KOOKABURRA

ENGLISH WILLOW BAT GRADING

Players Replica Grade	These bats are made from the same specially selected clefts that we use for our sponsored athletes. The clefts used are the best of the best in terms of performance. Selected first and foremost for ping, these low-density clefts allow Kookaburra to make big, full profiles to the specifications of some of the world’s best players. These bats will have a minimum of 6 grains but may have some minor imperfections or redwood apparent.
Pro Players Grade	This grade is cosmetically the best of the best, which often produce fantastic performing bats. These bats will have a minimum of six straight and evenly spaced grains, with only very minor imperfections visible on the bat. There will be a very minor amount of redwood, if any at all.
Pro 1.0 Grade	These bats will also have a minimum of six grains, which are evenly spaced and may have some minor imperfections. There may be a small amount of heartwood present towards the edge. They just didn’t meet the standard for Pro Players grade.
Pro 2.0 Grade	There will be a minimum of five grains present on the face of the bat with the potential for imperfections in the playing area of the bat, but these should not impact the performance. There may be some redwood present.
Pro 3.0 Grade	These will have a minimum of five grains. Blemishes and marks will be present on the playing area of the bat. With the potential for a higher percentage of heartwood. However, these clefts will often still have great performance.
Pro 4.0 Grade	These bats will have a minimum of four grains with some imperfections in the playing area of the bat. There may also be some curve in the grain at either end of the bat. A higher percentage of redwood may be evident. A great value for money option.
Pro 5.0 Grade Kookaburra Pre Prepared	This is the lowest grade of English willow that Kookaburra offers in a natural finish. The grains may not be perfectly straight, it may have some imperfections in the playing area and have some heartwood present. However, they are still cosmetically acceptable and offer great value and performance. These will be factory fitted with a clear facing.
Pro 6.0 Grade Kookaburra Pre Prepared	This grade is produced using Kookaburra's hybrid willow technology. This creates a value for money option for entry level players. These are factory fitted with our Armour Tec facing for extra protection.
Pro 7.0 Grade Kookaburra Pre Prepared	This grade of willow has a more significant amount of discolouration or cosmetic imperfections, which means Kookaburra applies the Pro Shield facing to make it more visually appealing. The Pro Shield facing is a durable lightweight protective covering that has imitation grains. The rear of these clefts are clean enough to leave with a natural finish to show off the natural appeal of the willow. Each year, a special selection of these clefts may have a web tape facing applied. A great option for English Willow performance on a budget.
Pro 7.1 Grade Kookaburra Pre Prepared	These will have imperfections on all areas of the cleft and are required to be completely covered through a combination of Pro Shield face and a painted back. Given they have undergone the same production process as all of the above grades, they often still perform well and offer excellent value for money for those on a budget.

 

KOOKABURRA PRE-PREPARED EXPLAINED

Kookaburra Pre-Prepared (KPP) is a process Kookaburra has developed to help minimise the time between purchasing your new Kookaburra bat and taking it out to the crease. If you see the KPP logo on your bat, depending on which model you have purchased, Kookaburra will have completed some or most of the preparation work for you. Please see further instructions below for each model. If you are unsure which model you have, check
the grading sticker on the face of the bat (e.g. Pro Players, or Pro 5.0), the barcode or receipt.

Pro 5.0 – This bat has been fitted with a clear Xtra Tec sheet on the face of the bat to add extra protection. Kookaburra have pressed the blade and boned the edges for extra durability. All you will need to do is apply 1-2 coats of linseed oil to the exposed areas of willow (DO NOT oil the splice joint / shoulders) to seal the natural moisture content into the willow. We still recommend starting with older balls and low speed throw downs before facing a new ball.

Pro 6.0 – Hybrid Willow Technology has been fitted with an Armour Tec facing, along with fibreglass tape on the edges. Kookaburra have pressed the blade and boned the edges for extra durability. The rear of the bat has a natural finish so you will need to apply a few light coats of raw linseed oil to seal the natural moisture content into the bat.

Pro 7.0 - English Willow that has been fitted with a Pro Shield face and fibreglass edges for added protection and durability of the playing area. The back of the bat has been left natural, so you should apply a few lights coats of oil. Knocking in with a mallet is not required.

Pro 7.1 - English Willow that has been fitted with a Pro Shield face and fibreglass edges. The back of the bat has been painted, meaning there is no need to oil this bat. As always it is recommended to start using this bat against old balls. Knocking in with a mallet is not required.