Cricket bats are expensive and it is important to take good care of them to perform at their best and ensure longevity.
You may think you’ve been taking care of it, but you may have done something without realizing it, which could damage the racquet.
Below, we list 6 points to note and apply.
- avoid hitting the ground
This might sound obvious, but I’m always amazed at the number of players who do it. I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of players hit the ball on the ground in order to catch it, and maybe you’ve done it too, but it’s not good for the racket. Even the pros do it, but they don’t have to worry about breaking the racket.
This can be bad for your racquet as you can easily damage the frame and head if you drop the racquet on the ground. If you hit the ball hard enough, it can cause a crack in the clubface, and the crack will continue to spread. These racquets differ from tennis racquets in that the string has a lot of flexibility, fiberglass and carbon fiber are much stiffer materials.
- Proper use of racket protectors
In order to take care of your cricket bat, your frame protector is vital. Proper use of the protector requires that the protector be stretched neatly and precisely over the top of the racket so that it covers the largest part of the frame.
Often when you’re playing, your racquet hits the wall as you try to retrieve the ball. Failure to protect the racket may result in damage to the racket frame. This is the strongest part of the racquet, so if the frame is damaged, the crack will only grow larger and extend to the core/face of the racquet.
Take the time to get it right, if you use the racquet protector wrongly and it’s not tight enough, it might start to peel off. Make sure there are no air pockets, bumps or gaps where dust or air can get in.
- Change grips frequently
The more you play, the faster your grip will degrade. The moment your hand slips when you hit the ball, the shot is ruined, so a sticky grip is crucial.
In the height of summer, if you play every day, I recommend changing your grips at least once a week. You’ll know it’s time to change your grip once the grip starts to feel smooth and the sticky feeling goes away.
No matter how good your racquet is, if your grip is slipping, your shots won’t be effective.
- Avoid exposing the racket to high or low temperatures
Heat can damage the racquet by weakening or destroying the fibers in the frame or core of the racquet. Not only is the material affected, but many advanced racquets have an EVA core which, when left at high temperatures for extended periods of time, starts to weaken and soften, making the racquet less powerful.
The racquet will be fine during summer play, but make sure you don’t leave it in very hot places. Think of it like your phone, you can use your phone all summer, but you won’t leave it in 30 degree heat for hours, or leave it in a hot car for hours because it May overheat.
Keep your cricket bat in a box, bag or shade and make sure it is at room temperature.
- Avoid exposing rackets to low temperatures
This is similar to the above trend. It’s okay to use padel rackets in cold conditions, but you need to make sure you don’t leave your paddle in cold places for long periods of time, for example:
- The trunk of your car.
- Spend the night outside in the cold.
- In the wet/rain for too long.
When a racquet gets too cold, it becomes harder, more brittle, and more prone to cracking and cracking.
Never play in the rain or in wet conditions such as dew on the course. Wet balls can become heavier and harder and can damage or crack the racket face when struck.
- Invest in a padel bag
The last way to care for your padel racket is to buy a padel bag. Not only are they very convenient for carrying all your other gear and accessories, but you can also store all your padel rackets in padded and often temperature-regulated compartments.
