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[Bruce]

In leymans terms: I guess this is why a bat 'dies'.
It's too knocked in. That thin layer becomes a thick layer and the ping is gone.

[Colesy]

I normally round the edges off, hit the toe fairly hard, slap a face cover on and use the bat. Apart from me being a batsman who drives yorkers, the bats don't have any problems from knocking in.

[Cover_Drive]

I try to use against old balls because I fear I might over knock as described by James Laves in Toms post.

However, I was talking to Julian Millichamp last night and asked him about knocking, he said when he test his bats with a mallet to check the performance it causes indentation so what I can do is just even out the whole face [meaning indent the whole face] and then use against old balls, that is what I will do with my Screaming Cat [if I buy a mallet or borrow one]

[Simmy]

yeah ive heard that before as well hit the bat when it makes a dent do the rest so its all flat!

however some of the uk made bats ive had when u hit the mallet it doesnt make a dent or anything.

maybe only applys to softly pressed bats

[Joe]

Yeah that's what it says on the laver website, although I've never been able to hit a bat hard enough to dent it, apart from when rounding off the edges

[petehosk]

Most people I have asked just knock it in for 60 minutes!
I start by rounding off the edges and getting rid of any 'sharp' corners! Then up and down the edges once they're rounded off. Next I concentrate around the toe area and the bottom 4 inches to strengthen that!
I do knock the rest of the blade in a bit but only really for 30 minutes or so! But the most important parts are the toe and edges to ensure the willow is compressed and strengthened!
Then I take the bat into the nets against the bowling machine for an hour or so, and progress onto throw downs and bowlers using soft cricket balls (as the leather is softer)
By this time, the bat should be pretty much ready to go.

The important thing is to realise that knocking in a bat is ensuring it's ready to play against fully new and hard cricket balls. But this is not to be confused with having the bat ready at it's optimum performance level, as this can take weeks or months, depending on the pressing, grains, how often you play, etc!

[Joe]

But this is not to be confused with having the bat ready at it's optimum performance level, as this can take weeks or months, depending on the pressing, grains, how often you play, etc!

Or indeed, how often you actually hit the ball...

[Red Ink Cricket]

some may need to knock the outside edge in slightly more than others!

[PM7]

What happens when there are cracks appearing under the toe that run across the blade/ across the grains.
I believe its called feathering but cant find any info? The cracks are too small/narrow to pour superglue into.
Anyone had this happen and can you recommend something? Cheers

[Johnny]

Is it in your cf Previn?

[shazz]

Firstly i will round the edges, glancing blows with a mallet do the job, Doesn't really have a time period, just until i'm satisfied really.

Then the toe for 15-30 mins, depending on how long I can be bothered.

Maybe i'll smack the middle for fun a couple of times, but most bats are pressed so; no point in doing so.
Finally about 60-200 balls worth of throw downs, until the moment of truth (AKA the glory shot, the perfect shot)  ...the one shot where you 'know' the bat is knocked in.

[Joe]

What happens when there are cracks appearing under the toe that run across the blade/ across the grains.
I believe its called feathering but cant find any info? The cracks are too small/narrow to pour superglue into.
Anyone had this happen and can you recommend something? Cheers

Yeah this is feathering. As far as I know there's not much you can't do really, apart from sending it off for a refurb. I think your best bet (I have done this in the past) is to cover up the face and pour a load of superglue into the feathering until its all level, then when it's dry put a shoe goo toe guard on.

[19reading87]

Think I'm going to knock my next bat in for 5 hours.......

[peplow]

Firstly i will round the edges, glancing blows with a mallet do the job, Doesn't really have a time period, just until i'm satisfied really.

Then the toe for 15-30 mins, depending on how long I can be bothered.

Maybe i'll smack the middle for fun a couple of times, but most bats are pressed so; no point in doing so.
Finally about 60-200 balls worth of throw downs, until the moment of truth (AKA the glory shot, the perfect shot)  ...the one shot where you 'know' the bat is knocked in.

..or the shot where you hear a massive crack and think "ohhhhh ****"

[Red Ink Cricket]

Yeah this is feathering. As far as I know there's not much you can't do really, apart from sending it off for a refurb. I think your best bet (I have done this in the past) is to cover up the face and pour a load of superglue into the feathering until its all level, then when it's dry put a shoe goo toe guard on.

ive heard superglue isnt great for bats as its too hard. wood glue is better as its slightly flexible. not sure how true that is though