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[biffa]

i recently purchased a new bat and and have been knocking it in with a kookaburra bat mallet. after a couple of hours of knocking in i started to hit the bat harder when two horizontal cracks appeared one near toe and one around the middle of bat ( both centre of bat and 3/4 inch in length).

Is this anything to worry about and will it affect performance be affected.

any thoughts will be appreciated

thanks
Biffa

[justnotcricket86]

Stick a photo up if you can mate, some of the chaps on here will be able to give you an instant assessment. From what it sounds like though, doesn't sound bad. Take it you are using a decent quality mallet? What bat have you got?

Welcome to the forum as well pal

[biffa]

Thanks for the welcome this is a really impressive forum.
The bat is a Willostix Red Boa

here is a couple of pics
(could work out how to use forum picture uploader)

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/img2011051300036.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/img2011051300037.jpg/

It doesn't look like much I know but i have never had it happen when knocking a bat in before

[yvk3103]

I would not bother about these cracks. Just a light sanding (when you have finished knocking-in) and a scuff sheet.

Definitely nothing to worry about imo

[SkipperJ]

Doesn't look too serious, but noticed a couple of things mate

1. How come there's seam marks on the blade? Hope you are using a wooden mallet, not one of 'em ball-on-a-stick thingys

2. Did you oil the bat? That usually makes the surface more pliable so it stretches rather than cracks while knocking.

Knocking guide http://www.laverwood.co.nz/batcare.php

[biffa]

Thanks for your thoughts guys
It has been oiled i just think i was perhaps a little too enthusiastic with the mallet and throw downs.

[Number4]

How many times did you oil it as from the pics it does look alittle dry

[biffa]

3 coats of oil to face