Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: asdtech153 on May 21, 2023, 06:53:17 AM
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Hi everyone!
I bought a new bat (Focus Pure Limited, 2.9lbs) and received it 2 weeks ago. During my second session with the bat I caught a ball on the inside edge and had what feels like a major crack happen with a huge dent. The bowler was maybe hitting 100kph and this wasn't a huge swing, so I don't think this level of damage should happen, but I'd like to get some proper opinions. I didn't have time to knock it, so I paid extra for knocking service with the explicit instructions that they should take however much time is needed, but I'd like to have the bat ready to play against a new ball as soon as I get it. I contacted the seller, and am waiting on what they say, but in the mean time, how worried should I be?
Thanks all!!
Damage album: https://imgur.com/a/pLDqpMo (https://imgur.com/a/pLDqpMo)
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That is a compression crack, bit unfortunate, but realistically caused by not proper knocking in.
Happens all to frequently to bats I buy and don't knock in
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That is a compression crack, bit unfortunate, but realistically caused by not proper knocking in.
Happens all to frequently to bats I buy and don't knock in
That really sucks to hear considering I paid a decent chunk for the knocking service, but thanks for the input! Is this something that is repairable, or should I be looking at other options?
For context, this bat was 500 USD with the knocking service being an additional 75$. I'd rather not have to drop more money if I can avoid it lol
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New bat vs new ball is always a recipe for disaster, however if you're paying that much for knocking in and have given those instructions something like this shouldn't happen. Wait and see what they say first before you do anything/use the bat again.
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New bat vs new ball is always a recipe for disaster
That's the worst part about this. This was an old ball we were using that easily had 15-20 overs on it.
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That really sucks to hear considering I paid a decent chunk for the knocking service, but thanks for the input! Is this something that is repairable, or should I be looking at other options?
For context, this bat was 500 USD with the knocking service being an additional 75$. I'd rather not have to drop more money if I can avoid it lol
It’s totally repairable, can steam some of it out most likely, glue and sand down.
They are annoying but part and parcel of a new bat I’m afraid especially on brands that have a “softer” pressing, that vs a new ball and 60mph bowling flush on the edge will inevitably cause some kind of damage. Knocking in helps but it’s not a preventative cure to damaging a new bat
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^ At the end of the day there's no 100% prevention method, you can be as careful as possible and can still get unlucky. Certainly repairable though which is good.
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I would love to see a video of someone doing a repair like that @SOULMAN1012
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As abv, sometimes inevitable but the dryness of some bats can cause this over a 'soft press' imo. It can be fixed, as @SOULMAN1012 has said with steaming, sanding and glue. One thing no amount of knocking will cure however is dryer willow.
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As mentioned, unlucky on that one but get it sorted and it’ll still last you a while.
Was it a newish ball you were facing?
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As mentioned, unlucky on that one but get it sorted and it’ll still last you a while.
Was it a newish ball you were facing?
No, ball was an old one, specifically because this was a new bat.
Speaking of which, does anyone here have recommendations for a good bat repair person in the US? I'm based in Texas and have some of the tools necessary but none of the skill lol
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I'm pretty sure Focus are manufactured in India, which often can mean the willow will be a bit on the drier side. (As are the vast majority of bats available on the market - I should note) As mentioned, knocking in won't really fix the problem with the timber being drier. There are also dozens of manufacturers in India, and some don't actually press the higher region of the bat all that much - it's one of the ways they get the bows/one of the reasons why the blades are bowed that much. (Either on purpose, or just due to their processes) You'll notice some dent like mad higher up.
I never really pay for knocking in services unless I trust said person. If you're knocking it for someone who you know personally, you'll probably take a little more care, but otherwise, it might just be a way to get more money, but not something you enjoy, so you might not take the care an attention that it needs. And I'm going to call out/use as an example All Rounder Cricket here - I've seen 2 cases where the bats had knocking in paid for, and neither of them had any work done on them. In fact, in one of the cases, the bat was still in the cellophane shrink wrap.
This case looks like it could be a mixture of things. The service seems to have resulted in some sort of rounding at the edges, but I'd suspect not enough. Unfortunately a multi-variable thing, and can't really diagnose the exact reason for this happening.
