Bat Care and Maintenance

Preparation of 'natural finish' bats

The bat needs several light coats of bat wax or raw linseed oil, allowing each coat to dry separately. Knocking in can commence from the first coat using an old, good quality cricket ball. Knock in the face with the ball through practice such as throw downs or applying the ball in a sock.

Before the first game or nets, and after buffing off any excess wax/oil, carefully apply anti-scuff to the face, being careful not to cause damage to the wood when trimming (do not trim on the bat). Anti-scuff facing is essential for the first season, but at the close, please remove the facing across the grain (left to right), sand and oil/wax again. This is the best route to a long lasting, optimal performing bat.

Preparation of 'workshop prepared' bats

Workshop preparation means that we have taken the bat to the point of knocking in by the owner. The bat has been linseed waxed during finishing then faced with our strong UK made anti-scuff. This gives the bat a good basis for the first season, but now requires patient knocking in with an old ball through sensible practice such as throw downs.

After the first season’s use, it is essential that the facing is carefully removed (from left to right across the grain of the bat). The face and edges can then be gently sanded for application of oil or wax. The bat will benefit from being left natural out of season with regular coats of wax/oil. A new sheet of anti-scuff can then be applied before the next season’s use.

Ongoing Maintenance

In addition to the basic guidelines above:

  1. Pay attention to your bat; sometimes it is impossible to avoid damaging shots, but if damage occurs then attend to it straight away to maximise its lifespan and comply with the bat’s guarantee.
  2. Lightly oil/wax the exposed parts of the blade/toe little and often to keep the bat nourished and protected.
  3. Avoid ‘tapping’ at the wicket. The toe is the most vulnerable area of the bat and tapping is the single biggest cause of serious damage. Tapping against the wicket when taking guard compresses fibres which then open out, leading to splits, greater absorption of moisture, de-lamination of the face and irreparable damage.
  4. Be careful in nets, especially on artificial surfaces – nets are not ideal for knocking in.
  5. If your bat gets wet, allow it to dry naturally then inspect it for any signs of swelling or fibres opening up which will need attention.
  6. Beware of cheap balls, especially in junior cricket. Poor quality, cheap cricket balls with hard centres are a menace to bats and the game and a false economy by clubs when they damage individuals’ bats.
  7. Try not to lend your bat: you have invested in it and spent time knocking it in, one bad shot in someone else’s hands can quickly undo all that effort.
  8. If in any doubt please contact us for advice – emailing a photo of any damage is often useful.

The vast majority of damage is repairable if caught early.