Which willow is best for cricket bats

All bats are made from a natural material so the grain structure can vary. Every piece of willow is graded as follows:. The blade is unbleached and usually has 8 to 12 blemish free straight grains. This level of willow is also referred to as Players Grade. Grade 1 English Willow - High quality unbleached English willow. As above but with a slightly broader grain and sometimes a slight red edge. Typically straight grains on the face. Grade 2 English Willow - Unbleached English willow with some minor blemishes, red wood on the edge and a slight irregular grain.

Again, can be 6 to 10 grains. Grade 3 Willow - Some of these bats will be bleached English willow to cover up a more irregular grain and more blemishes. Grade 4 Willow - This will be bleached English willow which is often covered up with a protective facing and sold as "non oil" bat.

Grains - The number and width -. What should you look for when selecting a bat? This question is by far the most common question we are asked when helping customers choose their new English Willow bat in our shops.

There are a few common things we look for when helping our customers choose their new cricket bat - Number of Grains, width of grains, appearance of any redwood, or knots - and also the consistency of the willow.

Most of our "top end" cricket bats will offer amazing consistency in terms of the number of grains, the distance they are spaced out, a the lack of any major blemishes, and usually minimal if any at all appearance of redwood. This will offer a superb playing surface which is very consistent and usually will play very nicely. We have many other Grades which have been developed over the years to satisfy the different demands from all the different markets across the world. There are bound to be some small knots or blemishes on the bat, after all it is a natural product and cannot be expected to be perfect, with no faults at all.

The only main differences in the grade are the visual appearance of the wood including amounts of butterfly stain plus the number of blemishes or knots on the blade and the straightness of the grain. Generally the more colour in the blade the lower the grade, there is however negligible difference in the playing ability, it is purely a perception that if it looks good it will play well, this is not the case.

Butterfly stain the stain resembles the shape of a butterfly , for example, used to be very popular for its superior strength and playing ability. It does make very good bats that are very strong and perform well. The factors that affect the rate of growth are the soil quality and amount of water available. In these modern times when growers want a quick return on their investment, trees have been planted in the most ideal site for the tree to grow quickly.

This means that in the future there are going to be less narrow grain trees available. In this respect we have cut mature trees in as little as 10 years, but generally 12 to 18 years gives a wider grain with 25 years or more a narrower grain. A narrow grain bat will certainly play well, quicker, but will not have a particularly long life. On the other hand a wider grain bat with as little as 4 grains on the face will play as well, given time, as a narrow grain, it will also , without doubt have a longer life span.

The reason for this is that the wood is not as old, so it is stronger and will stand up better to the beating with some of the very hard balls used in matches. We are finding with the climate changing and growing seasons getting longer, that the amount of narrow grain we are producing is getting less as a percentage. There is nothing we can do about it and players will have to adapt in the coming years to accepting more wider grains.

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Lifetime 0 Expired 0 Redeemed 0. Total redeemable TimesPoints 0. As you develop as a player, take note of exactly where along the bat you tend to favor when hitting the ball for future reference. Feel the weight. Take the bat in your hands and simulate gameplay to judge how the bat's weight feels in motion. Take test swings and practice pick-ups to make sure it responds quickly when you need to react fast. Hold the bat out on arm's length with your weaker hand to see if it tires you too soon.

Lower sweet spots will make the bat feel more bottom-heavy, while higher sweet spots will do the opposite. Don't expect all bats to be ready for immediate use. This strengthens the wood by compressing it. If you're unsure of how to safely do it, go with a pre-treated bat as well. Yes, English willow is an excellent for cricket balls. It's lighter and more reliable when compared to other woods.

Not Helpful 15 Helpful Do online research to compare notes and talk to others on forums about their experiences with cricket bats. You could also test run a few at a local cricket club and ask for their direct advice.

Not Helpful 17 Helpful Both are very popular brands. Use your best judgment regarding your budget, needs, and other customers' recommendations.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful Yes, you can use a kashmir willow bat, but make sure that it is intended for that purpose. Keep in mind that kashmir willow bats will be heavier than English willow bats. Not Helpful 22 Helpful Yes, to some extent.

You could choose the bat according to edge -- the curved nature of an edge gives you an idea of the thickness of wood as well. So the curvier the edge, the better quality the wood. It depends on your ball and style. If you play quickly, go for lightweight and vice versa. Not Helpful 11 Helpful That is usual -- these are used to make the handle and you should not worry about it unless it is breaking.

Not Helpful 19 Helpful Use hot coconut oil. After applying oil, wrap it with paper, having the bat facing upwards. After one hour, knock it with a hammer. Repeat this for three days. After that, start knocking then use it. Then you can play with it in matches. Not Helpful 25 Helpful When do I swing the bat to play shot, when the bowler releases the ball or when it is pitched? Look first. Think which shot you can play, then when the ball is near to you, hit it. Not Helpful 27 Helpful I already have a cricket bat named surya 07, but it has a major crack on its tip.

Can I buy a new bat?