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[HellomynameisJ]

Just wanted to get a few thoughts,  I wanted to get a GM but was sceptical as I'd never liked the feel of them In years, but I took the dive and decided to get a Mana 404 to see what the new models are like without spending much, . It arrived today and I was pleasantly surprised, 16 grains, all be it inconsistant but for $105 aud delivered I was very pleased. Until I started doing good some light knocking in (5 minutes)  as I don't buy into the GM now promise. What do you guys make of these cracks?








I've never had a bat do this before, if it didn't have a scuff sheet that was under the stickers, I would remove it and sand the cracks back in hope they were superficial. Such a shame considering I think I got lucky with a 404 with 16 grains that weighs 2.8. Anybody have experience with this sort of damage?

[skip1973]

I would be getting sleeve off, sanding it, oiling and start again. Redwood is quite brittle, how hard did you hit it?

[HellomynameisJ]

Yeah I'm thinking I may have to cut the sleeve off around the stickers. I wouldn't consider the force I hit it with to be excessive at all. I've knocked in lots of bats for myself and others, and never have I seen this, especially in a "knocked in ready to go" bat haha. Such a shame GM make it near impossible to do simple repair jobs without destroying all the stickers.

[Cow_corner]

You could use a straight edge and a craft knife to cut the scuff sheet below the 404 sticker, transfer the GM now sticker to a new sheet. A team mate has my old 909 Sigma from last season only had edge work done, and no damage outside of normal marks etc.

[aussie.kooky]

I have a GM Octane 808 that was two thirds heartwood and it cracked almost instantly in the same way as yours has. I do not think it is a grade issue but more an issue of the willow being a natural product with every cleft having different features both positive and at times negative.... Somewhat a luck of the draw particularly with off the shelf companies. I hope it works out for you as I have acquired two Mana bats recently and they seem to be belters and a lovely shape for a T20 style bat.

[HellomynameisJ]

I've removed the scuff sheet, sanded and glued, Fingers crossed. The main crack looks a bit deeper than I'm comfortable with but hopefully it works out. Cracks aside, for a 404 it looks and pings beautifully. I'm not at all upset at GM, stuff happens. Worst case scenario I have a new net bat. I am really impressed with the Mana shape though, I'm certainly considering buying an 808 or 909 for two day games.

[Neon Cricket]

I find this quite strange, I've recently acquired a 909 Mana and I'm struggling to put any sort of indentation into it at all! I've been using the GN Deluxe mallet and even at it's hardest it's barely leaving a mark. The bat pings beautifully so it's not a case of being over pressed either.

[wiki]

I bought a GM Mogul 808 last year and happened the same when I faced the first ball with it. I immediately stopped playing with it and tried to knock it in more, guess what, more cracks appeared while I was knocking it. The bat lies unused in my kit bag now.

[WalkingWicket37]

Those definitely look like compression cracks to me.

A little late for this advice maybe, (and as it came with a scuff sheet probably not all that helpful) but...
I've always found heartwood to be a lot more brittle than sapwood. As such I will go generous with the oil on the face & edges (the area that will be knocked), and leave it longer than normal. A sapwood bat will absorb the oil a lot more quickly, while it sits on the surface of a heartwood blade.

Once I've given it two generous coats of oil (to slightly soften the heartwood) and they've soaked in, I start the knocking in process. Because of the brittle nature of heartwood I go a lot more gently to begin with to try and avoid cracking the bat during the preparation process.

[norman1979]

Wow. Thats terrible from GM

[Neon Cricket]

Wow. Thats terrible from GM

I'm confused, how is this terrible from GM?

[WalkingWicket37]

Wow. Thats terrible from GM

Well it's not really is it...
Willow is a natural product and heartwood is naturally brittle. This is an unfortunate case, but it is by no means the manufacturers fault in my opinion.

[Vitas Cricket]

I would only deem it 'terrible' if GM had been made aware of this and then refused any kind of help in terms of repair/replacement. It seems the retailer/brand have not been contacted so haven't been given a chance to rectify before photos are slapped online. (i note the op has said they aren't upset with GM, but someone casually reading through the topic may not pick up on that)

[HellomynameisJ]

Not upset with GM one bit, things like this happen. Retailer has been contacted and thus far have been helpful.

This post was more about if anyone has seen the same thing and how they dealt with it in the hopes that I didn't have to send the bat back to the other side of the world haha.

 I don't see what more GM could have done, they prepared the bat as they would every other bat that goes through the factory. Just seems like it was my turn of bad luck, it certainly hasn't turned me off their products.

[Vitas Cricket]

Not upset with GM one bit, things like this happen. Retailer has been contacted and thus far have been helpful.

This post was more about if anyone has seen the same thing and how they dealt with it in the hopes that I didn't have to send the bat back to the other side of the world haha.

 I don't see what more GM could have done, they prepared the bat as they would every other bat that goes through the factory. Just seems like it was my turn of bad luck, it certainly hasn't turned me off their products.

Good to hear. I've seen this sort of damage before, but usually on a used bat. Very occasionally i've seen it caused on a new bat, but usually through using the bat against extremely hard and cheap balls. As you've just tapped it a few times with a mallet, it seems like you've had a bit of bad luck. I'm sure the retailer and GM will sort something out for you.