You’ve just unboxed a brand new cricket bat. The willow looks pristine, the edges are crisp, and you’re itching to take it to the nets. But here’s the mistake too many players make:
They skip knocking it in — and ruin a perfectly good bat within three innings.
Knocking in is not optional. It’s the single most important thing you can do to protect your investment and get the best performance out of your bat, whether it’s a Grade 1 English willow or a mid-range Grade 2 club bat.
At CricCounty — based inside High Performance Cricket, Ilford — we see bats come through our store every week with cracked edges, burst seams, and surface damage that could have been completely avoided with proper preparation. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it right.
What Does ‘Knocking In’ Actually Mean?
Knocking in is the process of compressing and hardening the fibres of the willow face and edges before your bat is used in match conditions.
Cricket bat willow is a relatively soft wood straight out of the press. The grain structure hasn’t been conditioned to absorb the repeated impact of a hard cricket ball at speed. When you knock a bat in, you’re essentially preparing those fibres to handle that shock — reducing the risk of cracking, splitting, and edge damage during the season.
Think of it like breaking in a new pair of boots. Skip the process, and you’ll regret it.
Does Every Bat Need Knocking In?
Almost always, yes.
Even bats labelled “pre-knocked in” or “ready to play” benefit from additional knocking in before heavy match use. Pre-preparation done in a factory is a starting point, not a substitute for the full process.
The only exception is bats fitted with a protective face cover such as a PVC or fibreglass facing — these can be used more quickly, though edges still benefit from preparation.
If your bat came from CricCounty’s store, our team can advise you specifically on how much additional preparation your model needs. We also offer an in-store bat knocking service for players who’d prefer it done by hand.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you begin, gather the following:
- A bat mallet (purpose-built for knocking in — not a hammer, not a bat handle)
- Raw linseed oil (not boiled)
- A clean cloth or small brush
- A used, slightly worn cricket ball or an old ball for the net stage
- Patience — this process takes several days when done properly
Step-by-Step: How to Knock In a Cricket Bat
Step 1 – Oil the Bat First
Before any knocking begins, the bat needs to be oiled. Apply a thin, even coat of raw linseed oil to the face, edges, and toe of the bat using a cloth or brush. Do not oil the splice or the back of the bat.
Leave it face down at a slight angle for 24 hours so the oil can penetrate and the excess can drain away from the splice. Applying too much oil adds unnecessary weight and can damage the splice area over time.
Repeat this oiling process two to three times over the course of the knocking-in period, not all at once at the beginning.
Step 2 – Begin Mallet Work (Light Pressure)
Once the bat has absorbed the first coat of oil and dried for 24 hours, you can begin using the mallet.
Start lightly. The goal in the first session is not to compress the fibres aggressively — it’s to begin the process gradually. Use the rounded face of the mallet and work methodically across the face of the bat, paying particular attention to the edges and toe where damage most commonly occurs.
Work the mallet across the bat in overlapping strokes. Do not strike in the same spot repeatedly. Pay extra attention to the bottom third of the bat and the edges — these are the highest-risk areas for cracking during play.
Spend around 30 to 45 minutes in this first session.
Step 3 – Repeat Over Several Days
This is where most players go wrong. They try to rush the process into one or two sessions.
Knocking in properly takes a minimum of four to six hours of mallet work spread across several days. A realistic schedule looks like this:
- Day 1: Oil and rest
- Day 2: First mallet session (30–45 mins, light pressure)
- Day 3: Second oiling, rest
- Day 4: Second mallet session (45–60 mins, moderate pressure)
- Day 5: Third mallet session (45–60 mins, firmer pressure on edges)
- Day 6: Final oiling if the wood feels dry
- Day 7 onwards: Move to the ball drop and net stage
Gradually increase pressure as the sessions progress. By the final mallet sessions, you should be applying firm but controlled strokes, particularly along the edges.
Step 4 – The Ball Drop Test
Once you’ve completed your mallet sessions, the next stage is the ball drop.
Hold an old cricket ball a few feet above the bat face and let it drop onto the hitting area. Do this repeatedly across the face, edges, and toe. You’re listening and feeling for any “soft spots” — areas where the ball sinks in rather than bouncing back firmly.
If you find soft spots, return to the mallet for those areas before progressing.
Step 5 – Throw-Down and Net Sessions
The final stage before match use is controlled net work.
Ask a team-mate or coach to throw underarm deliveries at pace, targeting the bat face. Do not face full-pace bowling straight away. Work through approximately 20–30 minutes of soft throw-downs before moving to half-pace net bowling.
Look out for any surface marking, edge movement, or unusual sounds when the ball strikes. If the bat feels solid and the sound is clean, it’s ready for match conditions.
Common Knocking-In Mistakes to Avoid
Using a ball instead of a mallet to start — balls are unpredictable in where they strike and can cause premature edge damage before the fibres are ready.
Oiling the back or splice — oil weakens the splice glue over time. Only oil the face, edges, and toe.
Over-oiling — a bat that absorbs too much oil becomes heavy and loses its pickup. Apply thin coats and allow each coat to dry fully.
Rushing the process — a bat that cracks in the first three weeks of the season is almost always the result of insufficient knocking in. The time invested upfront protects the bat for an entire season.
Ignoring the toe — the toe takes significant impact from full deliveries, especially on hard or wet outfields. It’s one of the most vulnerable areas and should receive targeted mallet work.
How Long Will a Properly Knocked-In Bat Last?
A bat that has been properly prepared and maintained throughout the season can last two to four years of regular club cricket, sometimes longer.
Proper knocking in is just the start. Throughout the season, re-oiling your bat every three to four weeks — especially after use in wet conditions — will keep the willow supple and resistant to surface cracking.
If your bat develops a surface crack during the season, do not continue using it before it’s been assessed. Minor surface cracks can often be repaired if caught early. Left untreated, they travel into the blade and can end the bat’s life entirely.
Does CricCounty Offer a Bat Knocking Service?
Yes. If you’d prefer to have your bat prepared by hand, our team at CricCounty’s Ilford store can knock your bat in for you as part of our in-store services.
This is particularly popular for players who’ve just invested in a higher-grade bat and want the preparation done properly from day one. It’s also a great option if you’re buying a bat as a gift for a junior player.
Visit us inside High Performance Cricket, 49 Fowler Road, Ilford, IG6 3FF — or get in touch via our Contact page to ask about availability. You can also book our bat knocking service online.
Ready to Find Your Next Bat?
A well-knocked-in bat is only as good as the willow it started with. Browse our current range of hand-selected cricket bats below — stocked and prepared for UK conditions:
Free standard delivery on orders over £99. Pay later with Klarna and PayPal. Next-day delivery available across the UK.
Final Word
Knocking in a cricket bat properly is one of those habits that separates serious players from casual ones. It takes a week, a mallet, and a bit of patience — but the payoff is a bat that performs at its best and holds together through a full season of hard cricket.
If you’ve got questions about your specific bat or want to know whether it needs additional preparation, come into the store or drop us a message. We’re always happy to help.
