About Cricket Bats

All You Need 2 Know about Bats and Online Purchasing

Introduction –
Cricket is a technical game and as we know is one of the most passionately followed games in the world. It can be perceived as a simple pastime but those who know it intimately know that it is a complex game woven in rich tradition. At Kingsgrove Sports we understand that Cricket is simply not just a sport, or an art or even a craft. It’s a way of life and we are blessed to live it every day.

Of course the number one tools of the trade are CRICKET BATS. From the time that wonderful willow tree is felled and cut into cleft begins an amazing process of skill and preciseness. We like to think that this does not end at our end of the business.

Buying the correct bat is a very important aspect of being a cricketer and with such a wide range available can be a daunting prospect. Cricketers have been buying bats from Kingsgrove Sports Centre for almost 30 years so for many this certainly lends a huge amount of confidence. It helps to be able to obtain the right advice from experienced staff and it also benefits you to be able to choose from our huge selection. This service is something that we work very hard to mirror with our online service. After all there are many things you need to look out for when making your selection.

So for those thinking of purchasing a bat online let me walk you through the process here at www.kingsgrovesports.com.au before committing to a decision on buying a bat.

Beyond this information on buying bats online we will provide more information on Cricket Bats in an effort to educate our patrons to the best of our ability.

Selection and Range -
As you will see we have one of the best and most extensive ranges of cricket equipment in the world. This has been proven. We have had test cricketers sent to us by their own sponsors to pick from our range. Our sheer buying power alone demands that we secure the highest quality bats from the best manufacturers alone. We don’t want to play our own card too much but common sence clearly states that buying from a lesser retailer means that they get the bats that we rejected, a bit like the famous “John West” fish commercials. This element of quality should be your number one reason, for choosing to buy with Kingsgrove Sports. It doesn’t matter if you are buying a top of the range bat or a bat for a beginner. We will always stand behind our quality as well as that good old fashioned service and “Know How” that our business has been built around.

Options –
There’s much more to selecting and buying a bat than just buying a bat and we provide all these options for you when purchasing online. When you make your selection you will also be given the opportunity within this process to select the size and weight of the bat you require. This is very important when buying a senior size bat as there are many different weight options even within the same type of bat. Some bats will range in weight from 2 pound 9 ounces to 2 pound 13. At our online store you can choose the weight you want and we even help guide you further after you have completed the ordering process, more on that later. However, this process doesn’t apply so much to Junior bats as there is much less of a weight range issue. Weights are more standard. You can ignore this option and it will automatically go with the 2.7 weight. This of course will not apply. We will pick the standard / average weight for the size you want but you can follow up with an email requesting that you would like your size 6 bat with a light, medium / average or heavy feel as an example.

N.B. Although we always try to ensure that your blade will have the best possible looking grain and willow available please realise that as once thought, this DOES NOT improve the performance of the bat. Please do not expect your bat to come with excessive amount of grain. Whilst this may look nice, our bats are now graded by the Manufacturers for the quality of their perfromance eg ping of the centre and not the quantity of grain. In this day and age you can expect a top grade willow bat to contain between 6 and 10 grains. Some bats may have some blemishes such as knots but this generally will not effect the quality of the bat. If it did, it would be graded lower. The reason that bats with over 10 grains are virtually extinct is because the demaind for willow means that trees do not mature as long as eras now long gone. Please remember, we are supplied with the highest quality bats from every manufacturer.

There are still more options to think about and once you have made your selection you will then get the chance to select some of these options such as bat sleeves and extra grips etc. However, once we have received your completed online order we will send you an email confirming your order and all the important details.

On this email you will receive an in depth attachment explaining the preparation and care required for a new bat in regards to the process of correct knocking in before it is ready for match or training use. To view this document CLICK HERE.

This is what you will receive on the email and as you can see we take the time to carefully explain the process of making various decisions in regards to extra options for your bat choice and give another chance of confirming the correct bat weight for you in case you were not sure the first time –

Dear Online Buyer,

Your order for your bat has been received by Kingsgrove Sports Centre and when chosen will be passed onto our Cricket workshop for FREE Knocking in, rolling and oiling. This will take 1 week and is highly recommended by all manufacturers to help increase the lifespan and performance of your bat.
In order for us to supply you with our personalised service please note I have attached a document regarding bat preparation. Please read this and consider the following options.

What weight bat would you like ? The average weight of a bat is between 2 pd 9 to 11. Light is 2 pd 7 - 8. Heavy is 2 pd 11 - 13 and anything after that is a log (Very heavy).
You have requested 2.9

Would you like a clear plastic sleeve on the face of the bat to help protect (particularly from moisture and wear and tear) and save you from oiling? This is $10.00 extra. (Without a doubt, a sleeve is the best form of protection for the face and edges of a cricket bat)

Would you like Toe protection? This can be achieved by applying Shoo Goo $12.00. We apply it for you and will send you the rest of the tube for when you may need it in the future. (Kingsgrove Sports uses and recommends Shoo Goo as the best form of Toe protection)

How many grips would you like ? Most bats come with two, a few with one. Extra grips can be supplied at the discounted price of $7.00 and you can also include the applicator for $8.00

Other items available to consider are -
Bat Mallet - Ball on the stick to help with further knocking in. - $14.00
Bottle of Bat Oil - $6.00
Fibreglass tape for repairs - $8.00
Electrical Tape for grips - $4.00 per roll

If you would like to add any of these items please notify me by e-mail and I will add them to your Internet order.

