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[ibrartariq]

Hi forum members
i have been searching the forum for a post specifically on playing in part and tell tale signs when the bat is ready to be used in game.
I had 2 of my bats machine knocked, edges etc were properly rounded too.
Had an hour long bowling machine session using bola balls and at around 60mph all fromt foot.
Then i had one seasion hit with each in nets against 4 pc used balls.
They both ping pretty well but i dont know how to tell if they are or they will be ready to be used against new ball.
Any tell tale signs on this? Or the tests i can do yo tel if they need more prep. They had 15000 knocks each wirh machine.

[velvetsky01]

Usually when you don't see seam marks on the bat anymore - is the biggest one.  If you see deep ones then more knocking is requried But from the sound of it it you have done everything right and it should be ready. Also will start to feel different when you are hitting the ball too.

[ibrartariq]

Usually when you don't see seam marks on the bat anymore - is the biggest one.  If you see deep ones then more knocking is requried But from the sound of it it you have done everything right and it should be ready. Also will start to feel different when you are hitting the ball too.

Cheers
So we are talking about seam marks even when antiscuff sheet is applied?

[Mfarank]

Bit overkill to be fair. How i check my bats is i tell me teammate to give me some full toss throwdowns and slog it as hard as i can. Then check for deep seam marks. If i dont see any its ready for match use.

[mo_town]

Bit overkill to be fair. How i check my bats is i tell me teammate to give me some full toss throwdowns and slog it as hard as i can. Then check for deep seam marks. If i dont see any its ready for match use.

How is that different to what others have suggested?  .. knock and check for seam marks.

[Mfarank]

How is that different to what others have suggested?  .. knock and check for seam marks.

Everyone has their own way. Where i play most cricket is t20. So thats my way of checking its readiness. High catches practice or slog throwdowns. The feel in the hands, the sound, the connection of bat and ball, it lets me know that i can take this into a match and not be worried of not clearing the boundary

[Mfarank]

How is that different to what others have suggested?  .. knock and check for seam marks.

Thing about knocking and checking for seam marks is, u might stop getting seam marks but that still doesnt mean the bat is ready. U still gotta play it in. Best way to do that is throwdowns and catching practice. Then slog a few. Then slog a couple with the new ball. U will know when its ready

[six and out]

I also believe with this you have to consider where you bat.

By this i mean, i am an opener so i know that whenever i go out to bat, my bat will be hitting a rock hard new ball with a pronounced seam etc...

If you ball down the order or are even a bowler, then you aren't likely to be hitting a new ball, the ball with be softer and seam flatter, so you can get away with a bit more.

[Chalkie]

This is a useful thread

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=32421.0

[ibrartariq]

I also believe with this you have to consider where you bat.

By this i mean, i am an opener so i know that whenever i go out to bat, my bat will be hitting a rock hard new ball with a pronounced seam etc...

If you ball down the order or are even a bowler, then you aren't likely to be hitting a new ball, the ball with be softer and seam flatter, so you can get away with a bit more.

I am an opener. When i did nets, it was with old balls but our quickies are fairly quick. And couple of balls deflected of the edge too but there appears to be no indentations or vinrations from handle either.

This is a useful thread

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=32421.0

I read it, although it has extensive guide on knocking in process but it hardly touched the post knock in play in stage.

[edge]

I knock it in until I'm bored, then scuff it and net against old balls. If that's fine then go a bit harder against whatever the bowlers have turned up with, then it's ready. I reckon I'm more cautious than most!

[Mattsky]

Don't confuse a bat being match ready for a bat that's at its peak. As has been said on here a few times, and as I understand it, a bat is match ready when no new mallet marks appear when knocking in, or new seam marks appear from netting. This indicates that the surface of the wood has been compressed enough to withstand impact during a match. From there, with more use, the surface will 'open up' as it begins to delaminate, but in doing so, the bat will reach its peak performance as the surface regains more spring due to the delamination.

[Cholrudee]

Most bats these days are already knocked in and ready to play so no need to worry.

[jayralh]

Most bats these days are already knocked in and ready to play so no need to worry.

I doubt that. I have few bats mix of Indian and UK made and none of them was pre knocked

[SLA]

I spend the best part of, oh, 10 minutes knocking my bats in. It makes the toddler cry and drives my missus up the wall, its easily worth the £20 to get the manufacturer to knock it in and stick a scuff sheet on it. I use it to give catching practice to our junior team to knock it in further.

I actually quite enjoy nets where my main focus is on not breaking my bat rather than worrying about my technique. Defensive pushes only, leave any Yorkers.

We're amateur cricketers, a bat is "match-ready" when you feel confident you can play an attacking shot without breaking it. However it might take an additional 2-3 months to really open up and start pinging nicely.