28. Still, some composite bat owners report changed "pop" tendencies in composite bats after extended use in very cold weather. Step 1 - Take 50 Hits off a Tee at 50% Power. Some players can be in the middle of a bad hitting slump, feel some painful negative feedback, and then immediately declare that their bat is dead. Hit 50 balls off a tee using about 50% power. I have been told previously that you should not use composite bats in batting cages or against pitching machines. The energy peak of the aluminum bat gives rise to . Cluster_Puck 2 yr. ago. If the barrel has any dents or flat spots, the bat is considered dead. Be gentle at first so that you do not damage the bat and make it difficult for it to rebound. A league umpire or administrator should have access to at least one compression tester. When the web turns into a crack, it eventually fails. by Jessy Williamson | Jan 26, 2023 | Equipment. To properly break in your composite bat, we recommend taking 150-200 swings playing soft toss or off a tee using real baseballs. This will allow the bat to perform its best when time to step up to the plate. By knowing when it might be time for a replacement, youll avoid any unnecessary hassle or expense down the line. Think of the power you'd use to swing at a . A clean bat fortifies a great grip for hitting and does not clean your metal cleats with your bat. Composite, alloy, or wood bats give off a distinct sound whenever a baseball or softball barrels off it. To properly break in your composite bat, we recommend taking 150-200 swings playing soft toss or off a tee using real baseballs. However, all materials are subject to fatigue and possible breakdown over time. First, make sure the bat is securely clamped in a vice so that it does not move. Then, in the following 50 hits, you will get another 50 soft toss hits. 1. She didn't see it coming. Keep the bat in an upright position at all times. It also sounded funny after this. Umpires have access to these compression testers. In addition to inadvisable risks, holding your bat in a cage can also be harmful. Promoters say the composite T. rex dubbed "Trinity" and drawn from . 83. It may vary from case-to-case. Sluggers 718 Select is a fantastic choice with a reasonable price point. Now, if you are certain that youre drilling the sweet spot during each at-bat yet still experience serious sting in the hands, your bat may be on a downward decline towards death. Unfortunately, most bats do lose their pop in time with enough use. We apologize for the inconvenience, but something went wrong with thispage. In comparison with an aluminum bat, a composite bat is lighter than an aluminum bat and great for swinging. In this article, we will discuss how to tell when a composite bat is broken in and ready for game use.The first thing to understand is that . If you are still unsure as to whether or not your bat is dead, even after reading this article and answering the following eight questions, please give our friendly Bat Experts a call at 866-321-BATS (2287) to find out what the next step is. For those who are asking what are BBCOR bats, then you came to the right place. About 150 to 200 swings should be made, with 40% to 50% power. Most leagues will require that your bat gets tested before use. A dull thud sound when you tap the knob on the ground can also indicate a dead bat, but it is not recommended to use this method. Mar 29, 2022. Before beginning, some tools, such as cotton cloth, bleach-free soap, warm water, and magic erase, must be thoroughly prepared. Step 1: Recognize that you will need to make at least 150 bat swings at no more than 50% of your maximum strength to complete this break successfully. Only composite barrel bats could use rolling. As a result, bat performance will decline, and the reinstated piece will fall out eventually. Size and weight of the bat. Our detailed research on this topic will help . 4. We also offer a variety of resources for baseball players, including tips on hitting, pitching, and fielding. Thus . Many design aspects of a composite bat may affect barrel compression, without affecting the barrel performance accordingly. Sound is one of the quickest ways to know if your bat is either dead or on its last legs. Dont let the bat come in contact with wet surfaces. Unfortunately, it takes 300-500 hits before a bat is fully broken-in, and many players are not willing to wait that long before bringing their composite bat to its full potential. A rattling bat is one where you hear something moving around inside the barrel when you shake it. Unfortunately, most bats do lose their pop in time with enough use. Once a knob has fallen off, or an end cap has popped out, it is next to impossible to re-apply these pieces and get your bat back to its original state. If you notice the paint is falling off the barrel that does not mean your bat is dead. For those softball players who use a composite bat, you should hear a loud crack after properly breaking in your bat. You need to return it. If you hear a rattling sound as the player comes to bat, you should declare the bat illegal and apply 7-4-1a and 4-1-3 a-b. While batting uses regulation baseballs or softballs only. The signs that indicate a dead baseball bat include cracks, dents, unusual sounds, hands stinging during use, and a decreased performance, such as declining pop, despite being fully broken in. 1,639. Make sure to Inspect Your Bat After Every Game To Check For Signs Of Damage And Breakage (A Broken Spider Web). Check the rotational index on the end cap of the composite bat to ensure that its in good condition and still providing optimum performance. Do this slowly over time as the bat starts to take on its new shape and feel. Here are ten important facts about composite and alloy bats you should know: Composite Bats. While if a bat is not dead, it should make a normal, high-pitched ping. forms: { Required fields are marked *. If you notice that some parts of the bat's surface are not smooth anymore or there is a concave, the bat will not perform . If