Why consistency is key when grading cricket bat blades
Providing well-made cricket bats to our buyers is essential for their overall customer satisfaction. With English willow cricket bats from us, the focus is on the quality of the wood as well as accurately grading the cricket bat blades.
In this article, we’ll explain how the grading system of cricket bat blades works and why consistency is an integral part of the process.
How is a cricket bat blade graded?
The grading of a cricket bat blade is a subjective process whereby an expert determines the grade of the wood used. Using their wealth of knowledge and years of experience, they are able to accurately grade the blades before the blade is finalised for purchase just by looking at it.
If consistency isn’t standardised when grading cricket bat blades, you risk bats being downgraded in the design process, meaning less profit and a reduction in quality for our customers. To prevent this from happening, it’s paramount to work with expert cricket bat blade graders who are meticulous in their craft.
Keeping grading consistent
If we grade too hard then the clefts can only be downgraded when making, which means a loss for our customers, we grade fairly and consistently so the customer can make a profit and want to buy more blades.
We have been supplying a lot of our customers for over 40 years and have grown with them, they know what they are getting when they buy from us with no surprises, indeed complaints about our grading are very rare indeed with regular compliments.
What to expect from the different cricket bat blade grades
Cricket bat blades are mainly graded on appearance, weight may also come into it if they are particularly heavy which could mean they are the wrong type of willow.
The cleaner, whiter and straighter the grain on the blade really determines the grade. If you have a bent grain with large knots on the blade it is downgraded, although of course a lot of these may disappear in the production process which is to the advantage of the bat manufacturer.
Old methods being preserved
Many bat manufacturers still make by hand to this day and even the very mechanised companies will still use a good amount of “hand making” time from their skilled bat makers.
It is up to the individual bat maker what grade of bat the blades make that leave our factory, some even take into account the way the bat bounces off the finished bat to decide what grade of bat they will sell it as.
Partner with JS Wright & Sons
Approximately 75% of the worlds English cricket bat willow cricket bats come from us. But we’re always on the lookout for new land to plant the best, straightest young cricket bat willow trees (also known as cricket bat willow sets). We do everything ‘The Wright Way’ through to felling them. This is why partnering with J.S. Wright & Sons is a sound investment for the future.