How to Knock in a Cricket Bat Quickly

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Before you can use a cricket bat in a game, you have to compress the willow wood on the striking surface, a process called knocking. It can take up to 20,000 hits with a mallet to properly compress the wood, but it’s a necessary process to ensure your bat can take a hit and is ready for the game! [1]

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Oiling the Bat

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  1. Put the oil directly onto the bat. Avoid getting oil near any decals or the handle of the bat. Linseed oil helps moisturize and soften the fibers of the willow wood and makes the bat easier to compress. [2]
    • Don’t use cooked linseed oil since that will remove moisture from the wood.
    • Raw linseed oil can be purchased online or at hardware stores.
  2. Coat the entire flat area since it could come into contact with a cricket ball. Make sure the oil is evenly spread out and it is not pooling on any area of your bat. [3]
    • Rags covered in linseed oil can catalyze, meaning it can generate heat as it is drying and possibly combust. Leave rags spread out outdoors so they can dry before storing them in an airtight, fireproof container. Dispose of the rags when there is hazardous waste collection. [4]
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  3. The edges of the bat will also need to be knocked in and rounded, so it’s important to work the oil over each edge. Bring the oil 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) down the side of the bat with your finger and rub it into the edges. [5]
  4. Keep your bat face-up so the oil seeps down into the wood. Let the oil soak in for a full day until it is dry.
  5. This will ensure the wood is filled with moisture and your bat will absorb a hit from a mallet rather than crack. Each time, let the oil dry for 24 hours before applying another coat.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Rounding the Edges and Toe

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  1. Use a hardwood bat mallet with a rounded striking surface. Hold the bat in one hand and hit 1 edge of the bat with your dominant hand with enough power to leave an impression. [6]
    • Do not hit the edges at a 90-degree angle. This shrinks the hitting surface of the bat and could cause damage.
    • Instead a mallet, you can also use an old cricket ball to strike the edges.
  2. Continue striking down the edge of the bat with the same amount of power. Make sure the edge is even so no areas are higher or lower.
    • Avoid hitting the bottom of the bat.
  3. Make sure the angle of each edge of the bat is the same. Hold the bat so the short end of the striking surface, or the toe, is eye level. Check both edges of the bat to make sure they are even and rounded.
  4. Use a table clamp to secure the bat to a table so it does not move while you strike the toe. Flatten the corners at the toe of the bat and round the edge. Slowly build up power to further compress the edge. [7]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Compressing the Striking Area

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  1. Place a cloth underneath the bat so the bottom does not get damaged. Use a table clamp to secure the bat so you can strike it easily with a mallet. [8]
  2. Slowly test how much power you need to use so you don’t damage your bat. Swing the mallet with enough power to leave an indentation in the middle of the hitting area.
    • If it’s difficult to see an indentation on the bat, loosen the clamp and hold it up to a light to see if you’ve made a dent.
  3. Repeatedly hit the entire flat area of the bat since a ball may be hit anywhere on the surface. Use the same amount of power you used to make your initial indentation across the face of the bat. [9]
  4. The entire process should take about 6 hours. As you increase power, continue making the surface of the bat even so it is flat. [10]
    • Split your time knocking the wood into 10 or 15 10-minute sessions so you don’t get burnt out.
    • Test the wood with your fingernail occasionally. At first, your fingernail should leave an impression in the wood’s surface, but after you’ve knocked it in, it will be harder to press.
  5. Ask a friend to toss gentle pitches to you with an old cricket ball so you can hit them back with the bat. This helps you detect if any sections of the bat hit unevenly. If they do hit unevenly, go back and strike the areas with a mallet again. [11]
    • Using a new ball could damage the bat if it is hit improperly.
    • Alternatively, put the ball in a sock and tie it to a rope. Put the rope over a tree branch to make a swing. Hit the ball as it swings back and forth.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    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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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 15
  • Question
    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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    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Many sellers of cricket bats will knock the bat for you with a knocking machine. Contact the bat seller to see if this service is available to you.
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      Warnings

      • Rags soaked in linseed oil catalyze if they’re wadded up, meaning it generates heat and could combust. Hang them to dry before storing them in an airtight, non-combustible container. [12]
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Raw linseed oil
      • Table clamp
      • Bat mallet with a round striking surface
      • Old cricket ball

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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/v4AmZYq7hSk?t=2m1s
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/aEbEENWnICo?t=4m56s
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/aEbEENWnICo?t=5m25s
      4. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/disposing-of-oily-rags
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/aEbEENWnICo?t=5m38s
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/v4AmZYq7hSk?t=1m53s
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/MF4-nfbR5hA?t=1m37s
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/MF4-nfbR5hA?t=1m49s
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/v4AmZYq7hSk?t=1m43s
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/v4AmZYq7hSk?t=2m1s
      2. ↑ https://www.sikana.tv/en/sport/cricket/knock-in-a-new-bat
      3. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/disposing-of-oily-rags

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      • Laxman Choudhary

        Jan 30, 2017

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