Trogon Cricket's Approach to Cricket Bat Pressing: Myths and Facts
At Trogon Cricket, we're not just passionate about crafting cricket bats; we're dedicated to every bat we make and that includes cricket bat pressing.
There's a lot of chatter in the cricket world about what makes a good or bad bat press, especially when it comes to the mythical "pro press or soft press".
But before we jump into bat pressing, what exactly is bat pressing?
Bat pressing compacts the wood fibres of a cricket bat, hardening the surface to withstand ball impacts. This crucial step enhances durability, reduces prep time, and improves the "ping" or rebound effect, ensuring maximum energy transfer for better shot power and distance. Essential for peak performance and longevity.
We're here to set the record straight and share our approach to pressing cricket bats.
The Truth Behind Cricket Bat Pressing
The goal of pressing a cricket bat is straightforward: to harden the bat's face to withstand the impact of the ball.
This process involves compressing the first 3 - 5 mm of fibers on the face of the bat. Additional "knocking in" further compacts the outer 0.5mm, enhancing its resistance to impact.
A softer press, contrary to popular belief, only increases the amount of preparation a bat needs before it's match-ready, i.e. knocking in!
Debunking the Soft Press Myth
Many believe that professional players prefer a softer press for their bats, but this is a myth. Pros require bats that are ready for immediate play, not ones that need extensive knocking in, can you imagine David Warner sitting down and knocking in the 20 bats he travels the world with? No, neither can we!
Our experience has shown that a softer press leads to decreased energy transfer to the ball and quicker deterioration of the bat, because it’s not 100% ready to be used.
Our Cricket Bat Pressing Philosophy
Here at Trogon Cricket with our custom-made pressing machine, we can assure you that our method transforms average bats into exceptional ones.
We aim for a press that leaves only slight markings when struck with a wooden mallet as anything less reduces performance and durability, while excessive pressing can cause damage.
The above image shows me pressing a raw cleft. I've cleaned the face of the cleft, identified which end I want to handle and started the pressing process. First and very importantly, I've added some water to the face so the cleft doesn't crack when under pressure and then run the cleft through the press under pressure, checking the ping and sound after every couple of runs.
A Bat Pressing Short Story
A family friend, who used to play with Duncan Fernley who took up batt Making after he finished playing. He made a lot of bats for the Worcester players, Ian Botham got him to make a bat that had very little pressing the ball went a bullet when Beefy hit it BUT he smashed the face to bits in no time. Duncan Fernley who sponsored him said he couldn't afford to keep making them like that, so hard-pressed them there after!
Avoiding a Bad Press
We believe a soft press is a bad press. It not only underperforms but also leads to a shorter lifespan for the bat. Our pressing technique avoids these pitfalls, ensuring a balance of performance and longevity.
Our Commitment to Quality
At Trogon Cricket, there's no difference in the way we press any of our bats. Our goal is to provide all our customers, whether they're professionals or enthusiasts, with bats that offer exceptional performance and durability.
Every bat that leaves our workshop is a testament to our commitment to quality and our unique approach to bat pressing.
For all cricket bat enquiries contact Len on Len@trogoncricket.com or WhatsApp +44 07539000063 and he will answer all your questions.