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[piethepker]

Is there anything you can do? My new hammer got seam damage from someone using a ball which was as hard as a rock.

Anything you can do besides putting some fibreglass tape over it?

[Beaup123]

Knock it in more. It's a sign its not ready yet.

[13th Man]

Knock it in more. It's a sign its not ready yet.

Whilst I agree seem damage is a consequence of inadequate knocking in, cheap rock like balls really can only be overcome by leaving the ball or telling the bowlers not to use them.

[piethepker]

It's knocked in, i have used the bat before and no seam marks whats so ever, it's just this one ball

Also, do seam marks affect performance? there are a couple dents but no cracks, i would take a photo but i don't think the camera will pick it up

[FvanN]

Kick the bowlers ass for using a rubbish ball

[patriotscreen]

All knocked in bats will get some marking regardless, if it isn't deep and causing cracks then don't worry too much. Give the areas affected a knock for 30 minutes or so for peace of mind.

[cleanbowled]

If its a cheap hard cricket ball, I don't think knocking in is the problem ie it can't prevent damage because its the ball that's the problem. You'd want to avoid using such balls even in the nets if you can.

[Chad]

You'll always get the odd seam mark or two, even on bats which have been fully knocked in. Sometimes, juniors come with a bat breaker, and I'll always just defend. They're making the effort to bowl, so I just play until I finish the net, then give them a better ball to bowl with and tell them not to use Slazengers from SD in the future. Not much you can do besides re-enforce the area with a bit of fibreglass tape, although if it isn't cracked, shouldn't be anything to worry about. Just let the guys know if they're using bad balls.

[ProCricketer1982]

As soon as you pick up who is using crap balls either giv them one of your own decent ones or leave it (or use a net bat). It annoys the bowler when you so obviously leave it as they don't get the satisfaction but it saves your bat so just ignore them.

It's partly why at club nets I either skip them, just go on the bowling machines or just plain don't bat.