I disagree with the oiling part, simply because I had a Bulldog, which was 2.9 and a half, had always been 2.9 and a half, and a week later, it was 2.10 and a half. It had been at my friend's house, which was probably a touch more damp than mine, so it had moisture uptake. The friend ended up returning it to me, since it just felt too heavy, and I was surprised when I weighed it. Oiling helps keep moisture in and out of the bat. Some people prefer not to oil, as they feel it dampens the performance of a bat. I don't know if it does or not, but ever since my beloved unoiled Genesis Tornado bat cracked at the edge, thanks to a clubmate hitting out catches with it, I've always made sure I coat my bats with oil, or at least scuff them up and tape the edges. I would always recommend oiling or waxing the exposed willow once, especially over the winter.