UK Mainland Delivery on 1000's of stocked item- Click here for more details.

Cricket Bats Knocking In

Knocking in your Cricket bat is an essential part of its preparation. Even if you have purchased a "pre knocked in" bat, further knocking is always required. We have put some steps below which will help.

  1. Apply 3 teaspoons of raw linseed oil to all parts of the bat (except the handle). Whilst putting on the oil, try not to apply any oil to the part where the handle fits into the blade, the handle itself or any labelled areas. Do not use any more than 3 teaspoons of oil as it will affect the performance of the bat.
  2. Leave the bat flat with the face up to dry for 24 hours.
  3. If you use an anti-scuff protective sheet, one coat of oil will be sufficient. If you are not planning on using an anti-scuff protective sheet, repeat the steps above two more times.
  4. You will need to wipe off any excess oil and knock in your bat with a specialist bat mallet for approximately 4 hours (we do not sell this product). Particular attention should be paid to the edges and toe of the blade using glancing blows off the face to harden and round these areas. Please try not to hit the edges, toe or back of the bat directly as this will cause damage. The knocking in should be performed with gradual increasing force.
  5. The next step is to test the bat – we suggest using a good quality old cricket ball during a light session. If any seam marks or indentations occur than further knocking in will be needed.