How to Knock In a New Cricket Bat at Home (2026)

What Is Knocking In and Why Do You Need It?

Knocking in is the process of compressing the willow fibres on the face and edges of a new cricket bat. A new bat straight from the factory has soft, uncompressed wood — hitting a leather cricket ball without knocking in will cause dents, cracks, or even split the bat.

Key facts:

• A properly knocked bat lasts 2–5x longer than one used straight from the wrapper
• Knocking in takes 6–8 hours of actual mallet work spread over 2–3 weeks
• Even "pre-knocked" bats need additional preparation — factory knocking is never enough
• This applies to English willow and Kashmir willow bats for leather ball cricket
• Tennis ball bats don't need knocking in

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What You'll Need

1. Cricket bat mallet (₹200–₹500) — specifically designed with a flat, rounded face. Do NOT use a regular hammer.
2. Raw linseed oil — NOT boiled linseed oil, NOT coconut oil, NOT any other oil
3. Soft cloth — old cotton t-shirt works perfectly
4. Old cricket ball — for the final testing phase
5. Cling film or plastic wrap — to wrap edges during oiling
6. Time — plan for 2–3 weeks from start to match-ready

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Step 1: Initial Oiling (Day 1)

What to do:

1. Apply a thin coat of raw linseed oil to the face, edges, and toe of the bat
2. Use a soft cloth — apply just enough to make the surface slightly damp
3. Do NOT oil the back of the bat (the flat side)
4. Do NOT oil the splice (where the handle meets the blade)
5. Do NOT oil the handle

How much oil:

• Think "moisturiser, not shower gel" — a very thin layer
• You should not see pooling or dripping
• About half a teaspoon covers the entire face

After oiling:

• Lay the bat horizontally with the face up
• Leave for 24 hours in a cool, dry place
• NOT in direct sunlight, NOT near a heater

Common mistake: Over-oiling is the #1 bat care error. Too much oil makes the bat heavy, deadens the sweet spot, and can cause the willow to swell and crack. One thin coat is enough for the first application.

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Step 2: Second Oiling (Day 2–3)

After 24 hours, the first coat should have been absorbed — the bat face should feel dry to touch.

1. Apply a second thin coat — same technique, same areas
2. Again, horizontal rest for 24 hours
3. That's it — 2 coats maximum for the initial preparation

For Kashmir Willow bats:

Kashmir willow is denser than English willow and absorbs less oil. One coat is usually sufficient. If the bat still feels dry after 24 hours, add a very light second coat.

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Step 3: Start Knocking — Face First (Day 4–7)

This is the main event. You'll spend 4–6 hours total on this step over several sessions.

Technique:

1. Hold the bat upright with the handle resting against a wall or your body
2. Start at the centre of the face (the sweet spot area)
3. Hit the bat face with the mallet using moderate force — about 60% power
4. Use short, bouncing strokes — let the mallet bounce off the face
5. Work outward from the centre in a circular pattern
6. Cover the entire face from splice to toe

Session structure:

• 30–45 minutes per session
• 2 sessions per day with a break in between
• Total: 3–4 hours on the face over 3–4 days

Pressure levels:

• First hour: Light pressure (40% force) — warming up the fibres
• Hours 2–3: Medium pressure (60% force) — main compression
• Hours 3–4: Firm pressure (80% force) — final hardening

How to check progress:

Press your thumbnail into the face. At the start, it leaves a clear dent. After proper knocking, the dent should be barely visible.

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Step 4: Knock the Edges (Day 7–10)

The edges are where most bats crack — this step is critical.

Technique:

1. Angle the bat at about 45 degrees
2. Hit the edges at an angle, working from the face toward the edge
3. Start with light force (40%) and gradually increase
4. Cover both edges from splice to toe
5. Pay extra attention to the toe edges — the most vulnerable area

Important:

• Never hit the edge head-on — always at an angle
• The goal is to round the edges slightly, compressing the fibres
• Spend at least 1–1.5 hours on edges alone
• Many cracks happen on edges because players skip this step

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Step 5: Knock the Toe (Day 10–12)

The toe takes the most punishment during batting — it hits the ground on drives and defensive shots.