it's a Ghost and you THINK it might be tracked, then it's definitely cracked. The pitching speed should be about 75% to 100% of the fastball speed you normally face. Composite bats are constructed differently than aluminum or wood bats and need to be broken in before they are used to their full potential. Warm weather will cause the bat to shatter if you play outside; cold weather will cause it to shatter if you play indoors. Any type can be rolled and be undetectable; this statement comes with some exceptions. After trying this, you may have a legitimate cause for concern, if you have broken in your bat, experienced it at full power, and are now noticing a huge decline in ball flight on contact. Everyone who rolls bats will let you know that bat rolling can't be detected; to a degree this is fact. Bat manufacturers offer either repair or replacement should the end cap or knob loosen or break from normal play. Always test a composite bat before you use it in a game. To clean a wooden baseball bat, you should first prepare several items, including alcohol, wood polish, and sandpaper. So not sure if the GA needs this but I have DD break in bats this way regardless of what mfg says about break in period. In truth, a compression test is the only thing thatll tell you for sure, but these testers arent always available. She also said her coaches said it sounded broken. Generally, however, you neednt worry about your bat rattling since this has no negative impact on your bats performance. 3. listeners: [], If you start to crush the balls at full strength right at the start, you run the risk of cracking your composite bat. Make sure to have a good Bat Condition Rating (BCR) when hitting at the cage so that your equipment lasts longer. Then, once you have completed those initial 150+ swings, hopefully, the barrel of your composite bat should be broken in. Make sure to rotate the bat between each hit. It is lightweight, durable, and provides a great amount of power to the swing. One time I was looking for dents on my bat but I had to hold a certain way . The best way to make sure your bat stays in the best possible shape for the longest amount of time possible and that it does not go dead on you is with preventative care. It is recommendedto go overyour batthoroughly and check for any excessive wear or damage at least once a year and approximately every three months for an oil or naturalbat. This is not a recommended practice as it is bound to fall back out quickly and the bat will perform at a decreased level. It will fray and break when the cloth begins to wear down with age. However, there are a few bat manufacturers that are using a new composite technology that . What this means is that you can immediately unwrap your aluminum bat and start swinging for the fences. Originally Posted by umpjim. They are two-piece constructions made up of a handle and a barrel that is brought together by a connection piece in most of the composite bats. In such a case, you can pressure the bat's sides so that the crack's both sides may get attached. A composite can usually last for a few years or more. This is caused by a combination of cold temperatures and a dense ball, commonly a cold baseball or a soft ball. Breaking in a composite bat is important to ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment and maximizing your performance on the field. However, this is not usually the case. You can't break in your composite bat just by hitting it 300 times in a row. Superficial/cosmetic cracks are commonplace with composite bats. Do this to ensure the entire barrel of your bat is broken . Jessy is an avid baseball fan and writer for the popular website, Baseball Writes. Different bats also have a sound of their own. Is There Visible Structural Cracking and Denting? Structural cracks are huge, jagged visible splits in your bats barrel. More fibers are breaking down which results in an increased bounce off of the bat for hitters. During the break in process it is imperative that you rotate your bat a quarter of an inch after each swing. If you hit a composite bat at a lower temperature, it can crack, ruining it. Need help? With most composite bats, they are two-piece constructions made up of a handle and a barrel that is brought together by a connection piece. Decreased power. Browser Not Supported. This material is suitable for distributing the weight evenly throughout the bat. When picking up or gripping your new composite baseballbat for the very first time; please remember always wear a softballmitt made specifically for catching baseballs otherwise known as an absollutely perfect mitt which has been designed specifically keep balls from leaving marks on hands during live play situations thereby eliminating injury potential associated with incorrect hand positioning whilst fielding batted balls. First, it gets your bat ready for peak performance. The Bat Nerds is a blog run by a group of friends. If you are hitting the ball on the handle or off the end cap, most bats will perform as if it were dead but that does not mean that it is. Hybrid and Comp-model Wood bats 90 days. But, these testers are not always readily available. before reaching its full performance potential. If your bat isnt alive, it wont produce sound when hit by the ball. Where Is The Sweet Spot On An Aluminum Baseball Bat? 2. Usually composite bats crack and aluminum alloy bats dent. Superficial/cosmetic cracks are commonplace with composite bats. This procedure should be performed gradually to ensure the
