We put many hours of into making your cricket bat and with a few simple procedures and a little time and patience, your bat can be even better for longer. Just follow the guidelines set out below.
Oiling
1) We recommend a new bat should have at least one light coat of oil or bat wax to the edges, toe and back if a scuff sheet is applied. This should be applied ideally by your finger, so the oil is not lost in a rag or cloth. Care should be taken that oil does not reach the splice or handle. When oiling a bat there should never be puddles of oil on the surface of the bat, always wipe away any excess oil immediately. The knocking in process should commence only when the oil has soaked in, or 48 hours after application. Only raw linseed oil or special wax should be used.
2) No bat should stand in oil; best results are achieved by more applications of light oiling than by one application of lots of oil.
3) There is a much greater danger from a bat being over oiled than under oiled. Over oiling adds weight to the bat which can spoil the pick-up, reduce power and can also cause ‘wood rot’.
Knocking In
A new bat, irrespective of the finish should be knocked in carefully and with patience. This is best done by a bat mallet and hitting the blade repeatedly in all areas where the ball would be expected to make contact, paying special attention to the front edges.
The knocking in should start off lightly and progress to harder hitting as you near completion. It is not sufficient to play a few gentle ‘throw downs’ in the nets or back garden. You should never hit the edges or toe at a 90 degree angle or with excessive force, as this can cause damage. Take time and your bat will give a better performance and be less likely to suffer damage.
We recommend oiling and approximately 1 - 2 hours of knocking in to prepare your new bat. However we would then recommend some gentle throwdowns with an older ball prior to full match use. You can tell when your bat is fully knocked in and ready for play when there are no visible markings occurring from the use of a leather ball e.g. seam marks.
Anti-scuff facing
A clear self adhesive cover provides added protection from surface cracking and indentations. We recommend the use of a facing on your bat as it can vastly improve its lifespan. It helps protect the edges of the blade as well as the face by making them a sealed unit, removing the need for sanding down and oiling during the season apart from a light oil on the toe and back. We use top quality scuff sheets on all our bats and refurbs.
General Advice
1) Moisture (e.g. water) should not be allowed to penetrate your bat, particularly at the base/toe of the blade as this can cause swelling and splitting of the willow.
2) Extreme heat should be avoided, e.g. car boots/interiors or utility rooms. Drying out will cause cracking and splits. Store in a moderate temperature to help preserve the condition of the willow.
3) Good care should be taken to look after and preserve your bat throughout it’s life span by reading and implementing the advice given in this guide, if you are unsure about any aspect of caring for your bat feel free to contact us at anytime.
English willow is by nature a soft fibrous timber. In normal usage, willow will become bruised, scarred or dented simply due to the nature of the game. Such marking can occur at any time during the lifetime of the bat, but will not affect its performance.
Surface Cracks
Willow is a natural material and as a bat is used more and more, it is quite normal for the blade or face to develop slight markings. Surface cracking can appear in varying degrees depending on the type of willow, its maturity, and the standard of play it is used at. Superficial markings to the edges can also be expected as your bat will never stay pristine if you are scoring runs, after all that is it’s job! Neither of these blemishes will affect the playing qualities and should not be regarded as a fault in the willow. Should severe indentations occur please contact us as soon as possible for further advice.
Repairs
We also provide this service. We are able to offer a range of repairs from new handles to repairing splits. Please see our Repairs & Refurbs section for full details.
Refurbishments
As you would with your car we recommend an annual service for your bat, by way of a refurbishment. Our bat refurbishments start at £35 and ensure your bat is fault free and ready for more runs. All bats can develop cracks which are not always visible under the scuff sheet. If left, these can develop into more serious damage, which is harder to repair. A refurbishment ensures any minor damage is fixed before it becomes a more serious issue.
