Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: thebd11 on August 20, 2010, 02:30:49 PM

Title: Heartwood
Post by: thebd11 on August 20, 2010, 02:30:49 PM
Hi guys, I'm looking at getting a custom bat made with a strip or two of heartwood on the outside edge. What are your thoughts on heartwood?

Thanks

B-D
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: procricket on August 20, 2010, 02:55:31 PM
add nothing at all in my opinion
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Liam-SCCC on August 20, 2010, 03:00:53 PM
I like it cosmetically. Even if it doesn't add performance. Look at my Redback in the 'My Redback Preimier' topic. I requested heartwood for it.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: procricket on August 20, 2010, 03:03:50 PM
As Liam says it a bit like number of grains it all a cosmetic job and is down to your preference..

there was a time when it was seen as a lesser grade bat with heartwood but then a few test players use them it gone through the roof

all horses for courses
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: thebd11 on August 20, 2010, 03:06:31 PM
Ye I can see pieterseb has got some on the outside edge of his bat, what are the pros an cons of heartwood please?
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: pedaloboy on August 20, 2010, 03:07:52 PM
Everyone has got their own individual views on heartwood. Most say that if you are to have some on an edge then have it on the edge that you use most ( that will be the outside edge in my case!! ) In my opinion heartwood is purely down to the aesthetics. You either like the way the darker grains look against normal willow or you don't.
Personally I like the way it looks.
I have got about 6 grains of heartwood on my Newbery Grizzly - a fantastic piece of wood. It is the best performing bat I have ever used
Link attached below
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=5777.0
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: thebd11 on August 20, 2010, 03:12:01 PM
Heartwood have any bearing on performance?
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: procricket on August 20, 2010, 03:13:21 PM
ask mt SAF i sure he will say the same no record of any performance inprovement has ever been found...
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: kenbriooo on August 20, 2010, 03:54:32 PM
There was a train of thought thst heartwood was harder and brittler therefore giving you a better performing bat but one that didn't last as long. However I don't think there is any conclusive proof and I think it is all down to what you like.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: jdask on August 20, 2010, 04:13:21 PM
Agreed with everything above.  Have had a couple of bats with heartwood in them, not noticed any real difference whilst using them.  I thought a benefit of having heartwood on the edge was to make it more durable, but i could be wrong lol.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Howzat on August 20, 2010, 04:56:44 PM
There was a train of thought thst heartwood was harder and brittler therefore giving you a better performing bat but one that didn't last as long. However I don't think there is any conclusive proof and I think it is all down to what you like.
Something like there is less resin/sap content or something like that in heartwood I remember hearing
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Talisman on August 20, 2010, 06:31:23 PM
Heartwood is the darker section of the middle of the tree where the sap has moved out towards the outer section, it is more brittle and is considered better in the least used edge, this should be the outside one!!! It makes no difference to the bat in itself but due to the tighter grains being popular it is more commonly found now as the inside cut of a cleft will generally have more grains.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Watsontotty on August 20, 2010, 06:40:40 PM
Not for me and a lot of bat makers down grade bats if they have heartwood in them, others actually pass them off as top end models so it depends who you speak to but i don't like it.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: procricket on August 20, 2010, 06:41:25 PM
i think it has made a lot of people a lot of money

i agree rich not for me but some like it
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Bulldog Cricket on August 20, 2010, 06:44:14 PM
Look at the one KP is using at the moment, almost 3/4's heartwood.

Don't care either way personally as long as it goes.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Talisman on August 20, 2010, 06:44:31 PM
The grading is personal, but I would not downgrade willow based on the colour of the wood. The bat is designed with performance is mind and those that choose lesser performing bats because of colour are missing out. Knots would affect performance and so will lower a grading, you can see the sense in that.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: procricket on August 20, 2010, 06:47:27 PM
agree with keiron what it matter what a bat looks like as long as it goes like a train....
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: thebd11 on August 20, 2010, 07:06:36 PM
Just I heard it was harder so better to go on the edge so that it doesn't get surface cracks?
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: Talisman on August 20, 2010, 07:22:51 PM
It has less sap in it which acts like glue so it is more brittle, less glue to hold it together.
Title: Re: Heartwood
Post by: norbs on August 20, 2010, 07:32:36 PM
http://www.cricket-stuff.co.uk/?p=106