Cheerock 15 Inch Music Conducting Baton with Case, Orchestra Baton Band Conductor Baton, Rosewood Handle Conductors Baton, Music Conductor Stick Wand

This is the first and only baton I've ever held, so I can't compare. I'm just going to list facts from my experience directing a 30-member choir:- It is straight.- It fit in my hand, which can play a tenth on the piano (for size comparison).- It is light enough to conduct for an hour.I needed a baton for only one Mass and believed this to be appropriate. I was very happy with it. Since I don't conduct too often, I use it now as a pointer to teach my private music students.My opinion on its beauty:- The bulb could be bigger and rounder, but that might add to its weight.- The glue is visible for almost an inch onto the rod, past the bulb. I wouldn't give it as a gift for that purpose, but if you want to support a debuting conductor (who, like myself, was practically thrown into conducting at the last minute), it is a suitable baton to send that "I support you. Go get 'em," message.- Its case is not beautiful. It's garnet and gold, shiny, and plastic looking, but it protects that baton. It hasn't been scratched nor dented, so it stands up pretty well to whatever is going on in my teaching tote.The baton itself has not been scratched going into the case. I purposefully put pressure on the wand and the edge of the opening of the case to see if paint would scratch off. Nothing. I'm sure that it will scratch if I did it extremely forcefully, but I applied a little more pressure than I would normally use when placing the baton into its case.

I had ordered one last week and the baton know was put on crooked. I was trying to not let it bother me, but the more I used it the more I hated the fact it wasn't straight. This one is perfect and I love the weight of it as well.

Compared with other wands and seemed a bit long and thin. Comes with nice travel box which I recommend since it would be easy to break in your backpack.

I've been conducting ensembles for over 30 years and have had several batons. This is the first time I've strayed from my favorite brand and was very disappointed with this baton. It's poor quality (they didn't even paint the plastic all the way to the handle). It's heavy and the fulcrum (balancing point) is much too high up the stick. The handle is not tapered to meet the stick, which makes it sharp and uncomfortable. I'm returning it. It's fine as a play prop or something like that, but not for a conductor.

Baton is nice. Case is really cheap. Good for what you pay for