What does a bat warranty cover?
The warranty offered by manufacturers is only the goodwill between all bat manufacturers
that results in a replacement or a cost free repair on a bat which has suffered damage
believed not to be the customers fault.
There is definitely no warranty on bats with surface damaged edges or toes.
A bat is designed for the ball to be hit within the sweet spot of
the blade. A shot resulting in damage to the toe or edge of the bat is the users fault.
The manufacturer requires a receipt or proof of purchase to qualify for a warranty claim.
Warranties DO NOT cover:
DAMPNESS playing in wet conditions can result in layered
cracks and swelling at the base of the bat.
FACE & EDGE CRACKS these cracks are not the result of
defective willow or faulty workmanship. Their appearance is accentuated by inadequate
preparation prior to subjecting the bat to hard use.
PREMATURE PLAY any evidence of premature use or abuse of a
bat removes the chances of a warranty claim.
HEAT DAMAGE extreme heat dries out English willow causing
it to become tinder dry and more likely to crack. Be wary of leaving your bat in the
interior or boot of cars or lying on the ground in the sun.
EARLY SEASON USE a cleanskin bat should be carefully
re-oiled prior to use after drying out in the cupboard or gear bag during the off season.
Otherwise the dried out blade is particularly susceptible to surface cracks. |
WHAT IS KNOCKING-IN
Knocking-in is the process by which the fibres of willow in the face & edges of a bat
are compressed & knitted together to form a strong outer resistance and a barrier to
the impact of a cricket ball.
This is best done by using a Ball Mallet or Bat Mallet, a ball in the hand is not hard
enough.
The knocking-in process should be done carefully & thoroughly. To a large extent, the
effective life of your bat is determined by the knocking-in process.
You are attempting to make the face & edges harder than when
the bat was purchased to minimize the damage from an edged stroke. The toe area of the bat
should be faced carefully as there is a risk of causing cracks or splits across the base
of the bat if struck too hard. We recommend protection of this area with sealant materials
such as "shoe goo".
HOW DO I KNOCK-IN MY NEW BAT?
It is important that at least 6 full hours be spent patiently knocking in the face &
edges of your bat. If it has been machine prepared, we suggest that the 6 steps outlined
below should still be followed.
6 Easy Steps:
If your bats finish is natural you must oil prior to knocking in.
1. Use a bat or ball mallet or even the edge of the bath
tub. A ball in a sock or hand is of little use.
2.Use the mallet like a hammer and deflect it gently off
the edges & centre, the way a ball might in a game.
3.Increase the force gradually until the blow is as hard
as a ball hits in a game, work the edges until they show a rounded, compacted appearance.
4. To test the firmness of the bat, press firmly on the
edge with a rulers edge positioned between the thumb and index finger. If an indentation
appears your bat is not ready for match use.
5. Use the bat in the nets against old balls, then test it
against newer balls. If there are seam marks & dents STOP GO BACK TO STEP 3.
6. If the bat shows no signs of indentations or seam
marks, use it in nets sessions and then use it in match conditions. |
Each bat is an individual piece of
willow with its own characteristics. One bat may require minimal preparation but another
may need many hours of patient preparation. This cannot be determined until the bat has
been tested by hitting cricket balls. If the ball leaves
indentations, more preparation is obviously necessary.
SURFACE CRACKS
Surface cracks are small cracks which will appear on all bats after a period of use.
Their appearance on NEW bats is a direct result of the willow being underprepared i.e.
i) the bat has not been oiled properly
ii) the bat has not been knocked-in properly
iii) the ball used is of low quality and is too hard (e.g. some Indian leather balls).
The knocking-in period is vitally important in minimizing surface cracks.
Surface cracks do not harm the bats performance and all bats will eventually have some
surface cracking. The aim of knocking-in a bat is to delay these cracks for as long as
possible.
ALL BATS WILL CRACK THIS IS NORMAL
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT SURFACE CRACKS?
1. Glue any parts of the blade where willow is ålifting and clamp with string or
wood working clamp. Use any PVA water based glue and ensure the area is free from oil.
2. Sand back the glued area once it is dry using medium grade wood working
sandpaper.
3. Apply Extratec/ Heatshrink/ Fibreglass tape/ Fibreface.
HOW DO I PREVENT CRACKING AT THE TOE?
Cracking at the toe of the bat is always caused by hitting balls at the base of the bat.
Sometimes this is unavoidable & therefore it is wise to take precautions. We strongly
recommend the application of Shoe Goo to the toe region of bats to prevent any such
problems. |
