Knocking in...made simple (Upfront Ball Mallet)

Member Name: cricketsam

Product:	Upfront Ball Mallet
Date:	28/08/09 (6 review reads)
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Knocking in a cricket bat is a lengthy process that is crictical before actually using the bat in a match situation. It involves repeatedly striking the blade of the bat with a mallet, for up to as much as 10hours! Why you may ask.... the science behind it is that when struck repeatedly the fibres of the willow strengthen and group together therefore making the piece of wilow stronger when taking blows, this reduces the chance of the willow cracking or splitting into bits when playing with it. There are two types of mallets available to complete this knocking in process, a standard wooden mallet, and a ball mallet (pictured above). A standard mallet is what you imagine it to be, just a normal mallet made of wood with rounded edges so not to cause dents in the face of the willow. The ball mallet is slightly different, instead of a wooden end it has an old cricket ball glued onto the handle. This recreates the hitting of a bat with a cricket ball but at lower speeds and with a softer cricket ball. Both mallets cost around £5 and are just the job for knocking in. The advantage of using the ball mallet is that every strike is testing the willow to see if its ready. Early on in the knocking in process seam marks may appear in the blade (little lines/dents in willow) this shows the bat is not ready to use in a match as it is still too soft, as the process goes on the marks will start to disappear and that is when you know the bat is ready to use and score lots of runs with!

Summary: a necessary process for any new cricket bat