Q&A for How to Knock in a Cricket Bat Quickly

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Can I get my bat ready within a two day knocking process?

Rishabh Mehan
Cricket Coach
Rishabhn Mehan is a Cricket Systems Operator in the United Kingdom. He has been coaching cricket in London since 2016, when he received his Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Young People and Adults Cricket (QCF).

Rishabh Mehan

Cricket Coach

Expert Answer

The knocking process will take 3 to 4 days, so you would not be able to use it within 2 days.

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Would it be OK to mallet the bat after oiling it once?

Rishabh Mehan
Cricket Coach
Rishabhn Mehan is a Cricket Systems Operator in the United Kingdom. He has been coaching cricket in London since 2016, when he received his Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Young People and Adults Cricket (QCF).

Rishabh Mehan

Cricket Coach

Expert Answer

Yes this is fine, however, I would recommend oiling the bat at least twice.

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Question

If I knocked my bat without bat oil, then knocked it with bat oil, should I oil it the second time also?

Rishabh Mehan
Cricket Coach
Rishabhn Mehan is a Cricket Systems Operator in the United Kingdom. He has been coaching cricket in London since 2016, when he received his Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Young People and Adults Cricket (QCF).

Rishabh Mehan

Cricket Coach

Expert Answer

One coat of oil will work just fine, so you do not need to oil the bat a second time.

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Question

What should I do if my bat says pre oiled and knocked?

Rishabh Mehan
Cricket Coach
Rishabhn Mehan is a Cricket Systems Operator in the United Kingdom. He has been coaching cricket in London since 2016, when he received his Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Young People and Adults Cricket (QCF).

Rishabh Mehan

Cricket Coach

Expert Answer

Your bat will have already been oiled and knocked in. However, I would recommend knocking the bat in for a further few hours.

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Question

Can I use olive or mustard oil or any oil?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You should only use raw linseed oil on the bat. Other oils can remove moisture and make the bat more brittle.

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Question

How can I tell if my bat is ready? Will there be something different when the ball comes into contact with it?

Community Answer

The middle will generally sound better and you should feel minimal vibrations when striking the ball. If you have knocked your bat in properly, the bat will have a more explosive ping.

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Question

Can I knock my bat without using oil?

Community Answer

You can, however you will be depreciating the life of the bat.

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Question

Do I need to knock in my bat once it is oiled, or will it be OK to use as is?

Community Answer

You need to keep knocking the bat once in a while. Also repeat the oiling procedure. This gives the bat a better stroke.

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What should I do if the face of the bat shows cracks?

Community Answer

Start your bat preparation process again. This could be caused by a couple of things, under-oiling your bat, knocking in the bat with too much force too soon, or using the bat against a full-pace bowler without enough knocking-in time. Also, a brand new ball will definitely cause cracks if hit with an ill-prepared bat.

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Question

Are new bats already oiled?

Anish Somawar

Community Answer

No, they are not. You should oil your bat at least twice before knocking in, but always remember: under-oiling a cricket bat is better than over-oiling.

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Question

Can I use an iron hammer for knocking bat?

Community Answer

You can use an iron mallet, but only when 80-90% of the knocking has already been done by a wooden mallet. Your iron mallet should be rounded, and you should be very gentle when using it.

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Question

Can I use an ordinary mallet?

Community Answer

It needs to be a wooden mallet with rounded edges. There are also specific cricket ball mallets that have a handle directly attached to the ball. If the cricket ball is brand new with a hard seam and hard leather, be careful not to indent your bat. You can put a sock over it to protect it.

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Question

Should I boil the coconut oil before using it?

Community Answer

You should only apply raw linseed oil to your bat! Don't use any other oils.

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Question

Can I knock in a cricket bat with a hammer covered with a sock?

Community Answer

No. That would apply too much force in a small area. You really need to use either a cricket ball or a bat mallet.

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Question

Can I use a new synthetic ball with an old sock?

Community Answer

It's better not to use a synthetic ball because its hard exterior can cause damage to the bat. Use an old rough leather ball in the beginning.

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Question

How do I knock a cricket bat in quickly with no linseed oil?

Community Answer

It's not possibly without oil.

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Question

How often should I oil my bat?

Community Answer

If your bat does not have a plastic blade cover like many new ones do, then you should oil your bat once prior to knocking and once a year in the offseason, too. I would also recommend knocking your bat in a bit more after each time you oil it.

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Question

Do I need to oil the bat lightly whilst knocking it in with a wooden mallet?

Community Answer

Ideally you would oil it prior to knocking it in, and if the bat comes with a plastic scuff sheet on the face then oil is not required.

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Question

Can I use an old synthetic ball for knocking my new SG Kashmir willow bat?

Community Answer

Yes. It is better to use old balls because they are softer; they don't damage the willow as much.

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Question

What's an alternative to raw linseed oil for 'knocking in' a cricket bat?

Community Answer

Salix bat wax, available from most cricket retailers and eBay.

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Question

Can you do it without linseed oils?

Community Answer

Yes. However, your bat will not last nearly as long as it should.

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Question

Can I use ordinary coconut oil to knock in a cricket bat?

Community Answer

Definitely not, this will ruin the willow of the cricket bat and the oil will have no benefit to the bat.

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Question

Can I knock my bat again if I knocked it and created scuffs?

Community Answer

If it created scuffs, definitely knock it in again, because that means that you didn’t fully knock the bat in.

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Question

Can I knock the bat without oiling it and then use it for overarm leather ball play?

Ragu RAM

Community Answer

Yes, but without oiling the willow becomes hard, so it is said to oil the bat.

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Question

How many days does it take to season the new bat?

Community Answer

It should take two or three days spreading two coats of oil in this duration, letting the bat dry, then applying the other coat.

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Question

What if I have knocked my bat once with a new ball without oil?

Community Answer

If your bat is an English willow with nine or more straight grains, then you would not need to worry about. An oil is not a necessary thing for a bat until and unless it looks dry and the crack occurs on the face after a long time of play.

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How can I know my bat is fully knocked?

Community Answer

Hitting the ball in the middle will generally sound better and the shots will go farther.

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Question

Can I use sesame oil instead of linseed oil?

Community Answer

I would advise not to, as linseed has the best outcome for the bat, and sesame can damage the bat by ruining the moisture.

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Can a rubber ball be used to knock a bat?

Community Answer

No, it will not have enough strength.

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Question

If I have already knocked the bat well without oiling it, is it necessary to oil the bat?

Community Answer

It is not needed, but it is better because not applying oil can cause damage to the face of your bat.

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