Topic: Playing in a new bat (Read 2421 times)

WalkingWicket37 · « **on:** February 03, 2013, 11:39:48 PM »

Hi guys

As you may have seen in the 2013 kit thread I recently got myself a new bat.

It's now knocked in and ready to go, but I'm not sure if our club's winter nets are the place to play it in. There may well be brand new balls, cheap bat breakers and Yorkers being sent down. As eager as I am to use my new blade this seems a bad idea.

I was wondering how everyone else goes about playing in a new bat? Any tips or advice on how to best do it without risking a break would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Cameron

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2013, 11:40:55 PM »

Quote from: CameronPye94 on February 03, 2013, 11:39:48 PM

Hi guys

As you may have seen in the 2013 kit thread I recently got myself a new bat.

It's now knocked in and ready to go, but I'm not sure if our club's winter nets are the place to play it in. There may well be brand new balls, cheap bat breakers and Yorkers being sent down. As eager as I am to use my new blade this seems a bad idea.

I was wondering how everyone else goes about playing in a new bat? Any tips or advice on how to best do it without risking a break would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Cameron

Good few hours on a bowling machine is pretty effective, and pretty much risk free.

procricket · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2013, 11:41:42 PM »

I do not like using new bats in indoor nets more to the hard surface and Yorkers with no give.

i like using new bats on the bowling machine though.

I guess it is a risk i have seen to many decent bats break indoor nets time

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2013, 11:47:02 PM »

Personally I never use a new bat indoor unless I am netting at a proper cricket centre, the floors in sports halls etc with just matts are far to hard and will just damag a bt with a Yorker.

I spend a couple of hours with the bat mallet on edges and toe area and then hit catches inside or in warm up before game for a few weeks and as long as seem isn't marking the blade then good to go normally. I like to be very through when knocking them in as normally I have spent a lot of time and money getting the right bat and don't need some idiot with his �1.99 sports direct ball breaking it.

ACM0608 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2013, 08:54:38 AM »

Difficult one this as it could get damaged the first time you use it outdoors as well especially early in the season when its likely to be wet or even any time during the season if last years summer is anyhting to go by. If you think you have knocked it in properly then I see no problem just using it indoors. I am sure due to it being new if any damage is caused you will be able to go back to the company and explain this to them and sort somethinng out. At least then by using it at winter nets you will know its definately ready for the start of the season against proper cricket balls and you are not going into your first game hoping the bat will be ok as you have never used it against a real ball. When facing them first few balls of a new season the last thing you want to be thinking about is will my bat get damaged.

tim2000s · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2013, 09:57:35 AM »

I'm not very precious about my bats. I'm happy to use them in Indoor nets and also to lend them to people. When I've been at the batmaker to get it made, people sometimes find the balance unusual or not what they are used to, so those bats generally don't get used by other people. Off the shelf though, I'm not too bothered. The other thing is that we don't seem to get the SD concrete balls in the nets very much anymore. Not sure why though.

ajmw89 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2013, 10:02:01 AM »

So long as there are no bat breakers in use, use it on the nets. Just try not to smash the granny out of every ball! If anyone turns up with a bat breaker, I usually take it off them and give them a decent ball to bowl with!

ewan68 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2013, 11:01:07 AM »

How does one recognise a 'bat breaker' and what is the realistic threat to a new bat...
My B & S Fireblade(already knocked in by Rob/Jake @ Vitas) is arriving this week and indoor nets start on 17th Feb..
My Bradbury has not made it back to me yet so may be forced to baptise the Fireblade immediately!!??

farnham_quins_2 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2013, 11:18:06 AM »

I think once a bat has been properly knocked in and oiled it should be fine for indoor nets.

Our team has a bag of decent balls ranging in wear for nets, which means people don't bring their own crappy balls.

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2013, 11:45:32 AM »

Quote from: ewan68 on February 04, 2013, 11:01:07 AM

How does one recognise a 'bat breaker' and what is the realistic threat to a new bat...
My B & S Fireblade(already knocked in by Rob/Jake @ Vitas) is arriving this week and indoor nets start on 17th Feb..
My Bradbury has not made it back to me yet so may be forced to baptise the Fireblade immediately!!??

Bat breakers are cheap hard balls. Combine this with bowlers getting carried away (or non bowlers like me who cant control what we do) bowling yorkers at you on a rock hard surface with a rock hard ball. The only thing that is going to give is the toe of the bat.

I made my net bat topic entirely for this reason. I hate seeing beautiful bats get ruined before the season even starts, especially when its easy and cheap enough to pick up a throwaway bat for nets, or even a half decent one second hand on CBF.

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=21645.0

fasteddie · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2013, 11:56:35 AM »

I think a lot of this is down to the nervousness of taking a bat into a net for the first time. Will it/ won't it?

I got around this by adopting some of the tips found here; crap balls taken away and properly knocking in the toe.
After that, I've just wafted away will abandon with my two new bats.

I've got an Aldred on it's way and I'll be the same with that.

I think if you knock in the toe properly and make the point about crap balls you'll be fine.

BigBlueMachine · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2013, 12:07:43 PM »

I feel it's best to firstly knock the bat it with a mallet and then get a good friend to give a few throw downs with some older softer balls. If seam marks still show, knock it in a bit longer. I also like the suggestion of giving catches.

The best info I've seen on this was from Laver and Wood. They produced a newsletter outlining the process, if you have a search for it I'm sure you'll find it.

RoCo Da Pixie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2013, 12:11:43 PM »

I personally get the bat knocked in and use it straight away in nets against good quality balls, Some new some old, If I ever see a bat breaker which is very rare, I ask them to change it.

BigBlueMachine · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2013, 12:13:17 PM »

This is the L&W info I was on about.

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=17745.0

Author Topic: Playing in a new bat (Read 2421 times)

WalkingWicket37

Playing in a new bat

Vitas Cricket

Re: Playing in a new bat

procricket

Re: Playing in a new bat

SOULMAN1012

Re: Playing in a new bat

ACM0608

Re: Playing in a new bat

tim2000s

Re: Playing in a new bat

ajmw89

Re: Playing in a new bat

ewan68

Re: Playing in a new bat

farnham_quins_2

Re: Playing in a new bat

Vitas Cricket

Re: Playing in a new bat

fasteddie

Re: Playing in a new bat

BigBlueMachine

Re: Playing in a new bat

RoCo Da Pixie

Re: Playing in a new bat

BigBlueMachine

Re: Playing in a new bat