Technique:

1. Turn the bat upside down
2. Hit the toe face with medium force
3. Work along the bottom 5–6 cm of the bat
4. Also knock the toe edges at 45-degree angles
5. Apply a thin coat of toe guard adhesive (optional but recommended — ₹50–100)

Duration: 30–45 minutes

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Step 6: Net Testing (Day 12–14+)

Do NOT go straight to a match. Net testing bridges the gap between mallet and leather ball.

Week 1 of net testing:

• Use an old, soft leather ball (not a new SG Test)
• Start with gentle throwdowns — half-pace
• Play defensive shots first — forward defence, back foot defence
• Check the face after each session for dents or marks
• If you see deep marks, go back to mallet knocking for another hour

Week 2 of net testing:

• Progress to medium-pace bowling
• Include drives and cuts
• Start using a newer ball
• The bat should now make a clean "ping" sound on middle

After 2 weeks of nets:

Your bat is match-ready. The face should feel hard, the edges should be slightly rounded, and the sweet spot should be responsive.

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Complete Timeline

Day	Activity	Duration
Day 1	First oil coat	10 min + 24hr rest
Day 2–3	Second oil coat	10 min + 24hr rest
Day 4–7	Knock face	4 hours total
Day 7–10	Knock edges	1.5 hours total
Day 10–12	Knock toe	45 min total
Day 12–14	Soft ball net testing	2–3 sessions
Day 14–21	Full pace net testing	3–4 sessions
Day 21+	Match ready	—

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What About "Pre-Knocked" Bats?

Many brands sell bats labeled "pre-knocked" or "match ready." Here's the truth:

• Factory knocking machines compress the face but NOT the edges
• A "pre-knocked" bat needs at least 3–4 hours of additional mallet work
• Focus extra time on edges and toe — these areas are rarely pre-knocked properly
• Skip Step 1–2 (oiling) only if the bat already feels oily to the touch

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Do Kashmir Willow Bats Need Knocking In?

Yes, but less than English willow:

Factor	English Willow	Kashmir Willow
Oil coats needed	2	1
Mallet hours	6–8	3–4
Net testing	2 weeks	1 week
Total prep time	3 weeks	2 weeks

Kashmir willow is naturally denser, so the fibres are already more compressed. But skipping knocking entirely will still lead to early damage. Read more in our Kashmir vs English willow guide.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using a regular hammer — Metal hammers crack the willow. Always use a purpose-built cricket bat mallet.
2. Over-oiling — Maximum 3 coats over the bat's lifetime. More than that kills performance.
3. Hitting edges head-on — Always angle the mallet. Head-on strikes split edges.
4. Rushing to play a match — Give it the full 2–3 weeks. One bad shot on an unprepared bat can crack it.
5. Using boiled linseed oil — Only use RAW linseed oil. Boiled linseed has chemical additives.
6. Knocking the back of the bat — Only knock the face, edges, and toe. The back doesn't need it.
7. Storing the bat vertically after oiling — Oil pools at the toe and over-saturates it. Always store horizontally.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours should I knock in a cricket bat?

A new English willow bat needs 6–8 hours of mallet knocking spread over 7–10 days. Kashmir willow needs 3–4 hours. Don't try to rush it in one long session — the willow needs time between sessions to settle.

Can I use coconut oil instead of linseed oil?

No. Coconut oil is too thick and doesn't penetrate willow fibres properly. It also turns rancid over time and can attract insects. Only use raw linseed oil — available at any sports shop for ₹100–150.

How do I know when my bat is fully knocked in?

Press your thumbnail firmly into the face. If it leaves almost no mark, the bat is ready. Also, when you hit a ball in nets, it should make a crisp "ping" sound rather than a dull thud. The face should feel uniformly hard across the sweet spot.

What if my bat cracks during knocking in?

Small surface cracks (hairline) are normal and won't affect performance. Apply a thin coat of linseed oil to the crack. If you see a deep crack running across the grain or along an edge, the bat may have a manufacturing defect — contact the seller for a replacement. Read our complete cricket kit guide for what to look for when buying.

Should I knock in a bat I bought online without seeing it?

Yes — online bats are no different from shop bats in terms of knocking needs. However, before knocking, inspect the bat for defects: check the grain (6–12 grains on the face is ideal), check for splits at the splice, and make sure the handle is straight.