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[the sauce]

I came across this site while off work crook earlier in the week - absolutely love your work fellas.

After reading 100s of posts, I'm intrigued by this concept of bats "opening up". I owned a Kookaburra Ice Mike Hussey Players Edition for over 5 years before it broke last summer. Its ping was amazing.

I've since purchased a GM Argon Original SH. As most all GM bats bought new in NZ, it has GM Now! I had a few nets with it and felt like it really struggled to "get going". I've since been knocking it in at any and every opportunity to try and get the best out of it.

Can you guys talk a little more about the concept of bats "opening up"? What do you mean by that? 

Is it likely that this bat just needs more work and more nets to maximise its performance?

[alba caerulea]

Someone might correct me here as Ive never owned one but I believe off the shelf GMs are notorious for being slow to open up. Pressed for longevity not instant performance

Think the only answer is to keep using it!

[toenails97]

If I was you I'd just play the bat in first, by giving catches and having light throwdowns with a used good quality ball whilst playing defensive shots. I'd be weary of the GM now as my mate had an GM Epic LE and seam marks appeared on the face which suggests it needs more knocking in...so don't rely on the GM Now service - although generally most of the GM's seem prepared and don't show seam marks during the first stage of playing in.
Then when I've had throwdowns I normally go onto the bowling machine for a couple of hours playing half volleys, or you could set it up on a good length and challenge yourself. By now you should be seeing an improvement in the response from the bat...especially on of centre shots etc.
When I am happy with the bats performance against the machine and I am sure it is knocked in, I then take it to nets against live bowlers, and play normally instead of playing with a more defensive style...like you would with the throwdowns when checking if the bat is fully knocked in. If there is no seam marks appearing after this, I will then start bringing it into play during matches etc. By then the bat should be performing well but remember it will only get better, and with your bat being a GM they are generally quite hard so take a little longer to play in and get going

[Bats_Entertainment]

Buzz?

[WalkingWicket37]

I must have been lucky with my GMs as they've all gone reasonably well from the start, but they do get better with more use.

I think that a bit of mallet loving would be a good idea, as extra knocking in can never hurt. I'd pay particular attention to the edges and the toe as these are weaker than the middle so are likely to benefit from more prep.

As far as getting the bat to "open up" I can only echo what's already been said. Knocking, catches, nets etc.
I will say confidently though, once it does start to open up it will be a cracker of a bat, I love my GMs!

[Pitbull]

My Icon Original has taken a while, bought it in Feb, used it through out winter nets and every game this year and it's only recently felt more responsive and I've started to feel more confident in it. They are all good bats suppose you just have to be patient.

[Vitas Cricket]

'Opening up' is a very overused term on the forum, mostly it is used incorrectly to describe something else.

Some bats might feel a little hard/less responsive to start with, most bats will improve the more you use them, but this is not opening up.

The term 'opening up' specifically refers to the cracks that will form along the grain (and in time across the grain) - it can look as if the grains are 'bursting' apart, this damage is mostly cosmetic and is the sign of a bat performing at the peak of it's powers.

A statement i see used a lot is 'I have had this bat for a couple of weeks now, i've had a few nets with it and it is opening up really nicely' - most bats take a long time and thousands of balls hit before they start to open up.

[Colesy]

My Icon took a season and now it's really going. The one before that went straight from the off and the Six6 I've just bought feels good but not quite there yet.

Just give it time

[skip1973]

I think the handle freeing up has as much to do with the bats feeling better after a while.

[WalkingWicket37]

'Opening up' is a very overused term on the forum, mostly it is used incorrectly to describe something else.

Some bats might feel a little hard/less responsive to start with, most bats will improve the more you use them, but this is not opening up.

The term 'opening up' specifically refers to the cracks that will form along the grain (and in time across the grain) - it can look as if the grains are 'bursting' apart, this damage is mostly cosmetic and is the sign of a bat performing at the peak of it's powers.

A statement i see used a lot is 'I have had this bat for a couple of weeks now, i've had a few nets with it and it is opening up really nicely' - most bats take a long time and thousands of balls hit before they start to open up.

E.g

[WillyorWonty]

Wood only "opens up" if damaged or gets wet. Compression can not be reversed.

[mo_town]

I have never see a GM that has 'opened up'..not sure why...I have seen other UK made bats open up and show the vertical cracks along the grains but not GM...they go really well after being used for some time...but thehy never open up...would be great if someone can share a pic of a GM (the newer lot) that have opened up..

[Bats_Entertainment]

Wood only "opens up" if damaged or gets wet. Compression can not be reversed.

Absolute rubbish.

[Bats_Entertainment]

'Opening up' is a very overused term on the forum, mostly it is used incorrectly to describe something else.

Some bats might feel a little hard/less responsive to start with, most bats will improve the more you use them, but this is not opening up.

The term 'opening up' specifically refers to the cracks that will form along the grain (and in time across the grain) - it can look as if the grains are 'bursting' apart, this damage is mostly cosmetic and is the sign of a bat performing at the peak of it's powers.

A statement i see used a lot is 'I have had this bat for a couple of weeks now, i've had a few nets with it and it is opening up really nicely' - most bats take a long time and thousands of balls hit before they start to open up.

Good stuff.  The bat in the picture in the subsequent does not look like an opened up bat to me; it looks like a newish bat with a surface crack.

[WalkingWicket37]

Good stuff.  The bat in the picture in the subsequent does not look like an opened up bat to me; it looks like a newish bat with a surface crack.

2nd grain in from the left had "opened up" lol
The other crack was indeed a surface crack though