You are in the CRICKET > BAT CARE category.

Knocking In Your Bat (Read Carefully)

All cricket bats will show signs of cracks and stress over time as Willow is a Natural Product.   After your purchase of a cricket bat, knocking in or the hardening of the surface/blade is essential for the protection, performance and increased life of your bat.    Firstly apply a thin layer (Teaspoon) of Raw Linseed oil to the face, edges and toe of your bat (On a cloth).   This will increase the elasticity of the surface by enabling the fibres to knit together and become more supple.    You want the bat to have a stretching capability on impact rather that cracking.   Our expert bat makers (pod shavers) suggest applying this thin layer of oil (Teaspoon) up to three separate times (leave overnight to soak in) to your new bat before knocking in.    Once the oil has been applied you can now start knocking in your bat.   You will need a ball mallet or hard wood mallet (hardwood more effective).    Start hitting you bat lightly in the middle of the face and look for a compression dent.   Once you can see this dent, work on the face until the dent is no longer visible.   You will need to do this on the entire face staying away from the bottom of the toe and the splice (Do not mallet these areas).   The edges will need to be rounded off at a suggested 45 degrees.   Using a small dent as a guide round of the edges until the dent is no longer visible.   Once you have spent at least 150 minutes of concentrated knocking in, test your bat in the nets with an old ball.   If your bat is showing deep seam marks more knocking in is required.   Remember all bats will continue to show seam marks.   Make your judgment on the deepness of these marks.   If you're not sure, give it some more knocking in anyway.  

Quality willow is quite soft and is liable to crack, so preparation is very important.  

As James Laver says: " Damage can never be totally eliminated due to the hard nature of the ball and the speed of contact with the bat.   A good bat correctly knocked in ideally would last about 1000 runs including net use".

If you want your bat knocked in professionally before your purchase please contact us as we provide a knocking in service. (charges will apply).   sab@5starplus.com.au