Generally we would expect a bat to have wide grain if it has less than 6 grains on the face. The width of the grain is entirely dependent upon how fast the tree has grown, each grain represents one years growth. The factors that effect the rate of growth are the soil quality and amount of water available.

Generally 12 to 18 years old tree gives a wider grain and one with 25 years or more a narrower grain. A narrow grain bat will certainly play well, quicker, but will not have a particularly long life.

On the other hand a wider grain bat (with as little as 4 grains on the face) will play as well, given time, as a narrow grain, it will also , without doubt have a longer life span. The reason for this is that the wood is not as old, so it is stronger and will stand up better to the beating with some of the very hard, cheap balls used in matches these days.

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To ‘face’ or not to ‘face’ your cricket bat?

Facing your cricket bat refers to the application of a protective adhesive sheet which is applied to the hitting area and edges of your bat. Whether to face your bat or not has long been a topic of some debate. There are those that have said ‘facing’ your bat both reduces its performance and adds weight and there are those that say ‘facing’ is an excellent way to protect and prolong the life of your cricket bat.

There are actually merits to both of these views. Those against the idea cite the heavy, thick and spongy extra tech type facing materials which have traditionally been used on cricket bats in the past. These materials added weight and if they were too thick noticeably reduced the ‘ping’ and performance of a bat.

Fortunately facing materials have improved over the years and you are now able to face your cricket bat with materials that are much lighter, thinner and generally better all round.

It is universally agreed today that so long as the material being applied to your cricket bat is a good facing then there is no question of the benefits of applying a protective facing to your bat. This view is held by the best bat makers in the world who fully support and endorse the application of a good facing for your cricket bat.

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By Knocking In the cricket bat we are trying to compress the Willow fibres down the face and edges of the bat. By correctly Knocking In you will gain more driving power from the blade and will prolong the life of your bat.

Use an Old Ball to Start the Knocking-In Process. You can use a wooden bat mallet or an old cricket ball to prepare the bat for play.

It’s better if you start the Knocking In process by using an old cricket ball that you methodically tap down the edges and along the blade of the bat for up to 2 hours. If you prefer to use a bat mallet cover the mallet for this first stage with an old sock to soften the blows. Ensure that all areas of the bat receive attention.

You can check your progress by lightly pressing the blade with your finger nail. At the beginning this will leave an indentation but towards completion it will be harder to leave a mark.

The next day or after a break it is time to use a wooden bat mallet. Gently tap the face and edges ensuring all areas receive attention. Gradually increase the force of the blows; you should spend about a further 2 hours with the mallet. Now the blade will be very hard to mark and the edges slightly rounded. Finish knocking In with a Bat Mallet

So far you’ve spent 4 hours patiently preparing your bat and now you’re ready to go to the nets. Get someone to bowl old balls, at this stage you should get a feel for the bat; where the sweet spot is, how it drives and does the ball sound good off the blade. Keep an eye on the bat; the old ball should not leave any large indentations, if it does, then you need to return to the bat mallet.

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