"Testers warmed to the weight distribution, with its mid-to-low sweet spot"
RRP: £410, Edges: 36mm, Weight: 2lb 9oz
The Indian manufacturers DSC have carved a niche in the bat market with their stylish designs and build – and the Pearla X1 is the latest in that vein.
Aussie opener Chris Lynn, one of the most feared batters in contemporary T20 cricket, swears by this brand.
And the futuristic design of the Pearla X1 – a lovely deep purple on white, rounded off with a bear paw printed on the back – went down a treat with our testers.
The unusual shape of the handle – narrow with a pronounced top – was a bit more divisive. Some loved it; some didn’t.
The former Durham, Surrey and Middlesex opener Mark Stoneman is a batter who, by his own admission, likes a narrow handle in order to really feel when he hits the ball.
So while he did feel the 2lb 10oz weight was a little heavy for him, the shape of the handle compensated for it.
The Cricketer magazine’s deputy editor James Coyne did find it “too heavy and too clunky” for his liking.
But other testers warmed to the weight distribution, with its mid-to-low sweet spot.
All in all, the DSC Pearla X1 went down very nicely with our brains trust.
Initial impression: 6.6
Build quality: 6.6
Pick-up/feel: 6.7
Performance: 6.7
OVERALL SCORE: 6.6
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