Topic: Giving your bat time to open up (Read 2474 times)

Stuey · « **on:** June 17, 2014, 03:10:59 PM »

My current bat is a Fusion, used it for the first time in anger at the start of last season after my custom made broke. I bought it from James for �125 and his owns words 'it doesn't look great but it will go', to be fair it looked ok, 6 straight grains, small amount of concaving and around 2lb8 pick up. Last season it went ok, but nothing out of the ordinary. I used it during winter nets and it's started to feel much more pingy, but with the ball coming on it more I wasn't sure whether it was the bat or the bounce/speed of the ball hitting the bat. Fast forward to this season and it's really pinging, I'm miss hitting 6s! The lesson I've learnt is a bat can look like a mongrel, but give it time to open up and it could be a gem!

pie-man · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:13:54 PM »

Why is this? I watched a bat review from Paul (GN Powerspot I think) and he mentioned that the bat was pressed hard and this would soften over time. Queue the laughter but I also assumed that, like knocking, over time the wood would compress and actually get harder??

TangoWhiskey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:16:28 PM »

I had a GN Oblivion last year. Used it throughout winter nets and I wasn't sure about it. I stuck with it through the summer and it really started to open up at about 500 runs. It was lovely out of the middle and even towards the toe but then towards a 1000 runs it started to delaminate and the middle has started to shrink. It's still got a little life left in it but I'm looking forward to getting my new Aldred match ready, I have one of Jake at Vitas' heavier oak mallets coming in the next couple of days that will hopefully speed up the process ready for the weekend!

Stuey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:18:43 PM »

TBH, I have no idea, I always used to pick a bat on looks and grains. I'm sure an expert on here can shed some light

GarrettJ · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:21:47 PM »

had a b&S in late 90's, it was an absolute plank. Took the facing off it, then knocked it in over the winter. for the next 2 seasons i lost count how many people wanted to buy it off me. 2nd best bat i have ever owned behind a 2010 distinction.

the moral of the story is keep a bat for a decent length of time and knock it in properly!!!

Stuey · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:25:00 PM »

Quote from: GarrettJ on June 17, 2014, 03:21:47 PM

the moral of the story is keep a bat for a decent length of time and knock it in properly!!!

I hear ya!

pie-man · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:27:33 PM »

Anyone know what knocking a bat actually does? I mean I know it compresses the fibre of the wood but I was always led to believe the pro's don't knock bats in as they prefer the softer wood?

TangoWhiskey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:43:54 PM »

Quote from: pie-man on June 17, 2014, 03:27:33 PM

Anyone know what knocking a bat actually does? I mean I know it compresses the fibre of the wood but I was always led to believe the pro's don't knock bats in as they prefer the softer wood?

I don't think they spend hours with a mallet as you or I would. I'm under the impression that knocking it in with a mallet compresses the wood making it more dense and therefore stronger. My understanding of 'opening up' is literally the grains spread out and become more elastic, therefore providing a better ping.

I would think that the pros do not knock their bats in for two reasons. 1; they get free bats so don't need to try and prolong the life of their �300 new willow and 2; they probably spend hours a day on a bowling machine or having throw downs with a coach so the bat would be being opened up and knocked in as they train, plus I would imagine that the pros don't tend to toe end full bungers or catch the leading edge heaving to the on side as much as your average Joe Clubber.

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:49:02 PM »

Quote from: GarrettJ on June 17, 2014, 03:21:47 PM

had a b&S in late 90's, it was an absolute plank. Took the facing off it, then knocked it in over the winter. for the next 2 seasons i lost count how many people wanted to buy it off me. 2nd best bat i have ever owned behind a 2010 distinction.

the moral of the story is keep a bat for a decent length of time and knock it in properly!!!

This.

I'm a firm believer, I myself had a disgusting plank of a Puma about 5 or so years ago - I kept using it as I couldn't afford a new bat at the time however much I hated it. By the end of the season it had developed into the sweetest middle ever, amazing how much a bat can change when it's knocked in properly and actually used! Frustrates me when I hear mates saying they've had 2/3 nets with a bat and they're all set to throw them out because they're no good.

smilley792 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:50:23 PM »

Anyone wanna borrow my gm six6 for half a season and open it up for me??

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2014, 05:42:19 PM »

Knocking in a bat gives the bat a final harding and extracts the best possible performance from the blade as we are aware willow is soft when bats are pressed hard it creates a thick layer deep inside the blade causing it to lose its elasticity (ping) some bats are purposely pressed harder to prolong there lifespan knocking in by hand allows the fibres to open up this cannot really be done by machine pressing as it can cause the blade to be over pressed. Pros bats and Bats made from the best willow tend to open up sooner because the willow is naturally softer.

Manormanic · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2014, 05:44:02 PM »

If you don't dig a bat right away, don't sell it. Give it time, come back to it, chances are it has hidden properties!

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2014, 06:14:37 PM »

Quote from: pie-man on June 17, 2014, 03:13:54 PM

Why is this? I watched a bat review from Paul (GN Powerspot I think) and he mentioned that the bat was pressed hard and this would soften over time. Queue the laughter but I also assumed that, like knocking, over time the wood would compress and actually get harder??

The surface hardens. That's what makes a bat start to ping. Or so I'm told.

Author Topic: Giving your bat time to open up (Read 2474 times)

Stuey

Giving your bat time to open up

pie-man

Re: Giving your bat time to open up

TangoWhiskey

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Stuey

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GarrettJ

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Stuey

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pie-man

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TangoWhiskey

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Neon Cricket

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smilley792

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Seniorplayer

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Manormanic

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Bats_Entertainment

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