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[moonball]

Had a knock up with a brand new GM Mana 808 last night (acquired for a bargain price... did me or my lad need another bat - of course we didn't). Very nice indeed, very responsive I have to say, felt good. Despite being "ready play", I did some knocking in prior to giving my lad some throw downs with it last night after junior nets... as I say, very responsive. We have two games this weekend and a T20 on Tuesday, if he doesn't use it, I will. If as some have said, it opens up after half a season, then I think I have bagged a real winner for little money.

One pet hate - knocking in a bat that already has a scuff sheet on it.... wrecks the scuff sheet on the edges, edge tape needed to cover the 'damage'. But I guess GM aren't expecting folks to knock-in these pre-prepared bats...

[OwzatOllie]

I knock bats in until I can't dent the face with a decent strike with a mallet

[OwzatOllie]

Had a knock up with a brand new GM Mana 808 last night (acquired for a bargain price... did me or my lad need another bat - of course we didn't). Very nice indeed, very responsive I have to say, felt good. Despite being "ready play", I did some knocking in prior to giving my lad some throw downs with it last night after junior nets... as I say, very responsive. We have two games this weekend and a T20 on Tuesday, if he doesn't use it, I will. If as some have said, it opens up after half a season, then I think I have bagged a real winner for little money.

One pet hate - knocking in a bat that already has a scuff sheet on it.... wrecks the scuff sheet on the edges, edge tape needed to cover the 'damage'. But I guess GM aren't expecting folks to knock-in these pre-prepared bats...

Me too, I prefer to oil the face myself.

THankfully a hairdryer is quite good for helping to fix the scuff sheet on the edges with all those air bubbles that you get from knocking it in properly...

[Jlscarroll17]

I always pay to have the bat knocked in so I don't have the issue of having to fart on myself

[Over Gully]

I was surprised when doing a refurb on mine and taking off the scuff sheet at how many seam marks were on the face of the bat. No surface cracking or anything like that to worry about. The scuff obviously prevents these to a certain extent, and being an opening bat exposure to the new ball is something I deal with every time I go out in the middle. I just base it on feel, unless you get some severe damage after some throwdowns with old balls it should be fine. Just the edges and the toe are the most important areas by far.

[Cow_corner]

We had a club kit bag H4L Hattori, knocked in by an online/physical retailer and it came with free face cracks.

[tom line]

We had a club kit bag H4L Hattori, knocked in by an online/physical retailer and it came with free face cracks.

If they were going vertically down the grain that's nothing to worry about and not too out of the ordinary either just the grains opening up

[iand123]

Would be interesting to get the feedback from @hell4leather cricket as they have the machine that does this. Does the machine work for a set amount of time or strikes?

[Cow_corner]

If they were going vertically down the grain that's nothing to worry about and not too out of the ordinary either just the grains opening up

Wasn't done by H4L but had some horizontal face cracks, won't name them, but safe to say money goes elsewhere next time.

[WalkingWicket37]

Wasn't done by H4L but had some horizontal face cracks, won't name them, but safe to say money goes elsewhere next time.

Surely it would be better to name them, so other people know not to spend their hard earned cash on a bat damaging knocking in service.
I can't think of much worse when buying a new bat than to go through the process of selecting it, paying an "expert" to prepare it for you, only to find they've damaged it

[Cow_corner]

That just wouldn't be cricket, if you get my drift.

[Churchy1989]

Do H4L use the machine for bats which are not made in the factory? I.e. My vs bat?

[Cow_corner]

These H4L and the Kook I'm refurbing were from a retailer mentioning the sport in their trading name.

[WalkingWicket37]

These H4L and the Kook I'm refurbing were from a retailer mentioning the sport in their trading name.

It's Just too hard to work out with all these cryptic clues...

[Churchy1989]

It's Just too hard to work out with all these cryptic clues...

Vitas cricket?

Only have good reviews for them.