Factors which affect the frequency in which this damage occurs
- Dryness of timber - out of your control
- Brittleness in timber - out of your control
- Lack of pressure in pressing stage - out of your control
- Flat face without rounding at the edges - 50/50
- Lack of proper preparation - within your control - however in this case, you've paid for the service
- Poor quality balls - 50/50
- Poorly executed stroke - within your control
Should note that I'm not blaming you for any of this, you've paid good money for a service to have the bat ready to use, and I totally understand if you're annoyed and feel you'd be right to feel that way. I'd love for folks to be able to trust their 'local' retailers and batmakers where possible. But should an unfavourable response come from the retailer, and you want my recommendation to try mitigate the occurrence of this in the future - find the time to knock in your bat for yourself. (Also, don't buy from a sticker brand unless you're willing to take the risk in trusting that the bat has been manufactured well with high quality materials)
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I appreciate the insight Chad. I paid for the knocking service because I just don't have time to do a proper job at home, but clearly that was a mistake. I'm waiting till Monday morning to see what the seller has to say, especially since the consensus seems like the bat wasn't knocked properly. Based on that I'll need to figure out my options. I might just reach out to one of the fabulous bat makers on here for some help.
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Sorry to sound a bit old fashioned but knocking in is just part of the bat preparation process, especially with the softer pressed and drier bats. Once you've knocked in you really do need to do a few sessions where you are just facing throw downs before you take your bat into the nets to face bowling.
These can of things can happen nothing that can't be fixed.
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Sorry to sound a bit old fashioned but knocking in is just part of the bat preparation process, especially with the softer pressed and drier bats. Once you've knocked in you really do need to do a few sessions where you are just facing throw downs before you take your bat into the nets to face bowling.
These can of things can happen nothing that can't be fixed.
Completely get that, and I was prepared for this. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule knocking a bat properly would take me weeks just to carve out the time and its largely why I paid for the service. The service itself was basically 20% of the bat cost, and just like any other service I'd pay for I'd expect it to be done right. Another friend of mine just received a bat from the same shop that was "knocked" and his fingernail can make indentations on the bat face, so it's clearly a crap job, but he only got the bat a few days ago, after I had cracked mine.
At this point, I'm just looking to see what my options are and next time/bat I won't make the same mistakes
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Completely get that, and I was prepared for this. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule knocking a bat properly would take me weeks just to carve out the time and its largely why I paid for the service. The service itself was basically 20% of the bat cost, and just like any other service I'd pay for I'd expect it to be done right. Another friend of mine just received a bat from the same shop that was "knocked" and his fingernail can make indentations on the bat face, so it's clearly a crap job, but he only got the bat a few days ago, after I had cracked mine.
At this point, I'm just looking to see what my options are and next time/bat I won't make the same mistakes
How hard do you want your face I mean fingernail will mark a knocked-in bat.
Can I confirm you mishit an inside edge and got a crack which can and does happen to knocked-in bats
I understand your frustration if you hit the bottom/toe and it cracked which can happen too and with knocked-in bats it's a mistimed shot.
I have sympathy for you that your bat is damaged but it is a natural product and if I'm honest i don't trust "knocked in by anybody if I'm honest and would not pay for the service".
What ball was you using? was it a white ball by any chance....
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Not to derail the thread, but this is a cheap ball I bought on eBay a whole ago. Never used them, as they just felt of a very poor quality. Cut this open to check the inside make up.....
(https://i.postimg.cc/D0qLcm4S/PXL-20230509-212632288.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9wQDmmp2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1R6GS77y/PXL-20230509-212644959.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bdyDHgj5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bJSQsmzH/PXL-20230509-212652369.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PphL7zvP)
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Black pudding 🤤🤤🤤
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75$ for knocking is plain roberry. They put it on a machine and in half hour it's done. No one cares about edges or toe. More than half such bats end up getting cracked all over the edges and on toes.
At this point, try to steam it out, put some super glue in and sand it over. Nothing much you can do, but use it while it lasts. Next bat make sure to not pay for knocking and do it yourself. Plenty of threads here to guide you.
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What ball was you using? was it a white ball by any chance....
Yup old white ball was used