Dear Fellow Batmakers,

There’s a certain type of character you will come across if you spend any amount of time in the world of batmaking. It’s been a long time coming but I feel like now is the right time to finally address it.

You’ll know the types straight away. There’s a few in the UK, and a couple overseas, and if they’re reading this, they’ll know exactly who they are. Usually, they’ve been around a long time. They’ve seen a lot, done a lot, and made a lot of bats. And fair enough - experience matters. It should be respected, absolutely. But somewhere along the line, experience turns into something else which they feel the need to project across the internet, usually late at night.

Instead of sharing knowledge, they guard it. And to be clear, I’m not against that. I had to hustle, spend serious money on machines, and put myself in a position just to be in the same room as other batmakers to even ask questions. So I know what it takes to learn this craft the hard way, to then just give it away simply because someone asked. And yes, it can catch you off guard when people ask for information that’s taken you years to figure out. However, when it comes to these characters, my only dealings with them have been when they’ve thrown shade online after seeing me do or say something they feel they can critique.

But there’s a difference. Instead of helping others improve, some look for opportunities to shut people down. Every conversation becomes a chance to correct, criticise, or remind everyone else that they know better. They position themselves as the final word on everything, as if batmaking is a fixed science that only they have mastered.

But the reality is that batmaking has always evolved. Every maker brings something different to the table - new ideas, new techniques, new ways of understanding what players actually want, and that’s always changing. The craft moves forward because people are willing to experiment, learn, and sometimes get things wrong along the way. It would seem it’s best not to share that journey online unless you don’t mind these guys having a snipe.

No one improves in an environment where they’re constantly being talked down to. Fortunately for me I use this type of pettiness and criticism as fuel to keep going and keep improving, because clearly some of these characters would be happier if I wasn’t out there doing things for them to criticise. The best in any trade don’t need to shout about what they know, and there are plenty within batmaking who don’t. They show it through their bats, they help others where they can, and they stay open to learning even after years in the game. And there are plenty of other guys around their age making many more bats than them that don’t play to their so-called rulebook, so it’s hard to see what they have to be so righteous about.

So it does make you wonder why some feel the need to constantly try and prove themselves online. If the bats are that good, surely they should speak for themselves. I believe mine do. And interestingly, a lot of the criticism aimed my way tends to come from the same voices. Maybe that says more than anything else. Maybe it’s not about knowledge at all. Maybe it’s about feeling threatened. And I mean that as a genuine question, because I’ve never done anyone any harm in this industry, apart from maybe taking a few sales they used to get. Sorry for having a passion to make bats.

And at a time like this, all of it matters more than ever. We all know there’s pressure on willow supply. Quality English willow isn’t unlimited, especially within the UK, and the future of UK batmaking depends on how we handle that. If anything, this should be the moment where makers pull together, put what’s been said in the past aside, support the craft, and push standards forward. Instead, too much energy is being wasted on pointless arguments and social media point scoring. I know I should rise above it, but I care about the craft, I care about what I’m building, and I’m not going to just sit quietly while people take shots for the sake of it. That said, it doesn’t help the industry, it doesn’t help the next generation of batmakers, and it definitely doesn’t help keep UK batmaking strong.

So if you’re starting out making bats, repairing them, or even just getting into it in a small way - focus on your craft, keep improving, back your work and let the results speak for themselves. And leave the noise to those who need it.

Lastly, despite everything I’ve said, I don’t actually want to be at odds with anyone in this industry. We’re all part of the same craft at the end of the day, and it’s bigger than any individual opinions or egos. If there’s an opportunity to move forward, put the nonsense aside and have a bit more respect for each other’s work, then I’m all for it - as respect goes both ways. There’s enough pressure on the industry as it is, and it makes far more sense to focus that energy on improving standards and keeping UK batmaking strong rather than constantly taking shots at each other.