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[mattw]

This may have been mentioned before but can't seem to find one topic that explains it.

As currently there is a massive demand for massive bats that are extremely light it got me thinking of how bat making has evolved over the years and how big the bats are now, even compared to last years models.

So basically my understanding of how bats have become so light for the size they are, is how dry the bat is and the way that it's pressed?

For example if two bats were both 2'10 (both similar in shape) and bat 1 had 25mm edges and 45mm spine, bat 2 had 40mm edges and 50mm spine. Then bat 2 should have less moisture in the bat?

What does this mean for the each bat? Would bat 1 have a longer expected life than bat 2? Would bat 2 perform better than bat 1? Would bat 1 have a longer/bigger sweetspot? Would bat 1 need longer knocking-in before it's ready to play?

There are so many questions, but it did get me thinking as currently on espn I'm watching some highlights of the 1983 cricket world cup and the bats they have there have tiny profiles however they can still hit it out of the ground with the same effort. So have bats performance really changed over the years? Obviously the techniques on how bats are made have as the size of them nowadays are huge!

[justnotcricket86]

My limited knowledge mate is that it's called 'over-drying'

Improves performance (how I don't know, I'm not that much of a bat geek) but will not have as long life expectancy and willow will become more fragile over time.

[procricket]

read the ask the batmakers mate in Laver and Wood

[Talisman]

All clefts have different densities with the same moisture level but you are right in the fact that the lower the moisture level the bigger the bat. Pressing is a factor in certain companies but not with the mass produced bats. There are other tricks to make bats "bigger" such as making the face flatter to increase the edge size and shaving the edges down to below 4 and a quarter inches.

[Cover_Drive]

Mike a question,

Three bats which I have bought (yet to receive one) so the colour of will is different, the Icon LE I have is quite dark for a new bat, Flare LE is extremely white while Laver Legend whcih I am receiving in sometime is different colour (this was secondary dried).

So myt question is what does this tell rtegarding bats life? How come Icon got or is dark ?

[mattw]

CD that's a similar Q I was just about to ask.

So how can you tell the differences of moisture/life expectancy/performance over time of bats when you go into a retail shop and see many bats? Is it mainly down to the colour of the willow? Weight/Size of bat etc?

[tim2000s]

Given that Salix Alba Caerulea is a hybrid willow I would expect that, genetically, you will get variation as to the lightness and darkness of the willow depending on tree.

[Talisman]

There are 6 varieties in the sub species and also many other factors such as soil type and locations which play a part in willow structure and colour, add in the length of time the willow is dried for and how as well as then the length of time it sits around before being made, it could then be subject to a number of differing polishes and waxes before being stored for a random time and placement. In short no 2 bats end up the same colour.

Moisture wise the lower the moisture the better the performance but the shorter the life and the greater risk of compression cracks and dents.

[Cover_Drive]

Does colour have anything to do with moisture? I mean the whiter it is less moisture it is or vice versa ? Or thats not necessary.

Also does colour have to do anything with bats life ?

[Cover_Drive]

Just to add does storing makes any difference? I mean if you store them in close bag where the bats are basically in closed system...

[Canners]

Moisture wise the lower the moisture the better the performance but the shorter the life and the greater risk of compression cracks and dents.

Mike im still a bit confused as to what a compression dent/crack is?

[Talisman]

There is no link between willow colour and moisture content.

Storage will affect moisture content, in extremes it can add or reduce moisture.

A compression crack or dent in when the density of the bat is low, through natural or forced dryness and when the ball hits the willow simply sinks in on itself with a visible line round the damage unlike a normal dent which has a rounded indentation. It would be like pressing a hidden button that uniformly depresses.

[Cover_Drive]

There is no link between willow colour and moisture content.

Storage will affect moisture content, in extremes it can add or reduce moisture.

Cheers mate!

Imagine I store my bats in my kit bag [zipped and everything and it then is like a closed system] and take them out 3 times a day for 15 minutes, will such storing hurt my bats?

[Canners]

A compression crack or dent in when the density of the bat is low, through natural or forced dryness and when the ball hits the willow simply sinks in on itself with a visible line round the damage unlike a normal dent which has a rounded indentation. It would be like pressing a hidden button that uniformly depresses.

Thanks

would this simply be a visual imperfection or would it affect performance thereafter

[Talisman]

It would be a side effect of the low density and will only lower performance if it happens a lot.