Improving Peak Performance
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Purist90

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Improving Peak Performance
« on: January 20, 2024, 08:09:57 PM »
Hi, I have 2 blank bats which specs wise are identical as they possibly can be.
1 is 2 years old, the other is 1 year old. So both knocked in & played in.
The sweet spots are sweet but the rest is still a bit dead/flat. Is there anything I can do to try and open up the bats a bit more?
Should I spend a day knocking them in more? Or just hitting cricket balls in nets?
Is another press an option?
I have a feeling I’ve had the bats made too light in weight for the full profile and that’s just how they will play as there isn’t enough meat on the bone. Both are under 2lb,8.
Any advice to try at home or even send off for a 2nd opinion would be greatly appreciated.








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Buzz

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2024, 11:31:31 PM »
Take the cover off it, give it an oil with some linseed oil and leave it for a bit, put a new scuff sheet on it and take it to the nets.
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Purist90

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2024, 12:03:07 AM »
Cheers Buzz.
Glad I’m doing the right things.
Have removed scuff and sanded. Given 3 coats of oil in 3 days.
Left scuff sheet off for now as thought i might seek advice first or try netting without it.
Nets start in February for me anyway.
I always mallet after a new scuff sheet is out on.
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willmau5

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2024, 08:34:57 AM »
I'm a big fan of how quickly a bottle of linseed oil turned into 3 bottles of wine.
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jonny77

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2024, 10:28:27 AM »
Imo any bat will ping if made well and there are no factors which can affect ping/feel within the willow. A hard bar, knot or something similar. Old profiles still pinged all over, so I wouldn't have thought it's anything to do with volume of willow. Looks a nice stick.

Out of interest, why do you knock it in when you put a new scuff on? Just curious when I hear methods people use.
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Purist90

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2024, 12:37:23 PM »
Cheers @jonny77. That’s reassuring.
I knock in a scuff sheet for 40ish minutes just out of habit. Probably goes back to the old days where scuff sheets didn’t stretch so well and would tear on edges.
But also to make sure the sheet is properly at one with the face. No air bubbles, no seam marks. Just so when a ball hits it that isn’t the first blow to the scuff. And the edges are already slightly stretched or prepared.
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jonny77

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2024, 02:14:15 PM »
Quote from: Purist90 on January 21, 2024, 12:37:23 PM
Cheers @jonny77. That’s reassuring.
I knock in a scuff sheet for 40ish minutes just out of habit. Probably goes back to the old days where scuff sheets didn’t stretch so well and would tear on edges.
But also to make sure the sheet is properly at one with the face. No air bubbles, no seam marks. Just so when a ball hits it that isn’t the first blow to the scuff. And the edges are already slightly stretched or prepared.

Ah fair enough mate. I just hate knocking in new bats, so it wouldn't entertain knocking in a used one! 😆 Hope it comes good for you
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Purist90

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2024, 07:47:34 PM »
I can appreciate knocking in being a bore chore when you’re having to do so many everyday.
I think it became habit as a teen in the 90s feeling hard done bye when a scuff would tear after a couple of net sessions. So I thought it might give me a chance of lasting a summer at least. Looking back I didn’t knock my bats in very well on the toe and edges. So I have a history of bottom inside edge splitting off. So since YouTube videos improved my meaningful knocking-in enormously I took the same attitude as fielding. You have to do it so you might as well get good at it and even enjoy it 😂.
Cricket is a funny game and Im finding as I get older Ive got more patience for it.
Sitting on a roller or a mower cutting lawn is bizarrely satisfying like knocking in a fresh bat. I would happily knock in Scott bats in the winter. As long as the snooker is on. The indoor bowls is testing me. 😂😂🤪
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InternalTraining

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2024, 11:08:29 PM »
Quote from: Purist90 on January 20, 2024, 08:09:57 PM
Hi, I have 2 blank bats which specs wise are identical as they possibly can be.
1 is 2 years old, the other is 1 year old. So both knocked in & played in.
The sweet spots are sweet but the rest is still a bit dead/flat. Is there anything I can do to try and open up the bats a bit more?
Should I spend a day knocking them in more? Or just hitting cricket balls in nets?
Is another press an option?
I have a feeling I’ve had the bats made too light in weight for the full profile and that’s just how they will play as there isn’t enough meat on the bone. Both are under 2lb,8.
Any advice to try at home or even send off for a 2nd opinion would be greatly appreciated.

You can definitely take a mallet to the bats but that wouldn't guarantee emergence of "ping" all over. If you have the option, try having the bat machine knocked. I had good results with it.

With regards to bats and their shape, it helps if you know where exactly on the bat you hit the ball. It is not going to be one spot but a larger area that you consistently hit. IIRC, you can buy spot sheets that mark the areas you hit most frequently. Armed with that knowledge, you can try  targeting that area with the mallet on these bats.

On a general note, try a little heavier bat. If you want more meat in the blade, have the bat maker make you  shorter handle bat and put the weight in the blade. After experimenting (a lot) with different shapes and weights, I ended up with 2 lb 10.5 oz total weight in the shape of Newbery Blitz made by Kelly. It has a shorter handle and meatier blade. It pings like a rockstar. ;)
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Purist90

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Re: Improving Peak Performance
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2024, 04:07:32 PM »
Thanks mate. All noted. And I do agree with you to having a heavier bat up my sleeve.
Its actually recent purchases that has given me something to compare to. So debating whether to move them on or not. Will pursue with them for now.
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