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[Calzehbhoy]

Noticed a lot of the England guys bats appear to be 50/50 heart and sapwood, do you reckon there is a reason for this? Better performance or just by chance?

[runeshrenik]

A lot of it is just theoretical. Heartwood is the oldest part of the tree, therefore is dryer. Theoretically this means that it will be harder. Heartwood is formed from the dead cells of what was sapwood to maintain structural rigidity in the tree.

Many batsmen prefer to have heartwood as they believe it prevents cracks on the edges so the bat may last longer. No one is 100% certain how much of a difference it really makes. The only thing I can say is that rarely people will use a bat which is 100% heartwood as it is less likely to perform as sapwood.

I am not a professional, this is just my understanding so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong. We are all here to learn and pass on our knowledge!

[WalkingWicket37]

A lot of it is just theoretical. Heartwood is the oldest part of the tree, therefore is dryer. Theoretically this means that it will be harder. Heartwood is formed from the dead cells of what was sapwood to maintain structural rigidity in the tree.

Many batsmen prefer to have heartwood as they believe it prevents cracks on the edges so the bat may last longer. No one is 100% certain how much of a difference it really makes. The only thing I can say is that rarely people will use a bat which is 100% heartwood as it is less likely to perform as sapwood.

I am not a professional, this is just my understanding so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong. We are all here to learn and pass on our knowledge!

I had an Octane that was all heartwood and it went just as well as any sapwood bat I've ever used.

I've spoken to @smilley792 about sapwood vs heartwood bats too and I believe he had a bat that was mostly heartwood

[runeshrenik]

I had an Octane that was all heartwood and it went just as well as any sapwood bat I've ever used.

I've spoken to @smilley792 about sapwood vs heartwood bats too and I believe he had a bat that was mostly heartwood

I stand corrected! But I understand that there is a difference in the time it takes for the bat to play itself in?

[smilley792]

I stand corrected! But I understand that there is a difference in the time it takes for the bat to play itself in?

I rarely knock my bats in, the ones that have been all to majority heartwood have gone from the off.

[WalkingWicket37]

I wouldn't know to be honest with you, I got it second hand and just used it.

It did seem to crack a bit more than a sapwood bat but that might just be because I used the edges too often.

The biggest difference I noticed was the sound when you hit the ball

[ppccopener]

Heartwood bats tend .to have a lot of grains but I've found they tend to 'crack' where as a white willow bat is more likely to 'dent'
I do think heartwood bats go better from the off thou in my experience.
As for the pros, I guess it's down to personal preference. I heard trescothick say his first rule picking a bat is its all white wood,no red.

[Buzz]

Always nice to know you have something like this in the kit bag...

[Northern monkey]

Oh my word!
I'd have that

In fact that deserves a thread of its own

[Six Sixes Cricket]

26 grains of pure heartwood

[sanredrose]

@d7bow - Very nice bat !!!

[sarg]

The heartwood is naturally stiffer due to less moisture as @runeshrenik correctly described. Just like @smilley792 pointed it will perform early due to the stiffness. It also cracks as the moisture holds the fibre together. Pro's need bats to play in early and are less likely to be concerned with cracking as they get them replaced and have spares in the kit. They can afford to treat them like a rent-a-car as top tier players never purchased them and therefore don't need to worry about maintaining them.

For a amateur you need to carefully oil and accept that the heartwood will probably not last as long as sapwood. I had a 3/4 Aussie BOSS Menace and used it one game it went well from first ball and edges flew off the stiffer heartwood and nearly cleared the boundary. My main scoring shot that day 😬

Sapwood will take take longer to reach its peak and perform the same if not better once played in.

I personally hate knocking heartwood on other people's bats as it is brittle. I oil it a bit more and have to take it easy when knocking it. Sapwood is supple once oiled correctly and does not crack as easy. @d7bow's B3 would have required almost  no prep due to the B3 stiffer press. I note it is well oiled.

[Six Sixes Cricket]

Yes I gave the old girl a mini refurb and two coats of oil, now looks like David Dickinson!!

[The Cricket Boutique]

Here is one from my supply!

[Sivlar13]

One from my collection.