Your Cricket Etho's Bat tips.

[Hooper]

You guys are weak, putting grips on is easy

I do it all the time, because I like changing grips, I love the white grips especially.

 

[etho11]

So anyone got any other bat troubles?

 

[Hooper]

Do you know anything about graphite handles?

 

[etho11]

I know about carbon handles these are as you say graphite. I have heard that is allows more spring off the bat. These days though they do not make the bats with this, they are usuing carbon core handles a bit different. An example is the GN Fusion.

 

[Hooper]

In my mates GN Pheonix the graphite handle is crap! It makes the bat lighter, but the feel of ball on bat is much wierder and it feels like your hitting the ball with a skateboard!

 

[etho11]

In my mates GN Pheonix the graphite handle is crap! It makes the bat lighter, but the feel of ball on bat is much wierder and it feels like your hitting the ball with a skateboard!

Does he get a real tingy noise with his bat?

 

[barmyarmy]

Buy raw lin-seed oil. I will tell steps for oiling after knocking in.

Shouldn't I oil it first?
Any tips on how much oil to use and what to oil it with? A cloth? A brush?

 

[JamesyJames3]

Oil after knocking in. Preferably use a cloth and give the bat two coats. Lin-seed oil is quite strong so you don't need much on the cloth to cover the bat. You will see the gloss and shine on the blade with the littlest bit.

 

[Almost_Austwick]

Shouldn't I oil it first?
Any tips on how much oil to use and what to oil it with? A cloth? A brush?

Go very easy with the oil, its best not to oil rather than over oil as you'll just kill the bat. Also, does your bat have a toe guard, if it does then I really would'nt bother with oiling it, however if you still want to then only apply to the face and edge and not the toe.

Best way is to put a small amount of oil on cloth and then wipe down the bat with it. Do not go over the splice as it make weaken the glue. One wipe down the face, edge and toe (and back if you wish) should do it. Some people like to leave it a week and then apply a second coat but it's really down to preference.

This link will give you more tips on looking after your bat as well as oiling it.

Once that is done it is your choice how often you oil your bat i oil mine about every 2-3 weeks but my bat isnt the greatest.

The reason your bat isn't the greatest is due to the amount of oil you're putting on it. A light coat once a year is more than enough. Remember, the point of oiling is to repel water damage not to help the performance of the bat. I've lost count of the number of 'dead' bats I've had in due to over oiling. You will not believe the number of people who actually stand their bat in oil for a week.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

This is an interesting thread now Well done Etho

 

[Almost_Austwick]

Grips

Firstly, if your grip has risen at the bottom of the bat then the easiest thing is to roll the grip up the bat (say a 3rd of the way up) and then roll it back down again. You may need to do this a few times before it stretches back to it's original point. Once you're happy apply some fresh tape at the base and it should be fine.

Follow the same technique for the top of the bat but obviously roll the grip downwards. If you have a small amount of excess at the top this can normally be knocked down using the flat of your palm. For larger amounts you're better off going to someone who knows what they're doing as it can be a pain to sort out until you get the hang of it. It's difficult to describe the technique but it basically involves rolling the grip onto itself in which in turn creates wrinkles and then smoothing them out to evenly distribute the grip. However, expect sore palms the first few times you try it.

Remember, the more you mess around with a rubber grip the more it'll lose it's rubbery properties and there comes a point when it's just easier to get a new one put on.

Yeah, my grips often come off little by little showing the string, and alot of wrinkles in the grip itself-looks really ugly and now the string is coming off. I don't play cricket seriously but would like to fix this.
Thanks

My advice to you would be to get a new grip fitted as by the sound of things yours has had better days. The fact that it's wrinkled and 'looking ugly' is a dead give away.

As for the string coming off, cheap way is to wind the string back on the handle and fix with wood glue or failing that take it to your local bat maker and have it rewound properly - should cost less than ?10 including a new grip (not sure about the cost elsewhere in the world).

 

[angryangy]

Shouldn't I oil it first?
Any tips on how much oil to use and what to oil it with? A cloth? A brush?

Using bare hands will help you become as one with the bat.