good, and it is worth it ….. sort of. I doubt I will really benefit from the quality, but it fills me with hope that I will and that is good enough for me!
Manufacturers Product Description
The E LINE PRO has been hand selected by Sareen Sports and qualified by Masuri from the top 1.5% of English Willow available in the world – meaning you can have confidence that your bat has the best potential it can.
“What truly makes a great bat? The best piece of wood, and these bats offer the player just that!” – Jatin Sareen – Owner of Sareen Sports.
• Selected from the top 4.5% of available global English Willow.
• Traditional styling with mid-blade swell for all playing styles.
• Quality tested by both Sareen Sports and Masuri.
• Oval handle.
• 3D and mirrored graphic stickers.
• Natural blade finish.
In line with the new Masuri Protection Range, we are partnering with the world’s largest bat manufacturer, Sareen Sports, to bring you a range of high performance cricket bats selected by Masuri.
Once we decided that we needed a bat offering to accompany our market leading protection range, we knew there was only one place to go. Bat maker to the best players and biggest brands in the World, Sareen Sports Industries are the undisputed experts when it comes to cricket bats. Hand making 300,000 bats per year, Sareen Sports Industries gives the Masuri bat range access to the best grades of English Willow and craftsmanship available.
It is important to us that we continue to establish Masuri as THE specialist protection brand in cricket and wanted to partner with a company that apply the same level of standards and core values to their craft.This partnership enables both companies to focus on their core competencies whilst offering the cricket world a range of exciting new and specialist products.
MRP: £450
Gray-Nicolls Prestige SH Cricket Bat, Pro Model
My Review
What an amazing bat. While it doesn’t have the ‘crack’ that you associate with the modern pro smashing one over the boundary (let’s be honest here there is every chance that is down to me more than the bat), it does have an amazing ‘ping’ and not just from the middle.
To put the ‘ping’ into context I would say the Supernova provides a sold ‘crack’ off the middle.
Not fair to compare two different priced bats, but it is fair to see what ‘extra’ you get for your money.
This bat has a better balanced pick up, thicker edges and a slightly higher middle. The willow is noticeable ‘better’ in look and feel and personally I prefer the simplicity of the branding. That’s probably my age and personality, coupled with the fact that my ability means I think I will be very self conscious of the quality and the newness of all my equipment – but that is my issue.
The real question I think is if you can tell the difference between a Pro and Club quality product. With gloves and pads it is easier: they tend to offer more protection, look different visibility, but with a bat it is really the wood, and that can be hit and miss i.e. buying the most expensive bat on the market does not guarantee the blade will be exceptional, one reason Pros have so many bats ‘on the go’ at the same time.
But yes, I think you can feel the difference in quality and hear it!
Manufacturers Product Description
Trust is everything to a brand like Gray-Nicolls. If we lose the trust of cricketers around the world, the end is nigh. Fortunately for us, the confidence we have built over generations continues to grow as we produce the highest quality cricket bats in the world. One of those bats is the Prestige bat from the Classic collection.
The Prestige cricket bat has everything a Gray-Nicolls bat should have. Fantastic performance. Beautifully clean aesthetic. Excellent, English grown willow.
The design of the Prestige continues from our hugely successful relaunch of 2018, where we streamlined the stickers for cleaner, classier look. The Prestige cricket bat continues with the iconic red and silver checks, which perfectly compliment the pristinely clean willow.
The Prestige has a mid-blade profile which makes it the perfect partner to players equally adept at playing forwards or back. Offering a sustained sweet spot, the Prestige – a dream from high-level club players – has a beautifully balanced pick-up and gives fantastic value for shots.
Made with high-quality English Willow, grown and felled near our home in Robertsbridge, every Gray-Nicolls Prestige bat is quality controlled before it is shipped to you.
We are 100% confident you’ll be delighted with your new Prestige cricket bat, and we can’t wait to hear about the results you achieve with it.
- Classic Gray-Nicolls design with silver and white checked stickers and modern, streamlined central sticker
- Mid-blade swell for players of all styles, promising a sustained sweet spot across the blade
- Balanced pick-up and slightly off-set profile cater to all cricketers
- Consistent look and feel across the entire Classic collection
- Traditional Gray-Nicolls stickers
- Hand-crafted by our master bat makers
- Quality controlled in Robertsbridge
- Made with the finest quality English willow
- Weight Range: Junior 2lb – 2lb 6oz, Senior 2lb 7oz – 2lb 12oz
- Finish: Natural blade
- Semi-oval handle for comfort and complete control
Purchased via eBay from kiwimorris79 £155 MRP £299.99
About The Review
Reviews will always identify whether the product has been bought for my own use, gifted for my own use, or sent for review. I will keep items I have bought or been gifted. Items sent for review once reviewed will be donated to Penkridge Cricket Club, MERIT PRU or the YMCA North Staffordshire as appropriate.
Reviews will always be my personal, unbiased, opinion based on my experience of the product and my own abilities. The reality is that most of the time I will not warrant the quality of product being reviewed, but what can I say, I like “stuff” especially “good quality stuff” so that is all there is to say on the matter!!
Reviews will include the list price and where applicable the price paid, a link to the source of the product and the manufacturer and where available manufacturer published product information. If a manufacturer or seller has asked me to publish a special discount or offer I will make this clear.
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