Bat Preparation

At GA Sports, we understand how excited our customers are to use their new bat straight away. That’s why we offer a professional knocking-in service to have your bat ready for play as quickly as possible.

Our comprehensive knocking-in process ensures that no further manual knocking is required. However, we still recommend using the bat in nets against older balls for 3–4 sessions before facing a new or hard cricket ball in a match.

All English Willow bats require proper preparation (knocking-in and oiling) before they can be used against a hard cricket ball. While bats are pre-pressed at the factory—compressing the bat surface by 4–5 mm—additional knocking-in is essential to fully compress the grains and strengthen the fibres.

Knocking-in is a vital process to ensure the bat’s longevity and maximise performance. Cricket bats are a valuable investment, and proper preparation reduces the chances of cracking by up to 80%.

Traditionally, knocking-in by hand with a wooden mallet can take 18–20 hours and, if done incorrectly, may compromise performance and lifespan. At GA Sports, we save you the time and effort by using a fully automated knocking-in machine that prepares your bat in just 45 minutes.

Our state-of-the-art machine delivers 15,000 precision knocks, covering the toe, edges, and blade thoroughly. Once complete, your bat is ready for use—no extra knocking required.

- FREE Knocking-in for all English Willow bats purchased from GA Sports

- Pre-owned bats can be prepared for a service fee of $50

For extra protection and maintenance-free use, we also recommend fitting extratec after the preparation process.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact GA Sports — we’re always happy to help!