Everyone loves to chat to our bat makers.
Here are the common questions people ask...

My bat's been knocked in, can I use it in a game?

We would recommend that you take further time knocking in the bat with a cricket mallet, throw downs or a bowling machine to further increase the bats performance. Bowling machine balls are a lot more forgiving than standard cricket balls and an ideal way to prepare your bat.

Bat mallets should be used with great care and struck with gradually increasing force in all areas where one would normally expect to hit the ball. The edges or toe should never be struck at right angles as this would be likely to cause damage.

Once the oil has completely dried, a sheet of anti-scuff can be used. At Chase we highly recommend a facing is added to increase the life and performance of the bat.

Do you make very light cricket bats?

Yes, lighter weights can be achieved but to take weight out of the cricket bat, the profile will be reduced.

What is heartwood?

Heartwood is the oldest part of the English willow tree and will have a slightly darker colour. This does not affect the performance and is requested by many cricket players.

Can you replicate my current cricket bat? 

Yes! We offer a replica service so we can recreate your favourite blade. There is no additional cost for this service.

Can you create a custom-made cricket bat to my specifications?

Yes! Our custom-made option allows you to set your exact requirements and have a cricket bat handcrafted in line with your specifications. There is no additional cost for this service.

Are the number of grains in a cricket bat important? 

The number of grains in a cricket bat face indicates the age of the willow tree it was made from. As standard, the highest-grade willow came from the older English willow trees, and so it became common for players to believe that more grains equals a better bat. These days, the growth and production cycle of modern cricket bats means that more bats are coming from younger trees, which means more bats will have fewer grains but they will still perform to an exceptional standard.

Many straight grains make for a beautiful cricket bat. Older English willow with more grains tend to perform better early on but may potentially have a shorter lifespan. The younger English willow with fewer grains may need more time to reach peak performance, but the bat will usually last much longer

How do I know the cricket bat has a good ping? 

Ping is the rebound after impact on the face of a cricket bat. This can initially be checked using a chase cricket bat mallet. The ping will provide more power when hitting a cricket ball. Our bat makers determine the qualities of a bat's ping during the grading process. When striking the face of a bat with a bat mallet, you can feel the bat's quality in the rebound of the mallet. 

Can you only get a good, sweet spot with grade one cricket bats?

Cricket bats with exceptionally good sweet spot can be found across all grades of willow and across all our Chase cricket bats. We will also upgrade the cricket bat if it has an outstanding performance level.  

How do I know if my bat has a good pick up?

Pickup describes how a cricket bat feels in a player's hands when they pick it up. You will often see player taking a stance, gently picking up the cricket bat and following an up and down motion. They will also engage in pretend shot play. This is them checking how the bat picks up. A cricket bats pick-up is a combination of its weight, shape, and balance and how it picks up is more important than how much it weighs. A very well-balanced bat, with good pickup can be heavy, but still feel light when it's picked up. This is by far the most important factor to consider when choosing your bat. Players use the pick-up rather than the weight to determine if it will be suitable for them. No player wants to be at the crease with a bat that it too heavy.

Do cricket bats need to be heavy to provide power?

Bats need a fair bit of weight to provide good impact against the ball and in some cases a player may lose power with a bat that's too light. However, pickup should be the priority. If the bat is too heavy, you won’t be able to play to your full ability. 

How are cricket bats designed?

In addition to the size of the bat and handle, there are several other design options to bear in mind when selecting your cricket bat. You can read about the full bat making process here (link) Ultimately it is down to personal taste and how the bat feels. 

What is the Shape and Bow of a cricket bat?

Bats also have “the middle” positioned lower or higher in the blade which will be preferable based on the player’s technique and the type of pitches being used.

A higher middle will give the bat better balance and feel and is best suited to fast/hard wickets.

A lower middle will mean the bat feels slightly more bottom heavy but will allow for improved swing momentum and therefore power when playing shots. Bats with lower middles are well suited to typical English wickets with low and slow bounce.

Are the number of grains important?

The number of grains on the bat can help indicate the quality of the willow and the hardness of the wood; bats with less grains may take longer to knock in than ones with more.