Yours in cricket,
Hamish Solomons

Sometimes the bat you choose will already come with these options. This may be noted on the listing or we will notify you by email.

As you can see, we take great care with the bat buying process. We’ve always joked at Kingsgrove Sports Centre that choosing a bat is as important choosing a partner and that rings true in our online service.

So What happens now that you have made your choice ?
Your order will now end up in the very capable hands of Hamish Solomons of Jody Whitehead both of whom have incredible experience both on the field and on the selling floor. Click on their names to check their cricketing credentials / background. Sometimes both Hamish and Jody will combine forces to choose your bat. We will now use the information that we have obtained from you via your order and a possible return email to make the best possible selection for you. Literally we take your information and try to become you for your selection. Now I wont say that we are always spot on (that would be almost too arrogant and we are nice folk) but our track record is very, very impressive (See our testimonials). Our long standing online customers prefer and trust us picking their bats more than they do themselves. After all, where else do you find this kind of experience ?

Once we have picked your bat, we will use one of our special mallets to test the all important “Ping / rebound” of the bat to ensure it is up to the standard that you have paid for. We can often find bats in the mid range that ping as good a some of the top of the range bats because we know what to look for.

Now that your bat has been selected and your name has been attached to it, we lovingly begin our very own preparation process as outlined in the Knocking In document mentioned earlier. For natural bats this is a process that takes up to one week and includes oiling, however, sometimes we have these bats pre-knocked in. Some bats are already “Factory Prepared”. This is a careful and skilled process by our staff worth up to $50.00 Aud but you get it done for FREE because you decided to buy it from us !!!!

Hopefully by now you should be getting a fair idea of why you should buy bats from reputable sellers like www.kingsgrovesports.com.au rather than “Fly by the Nighters” all over the internet particularly in markets such as Ebay. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Ebay and we use it a lot ourselves but never in a million years would I buy a bat from these unheard of sellers. For starters, would you even know that your bat wasn’t a fake ? More on bootlegging later !

The Bat is ready to send –
When we have completed the preparation of your bat and added any of the extras such as Sleeves, Toes, Grips etc only then will we charge you. Your bat will be very carefully wrapped with protection and posted using the most reliable services. Charges within Australia are $6.00 and the overseas price depends on what zone you are in. For eg. New Zealanders and Asian nations can expect to pay approx. $35 - $44 whereas places such as the UK, US, Canada or South Africa would be looking more at $49.00. Keep in mind that our overseas customers will only ever get charged the cheaper export price showed on the listing. This makes up for the price of postage as does the rest of our serviced it is hoped. We will send you a final email to notify you that your order has been posted and provide any tracking details if required.

Cricket Bat Warranties –
In short, if you buy, as we say in Australia, a "Fair Dinkum" cricket bat from a reputable brand and retailer your bat will come with a warranty provided by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers may come with slightly different policies but to put it simply, if you buy your bat from www.kingsgrovesports.com.au your bat will have a one season warranty in accordance with most of the name brands. Warranties do not cover misuse and sometimes will require warranty inspection. For our overseas customers, this may be done by emailing pictures of the damaged areas. This aspect of buying bats is very important. After all bats are only made of wood. If you believe a bat should not break then perhaps you are in the wrong game. However, when you pay good money for a bat you want to make sure you are covered and that is why we have a solid warranty policy for all our valued customers. For a full warranty policy please visit - CLICK HERE.

How else can I order a bat –
If you need further help making a selection or need information, you can start the process off by simply emailing us at Kingsgrove Sports Centre (insert Link). Due to the massive amounts of emails we receive this process may take a little longer but we do endeavour to read and reply all genuine requests. Emails orders then receive priority over other emails. You can also order via the phone by calling 61 2(Country Code and State Code) 9502 4533 (Local number).

More on bootlegging –
Unless you are buying a bat from a reputable seller how do you know that your bat is not a fake ? At the moment the bootlegging of bats is an abundant trend amongst some unlawful sellers in the market. Bootlegging is simply when someone attaches the labels of expensive brands to shonky cheap bats usually of cheap Indian Willow quality as opposed to high grade English Willow. This is why some sellers appear to be selling some name brands at ridiculously cheap prices. You don’t need to be Einstein to work out the legality of this pastime and at the end of the day it is the poor buyer that gets the raw deal (Ripped Off). Genuine bats will often bear the subtle mark of it’s maker that a faked bat wont have. Questions that need to be asked –
Does the bat come with a warranty ?
Is it any good and what grade willow is it ?
Is it knocked in ?
What weight is it ?

These are services that Kingsgrove Sports can more than guarantee !

Some more Helpful information on bats

Sizing

Please find below a couple of different sizing charts provided by different manufacturers as a guide for selecting your size.

FOR HEIGHT IN FEET & INCHES

Height	Up to 4ft	4ft - 4ft 3in	4ft 3in - 4ft 6in	4ft 6in - 4ft 9in	4ft 9in - 4ft 11in	4ft 11in - 5ft 2in	5ft 2in - 5ft 4in	5ft 4in - 5ft 6in	5ft 6in - 5ft 9in	5ft 9in and over	6ft and over
Recommended Size	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	Harrow	Academy	Standard Mens	Long Blade Option