FAQs

Do Black Cat bats come pre knocked-in?

Due to the fact that every bat is different, and different people like their bats knocked-in for different amounts of time, our bats are not sold pre knocked-in. If you are unsure of how to prepare your new bat, please just email us for help.

We also recommend fitting a clear plastic cover to the face of the bat, to protect against a wet ball, and are more than happy to supply these.

Do Black Cat bats need oiling?

It is far more damaging to a bat to over-oil the face than under-oil. The bats are oiled in the making process, so do not need oiling in the first season. It is advisable to oil the face of the bat and sand lightly once a season.

What is heartwood and how does it affect the performance of a bat?

Heartwood is the darker brown, or reddish, wood that is found at the centre of a willow tree. It is thought to be stronger than the white sapwood, leading many to request that their bat has a strip on the outside, or inside, edge. Some proffessionals play with bats that are over a half heartwood, with a few playing with bats made entriely of the stuff.

How long does a bat last?

As a rough guide a bat lasts about 1000 runs, including practice. This means for some players, a bat will last for three or four seasons, for others, just the one.

When making the bat, the batmaker presses the cleft in order to prepare the bat for use against a hard cricket ball. There is a fine line between over-pressing (and losing all performance) and under-pressing a bat (losing durability). Black Cat bats are pressed to perfection, ensuring unrivalled performance, with the durability our customers expect.

A bat's life can be prolonged by good preparation and care during the bat's use. Having said this, all bats are different, meaning seemingly identical bats, prepared and cared for in the same way, can end up lasting for different lengths of time.