What is Butterfly Cricket Bat Willow?
Introduction to Butterfly English Willow
In the world of cricket, the choice of bat can significantly impact a player's performance. Among the various types of bat materials, Butterfly English Willow stands out for its unique characteristics and benefits.
Despite its distinct appearance, Butterfly English Willow comes from the same Salix alba caerulea tree as other grades of English willow.
How can you tell if a cricket bat is a butterfly willow?
Butterfly willow is a type of cricket bat wood distinguished by a butterfly-shaped stain on its surface, resulting from pruned branches during growth. This dense scar enhances the bat's durability and performance. It's identifiable by the distinct, darker 'butterfly' markings across the bat face.
Right, let's keep reading and get all the details so you can make an informed decision on butterfly willow.
The Origin of the Butterfly Stain
The signature feature of Butterfly English Willow bats is the butterfly-shaped stain. This mark is not a flaw but rather a natural occurrence due to the tree's growth process. As the willow tree grows, branches are pruned over a 10 - 15 year period.
This pruning leaves a scar, resembling a butterfly, on the wood. This scar is not only visually distinctive but also enhances the wood's properties.
The stain marks a tough point in the wood, contributing to the bat's excellent 'ping,' outstanding performance, and durability.
Characteristics of Butterfly Willow
One remarkable aspect of Butterfly English Willow is that it can occur in any English willow cleft. This means that a butterfly scar can appear in clefts from any tree, regardless of the number of grains across the face - be it 10 - 12 grains or as few as 4 grains.
The scar area is denser than the rest of the wood, making it stronger. However, this density also means that it is rare to find light-weighted butterfly clefts.
Despite this, bats made from this willow are known for their durability and great performance and are becoming highly sort after.
The below image shows a butterfly cricket bat that required a toe shape change.
Economic Value
Another key aspect is their economic value. Since the butterfly stain is not conventionally aesthetically pleasing, bats made from this willow are generally more economical than those made from players grade or grade one - you can pick up a grade 1 butterfly willow for around £230 - £270 which is exceptional value.
This makes them an attractive option for players looking for high-quality bats at a more affordable price point.
Emperor Butterfly English Willow
An exclusive variant is the Emperor Butterfly English Willow. This type of willow takes the characteristics of the standard butterfly willow to a higher level.
Bats made from Emperor Willow not only have the durability and performance qualities of regular butterfly willow but are often chosen for their unique aesthetic and rarity, making them a prized possession for many cricketers.
Durability and Performance of Butterfly Willow
These bats are more durable, making them a popular choice among players. Their unique composition, marked by the butterfly stain, ensures a longer lifespan and consistent performance over time.
The strength of the wood in the scar area contributes to the bat's ability to withstand high-impact hits, making these bats incredibly reliable and a favourite among players who value longevity and resilience in their equipment.
Trogon's Collection
At Trogon, we understand the value and demand for high-quality cricket bats. That's why we offer a selection of bats made from Butterfly Willow and although we don't have huge amounts of stock of butterfly you can check if we have available.
Our collection includes stock cricket bats, and we also provide the option for players to have customised bats made to their personal specifications. Our butterfly willow collection stands out for its blend of performance, durability, and economic value.
Conclusion
In conclusion, bats made from Butterfly Willow offer a unique combination of durability, performance, and economic value. Whether you choose a standard bat or opt for the rarer Emperor, you are investing in a cricket bat that will serve you well on the field.
At Trogon, we are proud to offer these exceptional bats in both stock and customised options, ensuring that every cricketer can find a bat that meets their needs and preferences. Discover the difference of Butterfly English Willow with Trogon's expertly crafted collection.
For all cricket bat enquiries contact Len on Len@trogoncricket.com or WhatsApp +44 07539000063 and he will answer all your questions