I miss playing HS baseball and I just want to know what bats today really knock the crap out of a baseball/softball. I just want to look and feel really cool as the ball comes off the bat super fast in a batting cage.

By: Nate

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I overheard some people talking about breaking in composite, -3 bats. I know that the more times a ball is hit off it the better it becomes. They said that breaking in a composite bat at a batting cage was not good for the bat. I just got a really good Easton Stealth bat and want to break it in without harming the bat. Is it ok to break it in at a batting cage?

By: ?andy?

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I have an albino dwarf hamster. Every time I put my hand in his cage even to feed him he attacks me. He bats his paws at me and bites my hand. Please help me.

By: Allied

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I play in a men's recreational league and I have not been consistent at the plate this year. I have hit to the fence before and hit doubles and triples at times, but recently I will only have only 3-4 solid hits during a double header.

I'm in my 30's. I strength train twice a week during the season. My biggest weakness is a bad right knee and right quad. Both are always sore during the season.

I go to the batting cages twice a week, but recently it doesn't appear that the cage work is helping. My stance is shoulder width. My grip is pinky off the bat handle. I hold the bat at ear level. I use the same bats as the other guys on my team, so it's not the bat that's the problem.

Any suggestions?

By: nashvilleghost

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I started playing slowpitch softball with some friends, and I've decided I enjoy it enough to buy some gear and get into a league. Unfortunately, there's still a fair amount I have left to learn, particularly about bats.

I recently purchased a softball bat. I did a bit of research and bought one that is nice, but not too expensive. Basically, I bought something better than a cheapo Wal-Mart bat, but I waited to spend $2-300 until I know for certain this is something I'll enjoy enough to invest in.

So, here are my questions:

1) How long can I expect the bat to last?

2) I've read that I shouldn't use the bat in batting cages, as it will shorten its life. Right now, I don't have a cage bat. Will a few trips to the cages damage the bat, or should I avoid the cages altogether? I'll buy a cheap cage bat soon, I just need something for 2 or 3 trips in the interim.

3) Is there a break in period for a softball bat? If so, is a cage ok for this, or should I hit real softballs?

By: NihilisticMystic

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With more and more people looking for something to give them that extra edge when they are up to bat, shaved bats are finding their way into more ball parks than ever before. However; the cost of a shaved bat can vary depending on the quality of the job that is done on it. Thats right, there is high quality shaved bats and cheap home spun shaved bats and there is quite a difference between the two of them.

Use the Best

If you are going to take the risk of using a shaved bat in a game, why on earth would you chince on a cheap shaved bat? When you step up to the plate with your juiced bat you want it to deliver he full potential that a good quality shaved bat can. A good quality shaved bat can add as much as forty feet in distance to your hits.

Experience Counts

Before a bat is shaved it has to be rolled and this should be done by someone who is experienced at doing this. Its not something that you need a science degree to do, but at the same time, you want to have someone do it has done it for some time and has a good feel for it.

A Quality Job

Now, to shave the bat you really want someone with a higher level of expertise to do the job. Its a fairly delicate procedure when it is done right and it also requires some specialized machinery to do properly. A high quality saved bat is like a fine tuned instrument.

What you don't want, is a bat that someone has popped open and went at it with a barrel sander on the end of a drill extension. It may look OK with the naked eye, but the shaved sides of the bat will be uneven and won't deliver the “perfect” results that a professionally shaved, precision tuned rolled and shaved bat will.



By: Josephine Maxten

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So you have decided to step up your game with a juiced bat and now you have some questions that you would like answered. For instance, why does a high quality juiced bat from a bat shaving service cost as mush as it does, when you can easily make one your self with a drill and barrel sanding attachment?

A Far Better Shaved bat

To begin with, you can shave your bat by yourself but it won't come near to delivering the performance of a professional precision job. A custom on online bat shaving service uses a lathe that spins the bat, for far more even, uniform sides. Also, an online bat shaving service also offers the services of rolling your bat which will, by itself, bring a few more feet to your hits.

Weak Spots

When someone goes at a bat with a barrel sanding attachment on the end of a drill extension, the material that they shave out will be removed in an entirely random fashion. This means that you will inevitably end up with weak spots that will shorten the lifespan of your bat.

Go With the Best

A good professionally shaved bat that is done using the latest equipment anjd technology can easily add roughly forty feet to your hits. This means that good outfield balls will now become home runs. Also, it only stands to reason that if you are going to go through the hassle and expense of using a shaved bat, you would only want to use the best shaved bat possible.

Receive the Recognition You Deserve

All of your competitors are now using juiced and shaved bats and this means that if you aren't, you will be left standing at the back of the line when hitting accolades are handed out. , a well done professional job from an online bat shaving service will be far more difficult to detect.



