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[Sloggerz]

Sure, it's a grade 2 bat which I knocked it in for about an hour using an LV mallet, mainly edges and toe. Then it probably had around 8 hours net time, some machine, some net practices and about 200 runs scored in matches.  It was purchased at the same time as a G1, which pinged slightly better, however the G2 has improved beyond that and I've just started the same process now on the G1. I'm hopeful that will improve in the same manor and I'll try post a review of them soon.

Did you knock the edges in over the scuff as keeley bats come with the scuffsheet already applied. Keeley do say their bats are ready to play and are tripple pressed. Just curious to see how people prepare their keeleys. They seem well pressed straight out of the packet.

[SurreySam]

I visited the workshop to get my bats, so declined them putting on their scuff sheets, as I'm not keen on the hard hammer edge type stuff. That enabled me to then apply a linseed based wood balsam to the bat/face a few times, then start the knocking in.  I like the pressing on all 3 of my Keeley's, they do seem consistant from that very small sample size.

[LEACHY48]

Did you knock the edges in over the scuff as keeley bats come with the scuffsheet already applied. Keeley do say their bats are ready to play and are tripple pressed. Just curious to see how people prepare their keeleys. They seem well pressed straight out of the packet.

No bat in the world is ready to play off a press. Triple pressing is also just marketing guff, it just means it's pressed as a raw cleft, then once partially shaped, then again when nearly finished. Means literally nothing.

[SurreySam]

Triple pressing is also just marketing guff, it just means it's pressed as a raw cleft, then once partially shaped, then again when nearly finished. Means literally nothing.

Considering your industry infancy, that reads a little damning of a master craftsman. You've had a press maybe 12 months now?

[LEACHY48]

Considering your industry infancy, that reads a little damning of a master craftsman. You've had a press maybe 12 months now?

At no stage did I question Tim's ability, nor his expertise, I just stated a fact. You can believe it, or not, that's your call. I'm not sure how the length of time I've owned a press (coming up to 3 years but...close enough I guess) comes into it, other than in a poor attempt to belittle me because I said something that goes against your misconceptions?

Also, since we are on the topic of ad hominem fallacies, how many bats have you pressed that would qualify you to comment on my abilities or even know the difference between a bat pressed solely as a raw cleft Vs Tim's method?

[Jimbo]

Have to say, I don't think Leachy is exactly out of line on this.

Wouldn't question the quality of Keeley pressing for a second, nor their batmaking, but that doesn't mean they're immune to a bit of marketing-speak.

Nothing wrong with it by any means, but if what they're doing with their pressing is industry standard (beyond my technical knowledge) then it's all a bit Mad Men.

[alba caerulea]

No bat in the world is ready to play off a press. Triple pressing is also just marketing guff, it just means it's pressed as a raw cleft, then once partially shaped, then again when nearly finished. Means literally nothing.

It sounds like its exactly as described then.

I will add that Ive had 8 or 9 Keeleys from new and all have been brilliant straight out of the box. Whether you believe it to be marketing guff or otherwise - their pressing is brilliant.

Not yet tried a Reaper

[alba caerulea]

If we're being honest 90% of all brands bat descriptions are marketing talk.

[LEACHY48]

It sounds like its exactly as described then.

I will add that Ive had 8 or 9 Keeleys from new and all have been brilliant straight out of the box. Whether you believe it to be marketing guff or otherwise - their pressing is brilliant.

Not yet tried a 'Reaper'

As Ive said, I never questioned Tim's ability not the quality of his bats. Clearly you don't get to where he is now by making duds.

It is technically as described, yes, but it has no effect on making a better bat, what does make his bats good is the fact he's garnered years of experience and is one of the best in the industry. Not the fact he presses it at three different stages.

I enjoy the use of quotation marks here to essentially suggest I make crap bats despite openly admitting to not using one. Haha

[Kulli]

No bat in the world is ready to play off a press. Triple pressing is also just marketing guff, it just means it's pressed as a raw cleft, then once partially shaped, then again when nearly finished. Means literally nothing.

