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[Cricketswing913]

Hi all,

I was wondering what everyone's opinions/experiences are on oiling with regards to a bats performance. Oftentimes it is cited as a means purely to improve the longevity of a bat.

However in my experience with my own bats and helping teammates knock in their own bats, I do believe that oiling actually improves the quality of the ping as well. In general, I've found that bats tend to sound better and more "full" after oiling, and feel more responsive with a mallet as well. I've also done throwdowns as part of the knocking process, and have found that bats seem to respond and "feel" much better after being oiled properly(with no difference in how much knocking in has been done to the bat, purely comparing before and after being oiled). As such, I now am of the belief that oiling not only improves longevity but also performance of the bat.

Across the various sources of cricket bat information this is a topic that I have not seen addressed at all, and am curious to see if anyone has any thoughts/opinions on this and even shares the same experiences as me, especially if any batmakers have any opinions on this.

[Buzz]

Hi, especially when knocking in butterfly bats the oiling really helps.
I think people should be oiling their bats more than they do. It is very hard to over oil a bat despite what people say.

P. S. Welcome to the forum

[Thamesvalley]

How about some bat wax on back of bat every winter ?

[Cricketswing913]

Hi, especially when knocking in butterfly bats the oiling really helps.
I think people should be oiling their bats more than they do. It is very hard to over oil a bat despite what people say.

P. S. Welcome to the forum

Thanks for the welcome mate.

Yes I agree, its a little pet peeve of mine seeing how few of my team mates oil their bats.

Speaking of butterfly willow I just got my hands on my first butterfly stick, With regards to oiling do you recommene doing anythng different as compared to a normal bat? Thanks

[Buzz]

It depends on where the stain is and if there is a cover on the front of the bat.
My experience is that if there is a stain in the hitting area, giving it a a couple coats of oil will materially help the knocking in process.

[jonny77]

Most batmakers I speak to don't specify oiling and I personally don't find any benefits. Haven't oiled a bat for years and they've all performed absolutely top notch.

If people who buy off me ask, I tell them they can if they like but they don't have to. Most bats have scuffs them anyway and oil barely penetrates the face even if they are oiled.

If you feel it improves it tho, crack on. Don't think there's a right and wrong here tbh

[Bats_Entertainment]

Bats were traditionally oiled to improve longevity.

* Sorry, just seen this was mentioned in the opening post.

[Cricketswing913]

Most batmakers I speak to don't specify oiling and I personally don't find any benefits. Haven't oiled a bat for years and they've all performed absolutely top notch.

If people who buy off me ask, I tell them they can if they like but they don't have to. Most bats have scuffs them anyway and oil barely penetrates the face even if they are oiled.

If you feel it improves it tho, crack on. Don't think there's a right and wrong here tbh

Cheers for the input. Yea interesting to hear what different people have to say, and I've not doubt that u can get a bat that will perform well without oil, seen many of my team mates with it. Best point of reference would probably doing throwdowns or something similar before and after to compare, which is how i came to the conclusion that it does imrpove performance.

At worst you just increase the durability of the bat.

[Cricketswing913]

It depends on where the stain is and if there is a cover on the front of the bat.
My experience is that if there is a stain in the hitting area, giving it a a couple coats of oil will materially help the knocking in process.

Right gotcha. Do u try and emphasise the stain and put more oil there compared to the rest of the bat? Feel like I might be overthinking it tbh.

My bat's got a scuff sheet on it, might remove it just to oil it

[Buzz]

Right gotcha. Do u try and emphasise the stain and put more oil there compared to the rest of the bat? Feel like I might be overthinking it tbh.

My bat's got a scuff sheet on it, might remove it just to oil it

It depends on if the bat feels hard or not. If it isn't pinging nicely the definitely do this, if it is nice already, I wouldn't bother.