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[WalkingWicket37]

Following on from a quote from yesterday saying "you shouldn't have to knock in a GM" (a claim GM themself make!) I feel a that bit more knocking can never hurt, as I've found the edges always need rounding on a "ready to play" GM.

As I was knocking the toe and edges anyway (you can never over prepare a bats weak spot), I thought why do things by half, so the middle got a bash too! (As I've said, to my mind can't over prepare a weak spot, so you can't over prepare the middle either!)

An hour of knocking later, (and bear in mind this was the start of the process, so what I'd call light knocking in) I had some nicely rounded edges and a dented face!

Are GM bats really "ready to play"? You tell me!

[Gingerbusiness]

I do not think any bats are 'Ready to play' unless you have overseen the preparation yourself.

Just brought myself a Lignum Vitae mallet because I like to know it is done properly by someone I trust (Moi) than trust a machine that cant knock in edges, or someone who has not got a vested interest in how the bat plays once it leaves the store/showroom/warehouse etc, when it comes to a 'Ready to play' service. This is not a comment on post knocking-in services.

I also do not trust facesheets. If a bat comes with one, I take it off and oil it. Its the proper way in my eyes. Facesheets should be applied after knocking in, not before.

Oh and did I mention I am a bit 'bat OCD'?

[smilley792]

I thought my red ink was soft! It's no where near as dented as that gm!

I used my six6. It was hard. Knocked it in to try to open it up. And I wasn't even making a mark on it.
Maybe your lucky/unlucky dependant on your views.

As for rounded edges? Who says they should be rounded? I'm not in for the overly rounded look. Especially on flat faced bats.

I've seen the finch new balance in b3. That is St the end of its life. Yet the edges are still very very square.
and I team mate has had a ca 10000 all year. Scored 600 runs with it.  Edges are still square.  Yet there is no damage to the bat.

[WalkingWicket37]

I thought my red ink was soft! It's no where near as dented as that gm!

I used my six6. It was hard. Knocked it in to try to open it up. And I wasn't even making a mark on it.
Maybe your lucky/unlucky dependant on your views.

As for rounded edges? Who says they should be rounded? I'm not in for the overly rounded look. Especially on flat faced bats.

I've seen the finch new balance in b3. That is St the end of its life. Yet the edges are still very very square.
and I team mate has had a ca 10000 all year. Scored 600 runs with it.  Edges are still square.  Yet there is no damage to the bat.

Its a strange one this, the more I've knocked it the better the response when I tap up a ball on it. However it doesn't "feel soft" when you hit a ball if that makes sense. (Basically more knocking needed!)

As for rounding the edges, I guess that's down to personal preference. To me square edges look like the bat hasn't been prepared (and the edge is the part I use to hit the majority of my shots, so it's best I prepare them than risk a ball damaging them haha)

[mp07]

There is no such thing as "Ready to play" bat, its just marketing... even after giving my bat for knocking in service I prefer to knock them for at least 30 min.

[Kulli]

I tried knocking in my new B3 butterfly and couldn't make a dent in it. Goes very well, but didn't feel like much point in knocking it in. Just had a few nets with old balls before using it against newer ones.

[Vitas Cricket]

The scuff sheet is dented i would suggest, not the bat.

[WalkingWicket37]

The scuff sheet is dented i would suggest, not the bat.

I can safely say the bat has dented, not just the scuff sheet.
I'm temped to take it off to get a picture, but that seems pretty pointless as it's virtually brand new and fits fine haha

[Vitas Cricket]

I can safely say the bat has dented, not just the scuff sheet.
I'm temped to take it off to get a picture, but that seems pretty pointless as it's virtually brand new and fits fine haha

Better roll your sleeves up and level out the dents then

[joeljonno]

There is no such thing as "Ready to play" bat, its just marketing... even after giving my bat for knocking in service I prefer to knock them for at least 30 min.

Every bat is ready to play. All depends on what you want to do with it and how long you want it to last.

Personally, my bats get. Scuff sheet and a bit of banging the toe on concrete the go and use it.

[WalkingWicket37]

Better roll your sleeves up and level out the dents then

That's the plan mate, glad I've got until next season to get it ready, leaves me a few months to annoy the family and neighbours haha

[WalkingWicket37]

Every bat is ready to play. All depends on what you want to do with it and how long you want it to last.

Personally, my bats get. Scuff sheet and a bit of banging the toe on concrete the go and use it.

Is this a shortcut to knocking the toe in?? 

[Pitbull]

I've got the Icon F2 which is the flatter faced profile and I didn't bother rounding the edges, they've not cracked all season and believe me they get hit a lot! Just the plastic facing that's ripped a bit.

With regards to knocking it in I wish I'd spent more time on it as it hadn't really started to feel good until the 2nd half of the season, but as people have said just depends how long you want it to last for.

[WalkingWicket37]

How much knocking in did you give it Pitbull??

[joeljonno]

Is this a shortcut to knocking the toe in?? 

Err, yeah.