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[ItsJustCricket]

If there are tiny cracks running along the grains that's a good sign, No?
Across is bad, Yes, but down and along is a good sign.

That's what I've always been told.

yes, this is correct...

[Vitas Cricket]

Yes, cracks along the grain is the correct definition of 'opening up' - many use that term incorrectly.

To see a bat begin to do this is a pleasing sight for me. I know it is going to perform at it's peak.

[mo_town]

wow 500 bats knocked in a year. that is over 1 and a half a day !! how many hours per bat ? You must have some big arms now !!

I would knock in first and then apply the scuff sheet.

The first image in my head after reading this post was Paul looking like Popeye!! 

[Bulldog Cricket]

Personally I think knocking in is overrated. If a bat is pressed correctly ie "pressed to perfection" as many claim then why further press the face of the bat with hours of knocking in ?

Just round and knock in the edges and toe, stick a scuff sheet on and away you go.

[ItsJustCricket]

Personally I think knocking in is overrated. If a bat is pressed correctly ie "pressed to perfection" as many claim then why further press the face of the bat with hours of knocking in ?

Just round and knock in the edges and toe, stick a scuff sheet on and away you go.

I agree to an extent, but it does depend on the bat.  I know this is exactly what Julian Millichamp recommends for his Screaming Cats, but other bats can be very different for me.  Plus, I think a lot of it is peace of mind for the customer.  A knocked in bat provides a lot of reassurance and removes the element of doubt.

[Bulldog Cricket]

But with hours of knocking in you are taking away the bats performance. Certainly out bats I would recommend toe and edges, scuff and go. They are pressed for performance so you don't need to mess with the middle to much b

[tim2000s]

Personally I think knocking in is overrated. If a bat is pressed correctly ie "pressed to perfection" as many claim then why further press the face of the bat with hours of knocking in ?

Just round and knock in the edges and toe, stick a scuff sheet on and away you go.

I'm in this camp, mainly because I'm too lazy to do a full job, but also because when I've been present when the bat has been made, batmakers have told me it only needs the edges and toe knocking in...

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[smilley792]

Right. I was in the boat of "edges and toe" so when I bought a Malik laminate from asad. I spent a few hours on the edge and toe. Few bowling machines them a net.


Got one short and wide which I tried to hit throughout he cover are aerial. It made a cracking noise. Looked down and where I'd hit the ball it had dented the bat. Indent was about 3mm deep with 2 cracks either side.

Why did this happen if edges an toe only needed(I want more of an answer than asain made)


I've since knocked it in more so the indent in less but you can still see the. Cracks and slight indent. Although the pic is poor




It's not easy to take pictures of bat damage on a phone.lol

[tim2000s]

Clearly not pressed properly

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[Vitas Cricket]

Malik's are usually soft as baby poo mate, I would have scuffed it up as a minimum.

[ajmw89]

If I'm scuffing a bat up, I'll do the edges and bottom 2-3 inches as a minimum. Probably give the face about half hour and I like to do the bit between the scuff sheet and stickers just for added piece of mind against the odd throat ball!  Once I've knocked in, then I'll put the scuff sheet on.  I'll also whack a bit of edge tape on my own bats to frame the scuff sheet, but that's just an OCD thing!