Bat finish

fine grit sandpaper should do the trick

Just be careful that the opposition doesn't nail you for "tampering" with the bat-- some look at what you want to do as the same as inserting cork in the bat

How about taping the handle.

You can even twist the tape around to create raised ridges which can enhance your grip.

Mr3000: PM me and I'll give you instructions for safe, easy, chemical-free / sandpaper-free removal of the finish. Keep in mind when done properly the handle will still be very smooth/slick (particularly with maple) but pine tar will adhere very well.

I don't believe this would constitute altering the bat under anyone's rules - but to be sure look 'em up in your organizations/federation's rule book.

I just did it with sandpaper last night, bat's a lot easier to grip now. And I don't use tihs bat during games, it's a little too heavy for that. I use it in practice just cause it's a bit heavier, so that the game bat I use is a bit lighter, so I don't have to worry about any tinkering rules. THanks for the suggestions.

For your game bat, lose the factory grip and go sparingly with tape on the handle....you will take your bat to a -4. I have also seen guys use so much tape that they make their bat a -2. That one ounce makes a huge difference. Every batting stat went down the year we went to -3.

Under NFHS rules a wooden bat may be roughend (Sanding applies) or wound with tape or twine not more than 18 inches from the knob end.....
it would be legal to do so....

D8.... under NFHS rules taking off the factory safety grip is illegal and not to be used in play....

NFHS rule 1-3-3 all non wood bats must have a safety grip extending 10 inches minimum to 18 inches maximum from the knob end.

It is, but I guess the definition of safety grip comes into question. We have not had a bat that had tape for grip on the handle denied.

1-3-3......safety grip can be cork, tape, or comp. material.

The actual difference between the the factory grip and athletic tape is closer to .5 ounces.

D8
agreed, but then again if you cut off the factory safety grip you are leaving it up to my judgment if it is safe or legal......leave it on, no question.......take it off and live with my ruling....

I guess you can rule however you wish, but the rule specifically list tape as a legal wrap. Player safety is at the top of my list, and I would do nothing to increase the chance of injury. Then again.....whether we win or lose will not be determined by something as small as that. You guys have a tough job that get tougher every year.

The other thing for umpires to consider is if (as you said) the wrap is being cut off to cut the weight down on the bat. If so and it does lighten the bat, then we have an issue with the bat no longer being legal for use since it is less than a -3. If its a -4 or a -3.5, Im not sure how we would actually know, but its clearly tampering.

The only time I ever caught an illegal bat, was when a coach called his player back to the dugout and said "use this bat its lighter"........I asked to see the bat, it was not one we had inspected prior to the game.....it was a -5 .........I could not believe he said that out loud.. I disqualified the bat......better DQ'd before the at bat, than an out at the plate for using one...

lol...that is bad. You wonder what some are thinking.

We had players that actually started taking the factory wrap off of the bat and using tape because they liked the thinner feel. Just out of curiosity I weighed the two and found that the tape was .5 ounces lighter. We do not cut the factory tape off of the bat on all bats. That to me is a player preference.

PIAA Ump - Regardless of NFHS rules, which I am not up to date on, by the way, BESR certification to the best of my knowledge does not consider the grip for the purpose of weight to length ratio; i.e., -3 mandate. This would leave me to believe that weight in itself should not be an issue as far as grip removal. Could be wrong, but this is information from the NCAA BESR certification procedures.

works for me!.........I've got plenty of other items to worry about.......as I posted I'm not sure any umpire could tell the weight difference..we are talking fractions.......but I have seen tampered bats.....so I am going to err on the side of safety........

It's been noted that Ted Williams once returned a whole run of his bats to Louisville Slugger (H&B) because of something like a .001" difference in the handle diameter...That's knowing your bat dimensions!

This has got me to thinking......I am going to measure the length and weight of some of our bats and see just how close to -3 they actually are.