What is the difference between Performance Grade and Players Grade cricket bats?

Performance Grade bats use Grade 2 English willow with fewer grain lines and a denser face, built for hard-hitting players who want maximum ping and immediate responsiveness. Players Grade bats use Grade 1 premium English willow with straight, tightly-packed grains, delivering better timing, feel, and durability. SGM Cricket offers both grades plus a limited Reserve Edition, all handmade in Melbourne, Australia.

What is a Reserve Edition cricket bat?

The SGM Reserve Edition is a limited-release range of cricket bats made from Grade 1+ English willow, hand-selected for 6 to 12 straight grains, minimal blemish, and exceptional natural hardness. Produced in small numbers each season and finished by hand in Melbourne, they require minimal knock-in and are intended for the most serious cricketers.

What weight cricket bat should I use?

Most adult club cricketers perform best with a bat in the 2.7 to 2.9 lb range. Lighter bats suit players who value bat speed; heavier bats suit stronger players who want more power. SGM Cricket offers custom weights from 2.6 to 2.12 lbs across all grades.

Does SGM Cricket make custom cricket bats?

Yes. SGM Cricket specialises in custom-made English willow cricket bats built to your specifications including weight, bat profile, spine height, toe shape, and handle grip type. Custom bats are available across Performance Grade, Players Grade, and Reserve Edition from their Melbourne workshop.

How do I knock in a new cricket bat?

Apply two to three light coats of raw linseed oil to the face, edges, and toe, allowing 24 hours between coats. Then use a bat mallet to tap the face for at least three to four cumulative hours, starting gently and increasing force. After mallet work, spend two to three net sessions hitting with an old ball before match play.

Where is SGM Cricket located?

SGM Cricket Bats is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They handcraft English willow cricket bats and supply a full range of cricket gear including batting gloves, pads, thigh guards, bags, and training balls. Free local pickup is available in Melbourne and they ship Australia-wide.

Performance Grade English Willow Cricket Bats

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Performance Grade English Willow Cricket Bats | SGM Cricket Melbourne

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Built for power. Crafted for champions.

SGM's Performance Grade English Willow Cricket Bats are Grade 2 English willow blades engineered for explosive, hard-hitting play. With fewer grains and a higher-density profile, these bats are designed to ping harder from the first knock, perfect for the aggressive batter who wants results from ball one.

Unlike Grade 1 willow, Performance Grade timber prioritises raw hitting power over aesthetic grain count, delivering exceptional pop and a wider sweet spot. Every bat is pressed and finished by hand at our Melbourne workshop, and can be custom-made to your preferred weight, shape, and profile.

Performance Grade Features

Grade 2 English Willow: fewer grains, denser face, maximum rebound
High-ping profile: ready to perform faster than Grade 1
Custom shapes and weights: 2.6 to 2.12 lbs, tailored to your game
Handcrafted in Melbourne: locally made, globally competitive
Full toe and edge protection on all bats

Trusted by club cricketers and local competition players across Victoria. If you want a bat that punches above its price point and demands respect from the opposition, this is it.

Free local pickup available. Australia-wide shipping. Contact us for custom orders.