BAT CARE Once you have purchased your bat it is very important to remember that it must be carefully looked after. A bat is made from naturally grown willow that been carefully grown and cared for, for many years. This care must be continued with, for the full life of your bat. You will have taken time and energy to select your bat.....so please take the same level of time and energy to care for it. Oiling (Uncovered Bats) Many bats need to be oiled using either raw linseed oil or special bat oil before they are used. A small amount of oil should be applied to the face of the bat. It should then be worked into the rest of the blade as well as the toe, edges and back of the bat. The splice area of the bat should not be oiled as this may soften the glue around that area. The bat should then be kept horizontally on its back for 24 hours so as to allow the oil to soak in. When the bat has dried out any oil that has not soaked in should be removed. To do this fine sandpaper should be used. This process should then be repeated. However, the back of the bat should not be oiled again. Please remember that only a small amount of oil must be used. Oiling (Bats with a Protective Cover) Oil should be applied as explained above, but only to the back and uncovered edges and the toe. Over-Oiling it is important that you do not over oil your bat. More bats are spoilt by over-oiling than by under-oiling. Knocking in Your Bat many bats are now pre-knocked in. Pre-knocked in however does not mean ready to go immediately. It means that the majority of preparation work has been done, but that you will need to complete the final part of the process. We therefore recommend that you spend between 2 and 3 hours finishing knocking your bat in. This is best done with a purpose-made bat mallet, either a smooth wooden mallet or a ball-on-handle mallet. Hit the bat firmly with the bat mallet for a short period, don?t just tap it. It is important that you make sure that the toe and the edges of the bat are well knocked-in. Playing in Your Bat after you have finished knocking in the bat, we recommend that you play the bat in gently in a net session. Bat in a defensive manner and attempt to hit the ball with the middle of your bat. A soft, old ball should be used in this initial net session. Additional Care for Your Bat In addition to this we recommend that you take further precautions to make sure that your bat is well protected from being damaged. For uncovered bats, we suggest that you place a clear protective covering over the face of your bat. We can carry this service out for you. It is also advisable that you place a strip of edge tape along the inside and outside edge of your bat to provide additional protection and minimise the chances of cracking the bat on either of these edges. Ways to Avoid Damaging Your Bat Avoid exposing your bat to extreme temperatures. Do not stand your bat in oil. Try and prevent the bat from becoming damp. Do not use cheap hard balls as these will damage your bat. Do not misuse or treat your bat carelessly off the pitch. If you damage your bat, do not continue to use it as this may aggravate the area where the damage has been caused and force it into a state where it is beyond repair. You should store your bat in a cool dry atmosphere in the off season making sure that it is well away from any heat or dampness. Your bat should also be re-oiled after any substantial period where the bat has not been used. It is especially important to do this just prior to using your bat again in pre-season indoor nets. Some minor repairs can be carried out by you. To this end it is important that you carry bat tape in your bag so that you are able to make minor repairs where they are needed immediately. Damage to Bats Of course, it is possible that, despite taking all these precautions, the bat could still break with the first ball that it receives in a match. However, if you carry out all of the instructions above, you will greatly reduce the chances of any damage being caused to the bat. The bat is made of wood and is a natural product and therefore there is no guarantee that the bat will not break. Superficial surface cracks can occur, but these should not detract from the performance of the bat. Bat Repairs/Replacements all cricket bats stocked by HCB are of the highest quality and a great deal of care is taken to make sure that only the best products are sold to our customers. Nonetheless, we accept that sometimes bats can be damaged soon after they are purchased. In circumstances where damage is caused to your bat or if you are unhappy with the performance of the bat, we recommend that you inform us of the problem immediately. Your bat will then be inspected and we will advise you of the action to be taken. For more information please do look at our Terms & Conditions. Selecting a Bat To perform to the best of your abilities you need the right bat. It's very important you choose a bat of the right size, shape and weight to suit your style of play. If you don't already have a preference or maybe you don't really know what type of bat to use please feel free to contact us directly via e-mail (please provide us with as much information about you and your game as possible, this will make recommending a bat much easier) or telephone. We will be happy to discuss what's best for you. Please choose an option to view the recommended type of bat: OPENING BATTER An opening batter normally uses a lighter bat (2lb7oz - 2lb9oz), as they will be facing the new ball and quicker bowlers. We find the traditionally shaped bats such as Hawks X10 Pro, MRF Lara "400" or Impala Redback will usually suit these players best; their higher middles make for beautifully balanced, big bats with super-light pick ups. This combination allows for a faster bat 'speed' and increases the chances of middling the faster ball. MIDDLE ORDER A slightly heavier bat (2lb9oz - 2lb12oz) may be needed to up the tempo of the innings, but we would still recommend a well-balanced bat as the quicker bowlers may still be bowling. If you generally play on slow, low wickets and class yourself as an aggressive batter you may want to consider the Impala Razorback, Fusion Super Grade or MRF Lara "400"/ MRF Genius. These big powerful blades have lower middles and maximize efficiency on the average English wicket. These blades have a heavier 'bat speed?; therefore it may be more difficult to middle the ball. When you do connect though, the ball will stay hit. LOWER ORDER A lower/middle order player would generally require a big bat (2lb11oz+), as the need for quick runs at the end of an innings is paramount. Here we would suggest a bat of medium weight. Your choice of model really depends on personal preference, either a higher middle piece such as the Impala Sovereign Prince, the MRF Blazer or Fusion Select Grade for the classically elegant batsman or the lower middle pieces CF Odyssey, Hawk X10 or AJ Sultan for the modern, compact attacking player. Some people tend to forget the significance of a tail end batsman, but it is these players who could be the difference between winning and losing. A tail end batsman has to juggle between going for shots and possibly batting out for a draw, so they have to be very comfortable with their bat. Again, it's all down to the individual but we do tend to find that a tail ender can't resist the big shots, thus making the MRF Wizard, Impala Razorback or MRF Calyso a firm favorite! Bat Sizing All of HCB stocked brands are hand make and therefore any special requirements you may have can be met. For the taller/shorter customer we can adapt blade and handle sizes. Again it's all down to personal preference but please refer to the rough guide below. Customers suffering with backache may wish to try a longer bat; this will enable them to stand more upright at the crease. Players Height Bat Size 1.45 - 1.50m (4'9" - 4'11") 4 1.50 - 1.575m (4'11" - 5'2") 5 1.575 - 1.60m (5'2" - 5'3") 6 1.60 - 1.68m (5'3" - 5'6") Harrow 1.68 - 1.75m (5'6" - 5'9") Super short/Woman's Standard 1.75m+ (5'9"+) Short Handle/ Men's Standard 1.88m+ (6'2"+) Standard Blade, Long Handle 1.93m+ (6'4"+) Long Blade, Long Handle