The SGM Bat Making Process

Every bat that leaves our workshop has been through the same eight-step process. There are no shortcuts, because a cricket bat is only as good as the hands and process that built it.

1. Hand-Selected Clefts

It starts with the willow. We select only Grade 1 and Grade 2 English willow clefts, chosen for density, grain structure, and ping performance, not cosmetics. Each cleft is inspected before it enters the process.

2. Cleft Shaping

The raw cleft is shaped on the machine to the initial blade profile, establishing the spine, shoulder, and edge dimensions that determine the bat's character.

3. Handle Construction

Semi-oval handles are hand-shaped and fitted. The handle determines pickup, feel through the hands, and shock absorption. We use a cane and rubber splice construction for maximum responsiveness.

4. Hard Pressing

The face of the blade is run under a heavy roller press, compressing the willow fibres to harden the surface and maximise rebound performance. This is what gives a bat its ping. The pressing standard is identical across all our grades.

5. Toe & Blade Shaping

The toe, edges, and spine are hand-shaped to the final profile, whether SS Duck Bill for control or Full Profile for power. Wood shavings on the workshop floor mean the shaping is being done properly.

6. Hand Sanding & Buffing

The blade is hand-sanded progressively through fine grits, then buffed to a smooth, clean finish. This prepares the surface for oiling and protects the fibres from early cracking.

7. Mallet & Ping Test

Before a bat leaves the workshop, every blade is struck with a mallet and tested for ping. If it doesn't sound right, it doesn't leave. This quality check is non-negotiable.

8. Final Inspection & Stickering

The finished bat is inspected, weighed, and stickered. Only then is it ready for the crease.

Questions about the process or materials? Contact the team or read our Cricket Bat Buying Guide.