While you probably could have worded this a little less confrontationally, it's a bit odd that anyone is jumping on this comment. It's basically helping inform members on what actually happens behind the description you see on the website, and in no way criticising the actual pressing, just the way it's advertised as something special.

[LEACHY48]

While you probably could have worded this a little less confrontationally, it's a bit odd that anyone is jumping on this comment. It's basically helping inform members on what actually happens behind the description you see on the website, and in no way criticising the actual pressing, just the way it's advertised as something special.

Yep, I'm finding it very odd too. Have no idea why everyone is feeling the need to essentially suggest I make crappy bats (despite openly admitting to not using one) because I told them the truth.

Agreed that maybe I could have worded it better, but to be honest, I wasn't expecting a band of TK warriors to pick it apart. Lol

But, my intention was exactly as you said in your post, that's why I lead with, no bat in the world is ready to go straight off the press. 

[alba caerulea]

As Ive said, I never questioned Tim's ability not the quality of his bats. Clearly you don't get to where he is now by making duds.

It is technically as described, yes, but it has no effect on making a better bat, what does make his bats good is the fact he's garnered years of experience and is one of the best in the industry. Not the fact he presses it at three different stages.

I enjoy the use of quotation marks here to essentially suggest I make crap bats despite openly admitting to not using one. Haha

I dare say if it had no effect on making better bats then Tim probably wouldn't waste his time doing it.

I see pressing as a strength of the keeley brand so certainly worth a mention in their bat descriptions.

I could find plenty of completely irrelevant and/or generic bat descriptions which would rightly be labelled as guff.

And I think you are being a little sensitive with your last sentence there. I will remove the quotation marks now

[Yorkershire]

Almost everyone says the pressing is the key.

So what is the difference in pressing between batmakers especially those with consistent bats and others...

Seen a video by Chad where even Rob Pack says he triple presses as that is what he was taught by Bernie Facer. Ps don't think uses the term triple press but definitely mentions pressing again.

On the flip side I've heard a batmaker say something along the lines of just press the bat right no need for triple pressing.

I'm sure GM do something similar, they had 2 presses on the tour and am sure bats passed through both...

[LEACHY48]

I dare say if it had no effect on making better bats then Tim probably wouldn't waste his time doing it.

I see pressing as a strength of the keeley brand so certainly worth a mention in their bat descriptions.

I could find plenty of completely irrelevant and/or generic bat descriptions which would rightly be labelled as guff.

And I think you are being a little sensitive with your last sentence there. I will remove the quotation marks now

As I said to @SurreySam you can believe me, or not, but unfortunately it is a fact that pressing in three different stages won't make the bat better.

Think about it logically for a second...all pressing is, is compressing the fibres of the bat, do you really think the fibres react differently when some have been removed to make the cleft look like a bat?

Pressing is a strength of Tim's, correct, but it's not the fact that he presses it three different times. It could be the fact that he owns 2 different presses that perform different functions for example, or as I've said before, the fact that he's been doing this getting on 40 years.

Perhaps I was being a little sensitive, apologies.

[LEACHY48]

Almost everyone says the pressing is the key.

So what is the difference in pressing between batmakers especially those with consistent bats and others...

Seen a video by Chad where even Rob Pack says he triple presses as that is what he was taught by Bernie Facer. Ps don't think uses the term triple press but definitely mentions pressing again.

On the flip side I've heard a batmaker say something along the lines of just press the bat right no need for triple pressing.

I'm sure GM do something similar, they had 2 presses on the tour and am sure bats passed through both...

The difference between those that make consistently good bats, and those that don't? Generally the numbers they produce. GM for example are one of the oldest established brands with one of the most experienced batmakers out there (Gav) but they also make some of the worst performing bats straight out the packet, along with some of the best I've seen as well...why? Because they produce thousands of bats a year and they are pressed like a production line.

Rob pack on the other hand, produces a fraction of the quantity, so can take time to ensure each bat performs outstandingly well as his do.

Also, with regards to the 2 different presses at GM, one will be a lighter press, and one a firmer press I would imagine, one gives the initial compression without damaging the bat, then the heavier compression can start.