Not saying mine's an expert view but a lot is made of pressing, as with other aspects of crickets bats and imo these things become almost 'mythical'. If you listened to some batmakers then you wouldn't buy a bat from anyone who haven't been pressing 20 off years (even tho they too once hadn't pressed a bat). It's like no relatively new batmaker could ever produce a bat as good.
In my opinion if you've played the game and know how a bat should feel, then you press until you reach that point. Whether that's in a one stage press or ten stage, you're getting the right outcome. If it doesn't feel right for wherever reason, then you decide as a brand if you're happy that it leaves the workshop.
I'm not sure I buy the soft press, hard press thing really. Surely every bat needs to be pressed to ensure it performs? Yes you can obviously press them more, but underpressed (softer) wouldn't increase performance surely? The handles can make a difference to the feel too imo, as Soulman mentioned. Thicker and better quality handles to me feel stiffer, but the bat will still perform yet open up in time and not be as prone to causing issues early. Just my opinion based on what I've used, seen and repaired.
The other factor I'd like to test is how the moisture content affects it and if drier willow presses/performs differently. Just need to sort a few bits before experimenting.
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Topic: A (de)Pressing Thread (Read 4504 times)