#3. However, if you have broken in your composite bat, used it at full power, and are now noticing a significant decline in ball flight on contact, then your bat may be dead or well on its way. Step 2: Get a batting tee and hit 50-60 balls off of it at half your strength, turning the composite softball bat sideways after each successful hit. Generally, high-quality composite bats are designed to withstand up to 3,000 hits before needing to be replaced. A composite bat can deliver its pick performance up to 750 to 1000 hits. } 4 Horns Are Bent Or Damaged When one or more horn tips are bent beyond repair due to impact damage or improper fielding technique; this malformation creates an irregularity within the surface area that vibrates at high frequencies (i..e.,sound). So, today, well try to answer how to tell if your bat is dead and other questions that come to your mind related to dead baseball bats. Light bats may be insufficient in terms of providing adequate resistance to the ball, whereas heavy bats are more likely to cause injuries. Even if it does, this doesnt always mean that your bat is dead. A composite bat is as good as dead once it forms a structural crack. Demarini will replace a broken bat once (per purchased bat) up to one year after it was bought. It is important to save your bat for game use only once it has been broken-in. On the other hand, look closely for hairline fractures, stress cracks, or spiral fractures. To roll your bat; Insert it perpendicularly to the 3 rollers. Well, fast forward a few more sessions and bat number 2 just bit the dust, only this time, the bat cracked. This tends to be a sign of the composite material being fully broken in and at its peak performance. Don't hit your bats against telephone polls or even roll them as it will void your warranty. Dont force break-in by hitting balls too hard or excessively swinging the bat let the natural properties of wood and carbon fiber do their job naturally over time. The ban is an important step toward ensuring the safety of high school baseball players, and it should be taken seriously. Because of this, you should only save the broken-in bat for game use once it has been broken-in. Compared to any other bat he used it was like the ball was coming off the bat in hyper-speed. When a composite bat is hot off the production line, the inner resin layer is still solid. Your home turf should be identical to what you will experience on game day. When you see a Spider Web across the surface of your composite bat, it means that the material is fully broken in and ready for use. A bat may be less useful in this scenario than it would be in a one-on-one game. Wood bats, on the other hand, can be used as a practice tool for players who want to perfect their swing mechanics. If you discover the bat after the bat has been used, you should only remove it from the game (1-3-4). Email our warranty team or give us a call us at (225) 291-2552. You will be entitled to repair or replace the end cap and a loose knob under your warranty. Generally, composite bats can last for several seasons or 500-1000 hits. Be sure to store your bats in an upright position to avoid them from becoming brittle over time. Physical signs include dents, cracks, broken pieces, and bends. Both result in a less effective . We have even heard of the tried and true method of holding your bat by the barrel and tapping the knob on the ground. During a game, the break-in period for composite baseball and softball bats is critical. These surface cracks can get extremely severe before the bat actually breaks. Before jumping to conclusions break it in, use it in batting practice in a cage, and then use it in practice. Apply turn of pressure and turn the side lever to pass the bat between 7 to 10 times. Begin swinging at 40% power and work your way up to full strength as you get closer to 200 swings. Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution or BBCOR bat is a term that gained its popularity in 2011 in the field of baseball. If your composite bat is fully broken-in, in but still its losing its pop continuously. A composite bat is made of multiple different materials bonded together, typically carbon fiber and aluminum. During the course of about 20 swings, the rubber mallet will have developed rough textures on the bat. Usually, a small piece has fallen off and is rattling around inside of your barrel. A higher bounce may result in more misses and could ultimately lead to frustration on the players part or even injury. BREAKING IN A COMPOSITE BASEBALL BAT.gone wrong. If youve already purchased a composite bat, its fine to use it. While composite bats include a break-in period, many factors can influence their lifespan, so they may begin to deteriorate between bouts of use. Waterlogged balls should not be hit by the bat and If possible rotate your bat a quarter of a turn after each swing. Have you heard why kids need new bats even if they got a new one last year? A crack is a deep separation of the outer wall of the bat and in most cases impacts the performance of the bat in a negative way. **BROKEN** Louisville Slugger META 30/22 (Drop -8) 2 3/4" USSSA. A rattle tends to be the epoxy glue that holds your end cap in place. Despite its many benefits, taking care of a composite bat is essential for ensuring it lasts for as long as possible. In fact, we had an original Salvo where entire chunks of the outer shell were falling off, but the bat was still hitting 400 foot bombs. The recommended way to test for dents is to run your hands through the length of the barrel. After three or more years, you may replace your bat after allowing it to rest during the off-season. 3. 3. Here are five tips to help you break in your new glove fast: Warm up the glove before you start hitting. In 50 ball segments, 25% power, 50% power, 75% then full swings. That does not clean your metal cleats with your bat ready for peak.... Comes with some exceptions against telephone polls or even roll them as it is important to save your is. Piece has fallen off and is rattling around inside of your bat gets tested before use different also. Be broken in and at its peak performance good as dead once it forms a structural crack any dents flat! Purchased a composite bat, you should not use composite bats crack and aluminum damage the bat come in with. Position to avoid them from becoming brittle over time and break when the web into! A few years or more are breaking down which results in an upright position at all times a cold or. 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