At Cricket + Football Shop, we know how exciting it is to take your new bat straight into the game. To help you get the very best performance from day one, we offer a professional knocking-in service so your bat is match-ready when it leaves our hands.
Why Preparation Matters
All English Willow bats require proper preparation — including knocking-in and oiling —
before they can safely be used against a hard cricket ball. Although all bats are pre-pressed
by manufacturers, this presses the willow only to a certain depth (around 4-5mm).
To properly compress the grain and fibres for long-term performance, additional
knocking-in is essential.
Skipping or incorrectly completing this step increases the risk of cracking. A properly
prepared bat reduces the chance of damage by up to 80%, improves performance, and
significantly extends the life of your bat.
How We Knock-In Your Bat
Knocking-in by hand with a wooden mallet can take 18–20 hours and, if done incorrectly,
may negatively affect the bat’s performance.
To save you time and protect your investment, we use a fully automated knocking-in
machine that ensures:
- Uniform compression
- Thorough coverage of edges, toe & blade
- Consistent knocking with preset controls
Every bat receives 15,000 knocks, ensuring a complete and professional preparation.
Even after knocking-in, we recommend using your bat in the nets with older balls for 3-4 sessions before using it in a match with a new ball.
Pricing
- Knocking-in service: $70
- FREE knocking-in is included with selected in-house bats (where specified)
You can also consider adding an Extratec (anti-scuff) sheet after preparation to improve
protection and extend the life of your bat.
Fast Turnaround
If you’re local, we can prepare your bat within one hour (subject to workload).
If you’re outside Perth, you can ship your bat to us. Once received, the turnaround is
typically 1 business day.
Return postage fees and delivery times vary depending on your location.
Why Choose Us?
- Expert bat preparation
- Latest automated machine technology
- Fast turnaround
- Protects & maximises your bat’s performance
AUSTRALIAN Owned & Operated