By: Josephine Maxten

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Bat Rolling 101 - The Process

Most companies determine the maximum rolling pressure and start at that pressure. This is totally incorrect and usually causes durability problems and also potentially causes your paint to spider web prematurely. You should roll bats in 3-4 progressive compression points (depending on the type of bat). After you\'ve rolled your bat it will have approximately 200 passes through the machine. You should not heat your bat before rolling since it does not provide any additional benefits, in fact it actually hurts the rolling process.

Rolling does not shorten the life of your bat

Once you bat has been rolled it will have the same durability it did before rolling. It will however be performing at its highest level.

Roll your bat even if it\'s already been used



Even bats the have been used will benefit from our rolling process. Bats that have 300-400 hits on them are being rolled all the time and after the owners get the bats back they are will be very surprised with the results. In most cases you haven\'t properly broken your bat in and after a good rolling your bat will performance at it\'s highest potential.

Does my league consider it illegal to roll my bat?

This is one of the most debated topics around today. All we can do is give you the facts as they stand today. Currently rolling is legal in only 1 slow pitch softball association. This association (ISA) clearly state in their rule book that rolling is legal. In another association (ASA), they have recently adopted a bat certification process that requires all bats to be tested after they have been rolled. This ensures each bat that is certified by them does not exceed their performance factor after being rolling. I interpret this as rolling being legal even though it doesn\'t specifically say so. In USSSA, they do clearly state rolling is against the rules. My opinion is that rolling your bat is doing nothing more than taking 500 BP swings. You\'re just doing it in a more controlled fashion and in a shorter period of time. My advice to you is to check with your local association or league and find out what their stance is on this subject.

Types of bats that can be rolled

Any composite bat can be rolled to increase the performance. This includes Softball bats (Fastpitch or Slowpitch) and Baseball bats (2 1/4\", 2 5/8\" and 2 3/4\' barrels). Some people claim to roll Aluminum bats but it is not worth it since it does not improve performance at all on an aluminum bat.



By: Mike Wilcox

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Amongst the good cricketer and good bat manufacturers, bat is a tool for trade. Its raw material is naturally grown and not manmade. A good bat is produced by craftsman and their aim is to provide excellent hitting power with durability. The combination should properly match because softer pressed bats tend to go better but are likely to crack. The harder pressed bat is likely to last longer but hitting power is compromised. The bat maker’s aim is to strike balance between the two to make the best all round cricket bat.

There have been several theories regarding which bat is the best. But the trick is to find the right kind of weight and “pick up” of the bat. Before buying the bat you should see whether the weight of bat is balanced and distributed along the willow. As this helps and makes it easier for batsman to drive it elegantly.

Before buying a bat, confirm whether the bat is knocked in properly or not. Some more expensive bats come pre-knocked. Your bat should come with some instruction or a brochure that describe the condition of the bat and whether the bat is knocked or not. If you get the un-knocked bat you use special hammer tool or a mallet to knock the bat. In any situation do not use your brand new bat for the match. Always get knocking in done before going for any match.

As far as the wood of bat is concerned, traditional English willow is considered superior. There are several grades of cricket bat willows available. Don’t get confused with the grades. Before buying a cricket bat, you should do some research on grades.

Before buying the bat, consider the shape of the bat. The bat should be shaped something like a paddle with padded handle usually in cylindrical shape. There should be wider wooden block on one side and with a V-shaped ridge on other side to provide greater air flow in the follow through and greater strength to over-all bat. The flat side is used to hit the ball.

As the selection of a wrong bat will lead to loss of match, consider the above mentioned features before buying.



By: Sarah Johns

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If you ever searched on the internet the term bat rolling or composite bat rolling you\'ll find out that there are many options out there. It\'s critical that you choose the right company before sending your bat out to be rolled. If you don\'t you could find your bat not performing at it\'s highest level or worst yet you could even find you\'re bat breaking after only a few hits. Make sure the company you choose uses a Perpendicular type rolled since they give you the best results.

Two Types Of Bat Rolling Machines

There are primarily two different type of rolling machines on the market right now and they are Perpendicular and Parallel. Perpendicular is the preferred type of machine since it rolls your bat closely to actually hitting a ball with your bat. It rolls in small sections which is how a bat is designed. Parallel type rolling machines are new to the market and will roll bats the entire length of the barrel. The problem with this type of rolling is it puts added stress on the barrel and since the bat is not designed for this type of compression you will most likely have durability issues with your bat having it rolled by the parallel method. It is recommended you have you bat rolled with a perpendicular method.

Rolling Processes

Regardless of what type of rolling machine you choose to use it\'s important to find a company that does it properly. Most companies will just deter how much they are going to compress your bat and set the machine to that level and do the rolling. This is not the correct way to roll a bat. You need to determine how much you are going to compress the bat and then gradually compress the bat in 3-4 steps until you reach the final compression level. This way you don\'t put too much stress on the bat. You will also rotate the bat a 1/4 turn after each pass through the roller. After being rolled, a bat will have approximately 200 passes through the roller if done correctly.



By: Mike Wilcox

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