Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: Cricket_PTY on November 01, 2022, 04:26:48 PM
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Hey guys what do u think ??? several shops in India specially now a days offer machine knocking in service...
Do u guys think its safe on bats? o nothing better than old fashioned hand knocking ?
c
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No reason for it not to be safe if it's done properly. Been using my machine for around a month now and the results have been great from the bats I used at testers to get the settings right.
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Tend to see a lot of denting/minor cracking from the bats I have seen knocked in that have come from India, I also recently bought a bat that had been claimed to have been knocked in by OX29 Bat Doctor that has some of the same. I haven't really had any of this with my hand knocking that I have been doing.
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In my view for what it's worth, I think hand knocking will beat a machine everytime. I haven't got a machine, but did consider one. However, I had reservations after speaking to a number of batmakers.
My concern is that not all bats are pressed the same and therefore a machine will not know how soft that bat is (and some I see are very very soft), which to me could cause issues. More so with others bats rather than mine, but why would you not offer the service for any brand of bat you a machine?
People are looking for a quick fix nowadays and knocking is seen as a huge chore, which it is. However, I'd always say knock in by hand and then do some throwdowns and a gentle net or two before going all out. If you say it's had 30 mins on a machine then people will just think it's good to go full pelt, which could result in more issues imo.
That said, i can see how it would help sell more bats.
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Personally I would recommend hand knocking every time and yes it’s a laborious task but when your being charged potentially £500+ For a bat these days surely it’s worth taking the time to prep it? You don’t get a new car a thrash it straight away.
Now iv learnt that no matter what I say or tell people or no matter how many emails I send with bat prep instructions or give to people when they get a new bat 90% will ignore it or look for a quick fix so iv taken to spending 60-90mins hand knocking each new bat so avoid the potential emails or message a week or so later saying along the lines “the bat you made has broke” now I don’t get many but when you do explaining that it was delivered Friday and clearly used in anger Sat doesn’t seem to be understood. However I remember getting a bat from IJC and they offered free knocking in for some reason or another and he must have been in a bad mood as it arrived with craters on the face so it needs to be done correctly which ever option you choose
Now iv also no experience of machine knocking as I don’t own one and never requested it as always prefer to do my own by hand but in my view the few hours knocking in and then hitting some slip catches etc is worth it given your potential investment on that bat.
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In my view for what it's worth, I think hand knocking will beat a machine everytime. I haven't got a machine, but did consider one. However, I had reservations after speaking to a number of batmakers.
My concern is that not all bats are pressed the same and therefore a machine will not know how soft that bat is (and some I see are very very soft), which to me could cause issues. More so with others bats rather than mine, but why would you not offer the service for any brand of bat you a machine?
People are looking for a quick fix nowadays and knocking is seen as a huge chore, which it is. However, I'd always say knock in by hand and then do some throwdowns and a gentle net or two before going all out. If you say it's had 30 mins on a machine then people will just think it's good to go full pelt, which could result in more issues imo.
That said, i can see how it would help sell more bats.
How much time do u knock ur bats for? 15 mins in each edge, 15 mins toe and 30 mins in the blade???
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I don't knock them in myself mate. I suggest 1 to 2 hours mainly around the toe and edges, then some throwdowns/gentle net before full use.
I had someone once bring one in they'd bought elsewhere, which they said they'd knocked for 5 hours and was still showing indentations. Must have been pressed with a rolling pin!
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Personally, I have always knocked my bats in by hand. However, I don't see the harm in first knocking the edges and toe in yourself and then letting it through the machine to finish up. I think hand knocking is better though cause you can see if youre hitting it too hard which a machine can't do as its preset.
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In an ideal world for me its a combination of them both. Have the hard work completed by a machine and then spend an hour or two on the toe and and an hour or two on the edges.
However, I do appreciate that I am 'old school' and wouldn't think twice about knocking a bat in for 6-8 hours. This is why my hearing is shot to bits considering the volume of bats I have bought! :(
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I have had bats machine knocked and I see no harm in using that service. One bat was machine knocked couple of times by two different vendors and it didn't do any harm to the bat. It just saved me time.
If it is done correctly, then it will only save you time.
It is important to understand why are you knocking your bat. Hand knocking has its place too. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you know how to hand knock a bat and have time to do it, then just hand knock it.
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I used to always hand knock in. But more recently just use straight from the packet.
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I personally absolutely love knocking in bats, I’ve started offering to do it for people to
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I personally absolutely love knocking in bats, I’ve started offering to do it for people to
I think it's a great way to get to know the bat and how it performances. I always loved the process, though it can be frustrating at times
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I think it's a great way to get to know the bat and how it performances. I always loved the process, though it can be frustrating at times
Second this, all part of the new bat experience in my opinion. Get to know it better and build some strong foundations for a long and happy relationship with your new wood
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I quite like the process and it does give you a better feel for the bit of willow, they all seem to be so different.... they almost have a personality, or is that me just being a sad bat enthusiast :D
I've only ever had one bat knocked in by machine and wasn't really impressed, the edges hadn't been touched at all which is where I spend most of the time along with the toe when doing by hand.
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I think with modern pressing the majority of bats don't need more than a quick going over these days before being ready for throwdowns, although of course that's very maker dependent. So generally happy to knock in by hand, have never tried a machine.
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Machine knocking (unless it costs a bomb) followed by Hand knocking. The feel of bat being ready only comes when you knock it a bit yourself.