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[alee]

Hi Guys,

well a few of my teammates reckon the opposite of what i or the norm would think about tight versus broad grains.

Basically they say that older wood or, more grains in a bat, tend to open up later and last longer while those bats with fewer grains, hence younger wood, would open sooner but won't last as long.

Any thoughts/feedback?

[tim2000s]

Hi Guys,

well a few of my teammates reckon the opposite of what i or the norm would think about tight versus broad grains.

Basically they say that older wood or, more grains in a bat, tend to open up later and last longer while those bats with fewer grains, hence younger wood, would open sooner but won't last as long.

Any thoughts/feedback?

Exactly as you stated. That's the opposite of what most people think/batmakers have experienced.

[smokem]

The "problem" I have with tight grains is that when they are very close together, it is easier for them to develop a split from one grain across to the next, especially if the bat has not been very carefully prepared (and even more so where there's heartwood present). This is just from what I've seen with other people's bats since I'm not fond of too many grains. So my opinion is that it is less durable to have tight grains.

[Fearless Fly]

IN my opinion (this is a forum) I think it mainly comes down to preparation and pressing rather than the tight vs broad grain structure in regards to opening up earlier and durability.
Think we have all owned some bats that have both tight and narrow and all lasted differently. So i think the preparation and pressing is the factor in "opening up" and durability

[Seniorplayer]

Tighter the grain usually means the willow is older the older the willow the quicker the bat dies due to lack of moisture.
But the key to a bats lifespan is as already stated is the skill of the person carrying out the pressing.

[abdulwq]

Nice piece of info.
Well i chose my bats just by pinging the ball and i have used bats with 6-7 grains and are absolutely belter. The tighter neat grains i think are just a show off.