Slazenger V500 Ultimate

Matt Prior's bat boasts it comes complete with an aggressive profile for the player that requires maximum power.

Prior's weapon of choice proves a big hit

The Slazenger V500 boasts it comes complete with an aggressive profile for the batsman that requires maximum power without compromise. No surprise then that England's hardhitting wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has selected the V500 Ultimate as his weapon of choice. Slazenger have long been manufacturing bats used by the cream of England's players; I go back to the days of Allan Lamb when his famous V12 was carving swathes through the fearsome West Indies pace attack of the 1980s. Prior and fellow Slazenger users Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood are carrying on that tradition as Slazenger continues to come up with a super stable of bats. The V500 comes with what the manufacturer describes as IDS or Inertia Drive System which utilises specifically-engineered power channels around the sweet spot to enhance the bat's swing weight for greater power, without compromising bat manoeuvrability and pick up. The bat sat comfortably in our tester's stance and it's certainly easy to pull off a trademark Prior cover drive as the ball flew off the middle of the blade with minimum effort. Cutting off the back foot proved equally as straightforward with the easy pick up not compromising the bat power. The bat itself is constructed from hand-selected performance English willow that is traditionally crafted and pressed to deliver optimum performance. It also features a power handle made from premium cane and oval shaped to deliver improved power, feel, grip and performance. The Ultimate model we tested came pre-knocked in. It utilises a toe guard to ensure durability and performance from the outset while the contoured toe is designed to further enhance the impressive pick up. The subtle bow helps to deliver increased power and control.