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[Talisman]

Why would anyone spend the sort of money spent on this forum and not knock the bat in?

[tim2000s]

Why would anyone spend the sort of money spent on this forum and not knock the bat in?

Because people want instant gratification. Now if you can share the secrets of the 60 minute knock in, people may do it!

[Talisman]

Sure, it only really works on well pressed bats but most are pretty good these days,

Use a decent wooden mallet, the M&H style one is my weapon of choice.
Gently tap the edges at a 45 degree angle from 6 inches below shoulder to toe so that you get no more than a rounding off.
Start from the same point and work the outside 1 inch of each edge to the toe and back up again with enough force to see the dents but not to feel them.
Do the same for the bottom 3 inches of toe.
Then simply work the entire face for 5 minutes.

[tim2000s]

That's useful and reassuring at the same time, as it is how I knock bats in! Just means I don't need to spend so long doing it!

Thanks!

[chesterh4]

THANKS! for all your opinions guys! think i know what I'm doing now when it comes to knocking in!

[dez107]

I no this topic was touched on about 5 years ago but I was wandering what people think is better to knock in bats, machine or hand done? Have a new bat coming and not sure which one I'd rather do. Technology has come a long way but some things are better hand done. People's thoughts, advice and experience welcomed!

[sachin200]

Just give it a few knocks on the edges and bottom by a mallet, put on a couple of acuff sheets and take it against a bowling machine! After spending a couple of hours, take of the scuff and it should be ready for a match. The key here is to oil well before doing anything so that the surface cracks don't occur.

[sarg]

I hand knock and get good feedback but i only do it for reviewing. Anyone can do it. It all depends on the willow and press. I would never machine knock a soft expensive bat personally as i roll the edges and toe before any mallet work and some bats are so soft that they would crack if not progressively knocked. There is a great thread on here about knocking started by @Gingerbusiness.

[sarg]

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=32421.msg548745#msg548745

[InternalTraining]

I would never machine knock a soft expensive bat personally as i roll the edges and toe before any mallet work and some bats are so soft that they would crack if not progressively knocked.

I learned this the hard way but you are right - expensive/soft bats require progressive knocking.

[madpra6]

Initially I used to knock my bats manually but was never satisfied. But once I started buying bats from the Phoenix guys, they knocked them on their customized machine & delivered the bats ready to play. Pretty impressive performance. So I would say "Machine knocking" because it does it evenly set on different types of pressure.