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[Seniorplayer]

i would dump scuff sheets if someone can show me how to maintain the bat without using bat tape on the face of the bat. any pics of your well used bats would help.

Once  As an experiment After applying linseed oil i applied two  light coats of Ronseal clear vanish to seal  the bat face this hardened the face and gave  it a shine without IMO affecting the  performance  of the blade it also made the face easy to clean then used the bat for a season without any problems.

[tim2000s]

Once  As an experiment After applying linseed oil i applied two  light coats of Ronseal clear vanish to seal  the bat face this hardened the face and gave  it a shine without IMO affecting the  performance  of the blade it also made the face easy to clean then used the bat for a season without any problems.

In the old days,  that was called 'Polyarmour'  [emoji3]

[Boondougal]

This whole topic on scuff sheets effecting performance really confuse's me. It's a really simple thing to get data on in controlled conditions. Surely a big brand like GM would have done some work to test this out. If it's not being pushed from a marketing perspective as a positive thing for the club cricketer. E.g factory fitted scuff sheets, all the performance all season long etc etc... Then I doubt the results are positive.

It would actually be a good sports science project... Contact Loughborough university and ask them if it would make a good project for a student. If it's not been done I bet it would actually make a decent dissertation.

[Boondougal]

Plus... Professionals operate at really fine margins of excellence. The difference a scuff sheet might make could effect those margins... Maybe. For the average club cricketer any difference, perceivable or not will be negligible relative to overall performance and no different than picking up a new or different bat.

I don't use them, just don't want to as I like to see the natural life of the wood. My instinct is if you feel that they impact performance then just that thought alone will be enough for you to be off your game if you were to use one.
So the best bet is to not. If the thought of your pride and joy getting damaged puts you off slashing outside off stump then get a scuff sheet on and swing like that baby is invincible!!!

Either way... It's all in the mind

[WalkingWicket37]

I honestly don't think the performance is in any way effected, but I'll claim it next time I'm caught on the boundary! 

I will go throught 2 or 3 scuff sheets a season, one through winter nets, a fresh one for the first game and then I might change it mid season if the sheet is marked too much for my liking.
I like a clean looking bat and I like a scuff sheet to help prolong the life. It's easier to rub marks off a scuff with white spirit than to sand a bat every weekend in my opinion.

[Vitas Cricket]

This whole topic on scuff sheets effecting performance really confuse's me. It's a really simple thing to get data on in controlled conditions. Surely a big brand like GM would have done some work to test this out. If it's not being pushed from a marketing perspective as a positive thing for the club cricketer. E.g factory fitted scuff sheets, all the performance all season long etc etc... Then I doubt the results are positive.

It would actually be a good sports science project... Contact Loughborough university and ask them if it would make a good project for a student. If it's not been done I bet it would actually make a decent dissertation.

The industry looks at it in the opposite way. Ie there is clear evidence to show that a scuff sheet prolongs the life of a bat dramatically. And a modern scuff sheet will have almost no impact on performance, if any at all. Older styles of scuff sheet may have dampened performance but in my opinion modern ones don't. Some people claim certain types of sheet actually enhance performance but that's total BS if you ask me. 

A good guide from Ginger. Not sure the triple mallet system is necessary. I use a lignum mallet and just increase the force used as i progress on the bat. It took time to alter my technique but i would never go back to a normal mallet now.

[Boondougal]

Yep personally I think I agree with you but reading back my post it feels a little more negative to brands. After all cricket retailers probably get way more hassle from cracks and natural damage than they do regarding "performance" so a scuff sheet is sensible.

Back on topic I realised I forget to say the guide was spot on... And I followed it recently pretty closely on a recent purchase.

I don't have all the mallets but the guide was a great reference.

Really appreciate it when people share real life practical skills.

[Vitas Cricket]

Yep personally I think I agree with you but reading back my post it feels a little more negative to brands. After all cricket retailers probably get way more hassle from cracks and natural damage than they do regarding "performance" so a scuff sheet is sensible.

Back on topic I realised I forget to say the guide was spot on... And I followed it recently pretty closely on a recent purchase.

I don't have all the mallets but the guide was a great reference.

Really appreciate it when people share real life practical skills.

The number of parents who come to me with a bat that has sustained a small surface crack that they find 'unacceptable' as the bat is 'only a few weeks old' is frustrating. Especially as they demand a replacement, despite me offering a free repair myself or the option to send to the manufacturer for a repair - no chance of them saying 'oh this bat is stuffed we will replace it.'

If a hockey stick or a tennis racket etc sustains damage early in its life then yes it should probably be replaced. A cricket bat is made of wood, it was once alive and growing out of the ground. During normal use It will naturally sustain minor damage. A scuff sheet is the best way to reduce the risk.

[WalkingWicket37]

The number of parents who come to me with a bat that has sustained a small surface crack that they find 'unacceptable' as the bat is 'only a few weeks old' is frustrating. Especially as they demand a replacement, despite me offering a free repair myself or the option to send to the manufacturer for a repair - no chance of them saying 'oh this bat is stuffed we will replace it.'

If a hockey stick or a tennis racket etc sustains damage early in its life then yes it should probably be replaced. A cricket bat is made of wood, it was once alive and growing out of the ground. During normal use It will naturally sustain minor damage. A scuff sheet is the best way to reduce the risk.

Did a mid season refurb on a spartan for a teammate last season.
One of the grains had "opened up" perfectly, and there were a couple of small surface cracks under the scuff sheet.

As it was "broken" he borrowed a bat of mine and left it with me.
I repaired it, but as the crack was still visible (if you knew it was there, at a glance you couldn't tell) it was to his mind still broken.
Because of this he took it back to the shop he'd bought it from who had a look and said "it's a bit of wood, they do that, it's fine"

[Seniorplayer]

The number of parents who come to me with a bat that has sustained a small surface crack that they find 'unacceptable' as the bat is 'only a few weeks old' is frustrating. Especially as they demand a replacement, despite me offering a free repair myself or the option to send to the manufacturer for a repair - no chance of them saying 'oh this bat is stuffed we will replace it.'

If a hockey stick or a tennis racket etc sustains damage early in its life then yes it should probably be replaced. A cricket bat is made of wood, it was once alive and growing out of the ground. During normal use It will naturally sustain minor damage. A scuff sheet is the best way to reduce the risk.

with regard to bats cracking
The general bat buying public have a lack of understanding regarding the natural process of quality willow.

[Chad]

with regard to bats cracking
The general bat buying public have a lack of understanding regarding the natural process of quality willow.

When my Kook Genesis had a crack on its edge, thanks to someone hitting out catches and top edging one, I brought it back to the shop and asked for a return. They just told me that it was completely superficial, and that cracks will happen from time to time. (Was quite a deep one) Now that I look back to it, I must have looked like a right plonker, but didn't try to argue and just took what they said. (Made sense to my limited brain then, if you hit a hard ball with a bit of wood, it's eventually going to crack a bit)

[brokenbat]

More than compromising ping, I think the bigger issue with scuff sheets is the extra weight. I took one off the other day, and noticed much better pickup without it!

[skip1973]

Yeah that's right, they weigh a ton and reduce ping, that's why all the test guys use them.

[Gingerbusiness]

Yeah that's right, they weigh a ton and reduce ping, that's why all the test guys use them.

Sarcastic much!? Lol!

[Andythomo21]

If you always remove the scuff sheets before preparation and knocking in, why did you order them from John with scuff sheets on Ginger?