Knocking-in Process & Warranty

A new willow bat is not ready to face a hard ball. Knocking in compresses and binds the surface fibres of the willow so the blade can take repeated impact without cracking. Skipping it is the single most common reason a good bat fails early — and it is also the most common reason a warranty claim is declined.

How to knock in a bat

  1. Oil first (uncovered bats only). Apply a thin coat of raw linseed bat oil to the face, edges and toe — not the splice or the labels. Let it dry 24 hours, then repeat once or twice. Two or three thin coats total; over-oiling makes willow soggy and dead. Bats supplied with a pre-applied face sheet or anti-scuff cover do not need oiling.
  2. Work the edges and toe. With a wooden bat mallet, start gently along the edges and around the toe, rounding them slightly. These are the most vulnerable parts of the blade and need the most attention.
  3. Work the face. Move to the full face, building up from light taps to firm strikes over the whole hitting area. Expect 4–6 hours of mallet work spread over two to three weeks for an English willow bat. Kashmir willow is denser and needs less — around 2–3 hours.
  4. Progress to a ball. Once the face no longer marks or dents under the mallet, hit short catches with an old, soft used ball, then move to throw-downs, then to net practice with a good ball. Only after that should the bat see a match.
  5. Check as you go. Small surface seam marks are normal and expected. A crack that opens along the grain, or any movement at the splice or toe, means stop and get in touch before playing on.

Things that will ruin a new bat

  • Using a new bat straight out of the wrapper in a match or against a bowling machine.
  • Bowling-machine balls, wet balls, or cheap hard practice balls at any stage.
  • Playing on wet or damp ground — water gets into the toe and swells the willow. Fit a toe guard if you play on soft wickets.
  • Storing the bat in a car boot, near a radiator, or anywhere hot and dry.
  • Tapping the bat against studs, boundary boards, or the ground to mark your crease.

Everything you need — mallets, raw linseed oil, anti-scuff sheets, toe guards, edge tape and replacement grips — is in Bat Care & Accessories.

Warranty

Every bat we sell is genuine manufacturer stock and carries the maker's own warranty against manufacturing defects. Warranty terms are set by the manufacturer, not by us, but across DSC, SF, EM, GN and MRF the shape is consistent:

  • Cover is typically three to six months from the date of purchase on senior English willow bats, and applies to manufacturing defects only.
  • Covered: splice failure, delamination, a handle that comes loose, or a structural fault in the blade that is not the result of impact damage.
  • Not covered: normal surface cracking and seam marks, edge and toe damage, damage from inadequate knocking in, water damage, use of a bowling machine or inappropriate balls, or any repair attempted by a third party.

Willow is a natural material and cosmetic marking is part of how a bat wears in. Surface cracks that stay closed are cosmetic and are not a defect in any manufacturer's terms.

Making a claim

Email akshayn1388@gmail.com with:

  • Your order number.
  • Clear photographs of the full face, back, edges, toe and splice, plus close-ups of the damage.
  • A short description of how the bat was knocked in and what it has been used for.

We assess the claim and, where it looks like a manufacturing defect, submit it to the manufacturer on your behalf. The manufacturer's decision on repair, replacement or refusal is final. Assessment usually takes 2–4 weeks; you cover shipping to us for inspection, and we cover return shipping on any claim that is upheld.

Not a warranty matter?

If a bat is simply the wrong size or weight and is unused, it falls under our return and exchange policy instead.