Print

[uknsaunders]

Apart from smacking it with a mallet for hours and some bowling machine nets does anybody have an useful tips for getting your bat from knocked in to match ready?

[procricket]

I'm extreme i use em out of packet but hat i also do is I have a spare mattress and my
Garage I welly balls at my
Mattress bit extreme but i find it works

[vishwas]

I generally take a medium used ball and keep on tapping the ball walking through the house.. :-) annoying for others but has worked for me to get the bat match ready fast.

[InternalTraining]

Anyone ever tried a hammer? There is a pic of Sehwag holding a hammer against his bat. He is renowned for high performance bats.

[uknsaunders]

I find it can take half to one season to really see the performance. My beloved Icon was a slow burner, was ok to start with but after a season it went like a train. I'd rather not take the dicing with death approach of using them at nets and letting a SD special wreck them.

[procricket]

I use the tap edge and toe 20 minutes

Bowling machine but only for 3-5 sessions (I have my suspicions about machines after a certain usage as lots
Of delaminated bats come back with marks on from them)

And like the other bloke says knock old balls on.

The ready press has aliviated many things and make it more stable in the face to play quicker which has helped in my opinion

[procricket]

Hammer yes done it and also knobs on banisters on stairs they delaminate the bat because it a instant hit (pressure) and no build up

[ppccopener]

No sensible suggestions from me i'm afraid, these days I don't hit the middle enough so just knock in the edges and toe, and a bit near the splice as I seem to get a few there 

just as a slight aside..A very good friend of mine in my team has told me many times to knock bats in for 2 years before using them.At first I thought he was joking but no...totally serious

apart from him, who on earth would do that?
 

[InternalTraining]

Bowling machine but only for 3-5 sessions (I have my suspicions about machines after a certain usage as lots
Of delaminated bats come back with marks on from them

You know, I don't put new bats to Bola either -  think the balls are too hard for a new bat. There was disagreement in the forum on this point when I said that many moons ago.  I still feel that bola are bad for new bats.

 Your point about gradual pressure makes sense.

[uknsaunders]

You know, I don't put new bats to Bola either -  think the balls are too hard for a new bat. There was disagreement in the forum on this point when I said that many moons ago.  I still feel that bola are bad for new bats.

 Your point about gradual pressure makes sense.

I will always knock mine in first before using a bola. I see it as stepping stones. After a bola onto a soft ball in nets and then matches. Getting bowlers to buy into using soft isn't easy though. The other option is a spin net or find a local team with a set of friendly trundlers who will let you net.

[Cin88]

After oiling and other such prep work, give it a whack with a mallet for an hour or so, make sure the edges are ready then straight into use. The only issue I tend to face is getting the faster bowlers to use old balls for a session or two.

[Number4]

Apart from the usual mallet I always do the old roll the edges on the bath

[WalkingWicket37]

Anyone ever tried a hammer? There is a pic of Sehwag holding a hammer against his bat. He is renowned for high performance bats.

I think in Sehwags case the bloke on the end of the bat is equally as important as the performance of the bat.

There is a phenomenon where a lesser batsman lends a plank of a bat to a more able player and the performance miraculously improves 

[jd163]

After oiling and other such prep work, give it a whack with a mallet for an hour or so, make sure the edges are ready then straight into use. The only issue I tend to face is getting the faster bowlers to use old balls for a session or two.

Same here mate 

[dougydee]

Apart from smacking it with a mallet for hours and some bowling machine nets does anybody have an useful tips for getting your bat from knocked in to match ready?

I've always felt there is a difference between a bat being knocked in and ready to use and a bat actually being match ready and "played in". My only tips are having a bat on the go (doesn't seem to be a problem on this forum) to use during nets. Having a new bat or 2 during the off season (again should be no issue to this forum) to use during preseason helps too. Throw downs have never been an issue at my club so getting a couple of 20 minute throw down sessions a week certainly helps with the process of getting a new bat match ready.