05/02/26 Instagram Q&A Full Recap
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Instagram Q&A - A Full Recap
In our latest Instagram Q&A, we answered your most common questions on cricket bat willow, grading, grain myths, bat care, laminated bats, and pricing. Below is the full recap in one place.
Butterfly Stains and Performance
Butterfly-stained willow can perform just as well as Grade 1 or Grade 2 clefts, provided the stains press properly and do not leave ridges or dead spots. These clefts are often denser, which can add strength, but that same density means they do not always press as cleanly.
True butterfly clefts are rare, but when done right, performance is not compromised.
Stains in the Hitting Area
Where possible, stains are kept away from the middle of the bat. If a stain is unavoidable and sits in the hitting area, it becomes a lottery - sometimes it is dead, sometimes completely normal, and on rare occasions it can even add extra punch.
Each cleft must be judged individually rather than written off based on appearance alone.
Willow Grades - What They Really Mean
Grades such as Players, G1, and G2 are primarily based on aesthetics - grain count, straightness, cleanliness, and overall visual appeal. Performance does not automatically increase as the grade improves.
Players grade clefts are typically lighter and lower density, allowing for big profiles in relatively low weights. These clefts can come from across all visual grades of willow, which is why Players grade bats do not always look perfect but often perform exceptionally well.
Tight grain or butterfly-stained Players grade clefts are particularly rare.
Grain Count Myths
Tight, clean grains have long been pushed by willow merchants to create demand for their most valuable stock. However, there is no evidence that tight grain bats perform better than bats with wider grain.
You will find good and bad bats across both tight and wide grain willow. Grain count alone is not a reliable indicator of performance.
Durability and Tree Age
Bats with very tight grains often come from older trees, which tend to be more brittle by nature. As a result, they generally break sooner than bats made from younger trees.
Wider grain bats often come from younger willow and can be more forgiving over time. More grains do not automatically mean a longer lifespan.
Biggest Indicator of Performance
The strongest indicator of a bat that will truly perform is the absence of issues such as pin knots, dead knots, butterfly stains, and false growths in the hitting area.
When these are minimal, or kept well away from the middle, the likelihood of producing a bat that really pings increases significantly.
English Willow Only
We were asked whether we would make bats from Dutch willow. The answer is simple - no. We only work with English willow.
Bat Care - Oiling, Polishing, and Facings
Polishing and using bat facings does not dry a bat out or cause cracking. Oil barely penetrates the wood, and stickers and scuff sheets behave in the same way as oil. Moisture cannot escape through a sticker.
Many of the concerns around oiling are unfounded, and several major UK brands do not oil their bats at all without issue.
Knocking In and Pressing
How much knocking in a bat needs depends on how much pressing the cleft or bat has already had. Our bats are pressed just beyond a seam mark and are absolutely fine for players to use straight away.
We recommend starting in the nets with older balls and allowing the bat to play in naturally rather than excessive knocking.
Modern bats will reach the end of their life through normal wear and tear long before a lack of oil makes any real difference.
Laminated Bats and Sustainability
Laminated bats do not reduce waste at the bat-maker level. Any waste reduction happens at the willow merchant stage.
The move towards laminated bats is far more about commercial value than sustainability. Smaller clefts that may previously have been chipped, sold cheaply, or sold in another form can now be turned into laminated bats and sold at a higher price.
Laminated bats involve more manufacturing processes, often use cheaper materials in the back sections, take longer to make, and will only be produced where labour is cheap - which is not the UK.
There is no shortage of willow. There is a shortage of cheap willow. Increased demand has driven prices, and that narrative has pushed recent changes.
Product Updates - Pads, Gloves, and Bags
There are no plans for major changes to pads, gloves, or bags. Other than minor tweaks, there is no reason to change products that already do their job properly.
Constant updates purely to drive sales are not fair on customers. If your bag fits all your gear, and your pads and gloves protect you properly and are comfortable, the job is done.
Bat Pricing
For players looking for a genuine Players grade bomb bat around 2.8lb, pricing is £400 from stock or £500 for a custom build.
Tools of the Trade
For those interested in bat making tools such as drawknives and planes, eBay remains a reliable place to find quality, well-made older tools.
If you want to be involved in future Q&As, keep an eye on our Instagram stories.