Bat Preparation & Care

Knocking In:
When you knock in a cricket bat you compress the fibres of the willow and knit them together, so they become tough enough to withstand the impact of a cricket ball.  Effective “knocking-in” will dramatically improve performance and increase the lifespan of the bat. 

Merricks Cricket recommends 4-6 hours of knocking in.

Using a wooden bat mallet, tap the blade of the bat – avoiding the handle, back and splice – and keep tapping, gradually increasing in force. Make sure you pay particular attention to the toe and face edges of the bat, as these are more susceptible to damage, but do not hammer the edges at right angles.  

A few tips:
Take great care when knocking in the edges and toe as hitting too hard may crack the willow - take your time and get to know your Merricks bat. It will help prolong the playability.

The blade should be knocked in on the face of the bat including the edge of the face but not on the sides of the blade, the underneath of the toe or back of the blade.

You should notice that the edges become rounded and compacted the more you knock them in.  The ‘ping’ will also improve as you go along.

Playing In:
After knocking-in, the bat should be used to hit short catches, throw downs or gentle net session with an old, good quality cricket ball. It is advisable to initially avoid use against a new ball in either nets or a match.

If you notice some seam marks or small dents on the face of the bat we recommend another hour of knocking in.

Maintenance:
To maintain your bat in peak condition we recommend you to follow this simple advice.

Don'ts:
• Don't expose to extremes of temperature. Avoid storing your bat (and kit) in hot places such as the car boot.
• Don't over-oil. It is more dangerous to over-oil than to under-oil. Over-oiling adds weight and can reduce the ping of your bat. Cricket bat wax can help avoid over-oiling.
• Don't ever stand the bat in oil.
• Don't allow the bat to become damp. You will see areas like toe swell and once it dries out can increase chances of damage.
• Don't misuse or treat carelessly off the pitch, for example at nets, or in changing rooms.
• Don't use cheap hard balls. These will damage the bat.
• Don't continue to play with a damaged bat; this will aggravate the damage to a point where the bat may be beyond repair.

Do's:
• Do prepare the bat carefully. Take your time knocking and playing in the bat.
• Do store the bat in off-season in a cool dry atmosphere away from excessive heat or damp.
• Do re-oil the bat after any prolonged period of non-use: it's particularly important to remember to do this prior to using in pre-season indoor nets.
• Do inspect the bat regularly for damage in play and repair promptly.