new bats

Rich- I know quite a few players like the Easton Surge - Also Rawlings. Several also would prefer wood.

I have been surprised by the number of players hitting better in the same game when they switched to wood from the BBCOR. Not saying more power just more consistant base hits.

That is interesting. I wish there was a way to track that. I'm not doubting you, just not sure there is a big enough sample size to quantify it.

Do high school rules prohibit the use of wood? If not, it would be interesting to see some of these kids that say they hit better with wood to put their money where their mouth is.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

My son absolutely prefers wood. He played with both a number of times this summer and after East Cobb he felt like he would prefer to hit wood in the HS season. Not sure that his HS coach is on board with that for whatever reasons but if East Cobb is any indication of what way he should go then he might want to consider letting him use the wood stuff... LOL

NOVA

Thats pretty cool.

Here is a related question. Would you allow him to hit with wood?

It seems very possible for a HS kid to break numerous bats. I'd think that even a great HS hitter would spend more in wood bats over a season then on 1 BBCOR.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

Hey, I'm just the accountant in all of this. I don't get a say. Hahaha

Honestly though, I have not ever really said no when it comes to those types of things. Since JJ has always taken baseball very seriously I have always supported him as best I could. If he felt that wood was what he needed to succeed then I would get it. I might feel different if this was all just for fun but currently it isn't with him so I don't treat it that way either.

I know that he really enjoys the feel of wood and has hit very well in the various tournaments that he has used it in over the years. Maybe that will bode well for him in the future, who knows. I just know that he absolutely hates the feel of the BBCOR's though...

quote:

Originally posted by PIS:
NOVA

Thats pretty cool.

Here is a related question. Would you allow him to hit with wood?

It seems very possible for a HS kid to break numerous bats. I'd think that even a great HS hitter would spend more in wood bats over a season then on 1 BBCOR.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

I know I'd allow mine to swing wood in HS. He prefers it.

Mine also prefers wood. Even liked it better than the BESR bats!

Of course, being a pitcher, he is really looking forward to a season of BBCOR. He HATES those dinky little hits off the bat handle.

quote:

Originally posted by PIS:
Do high school rules prohibit the use of wood?

As far as I know, no, VHSL does not prohibit wood bats.

BBCOR bats will still be preferred over wood simply based on cost. My son recently purchased a BBCOR bat - paid ~$100 for it. A quality wood bat was nearly the same price - about $89. A wood bat has a greater chance of breaking compared to any "metal" bat.

A player is likely to go through more wood bats than one BBCOR rated bat. "Metal" bats hold up better over the long run than a wood bat though they still can go "dead".

At least one state (NY as I recall) has banned use of metal bats at the HS level - wood only.

quote:

Originally posted by FoxDad:
At least one state (NY as I recall) has banned use of metal bats at the HS level - wood only.

NYC banned metal bats back in 2008. joemktg nephew, now a HS sophomore in NYC, has been swinging wood since then. He looks at us and says "yeah...so?"

quote:

Originally posted by FoxDad:
BBCOR bats will still be preferred over wood simply based on cost. My son recently purchased a BBCOR bat - paid ~$100 for it.

Preferred by who? Because I haven't talked to one hitter yet who prefers BBCOR. Pitchers might like them but I doubt you'll find many hitters that do...

Good for you on the $100 bat though. I paid $400 and he'll only use it one season... Ugh...

My son has also enjoyed using the wood bat this summer. He has alos talked about using it this spring in the high school season, but I suggested he wait until the first few days of practice to decide. My sense is that once he hits a fast ball off the handle of a wood bat and experiences that unique stinging sensation that only a wood bat can give you on a cool 45 degree day, he will go back to metal....at least until it warms up a bit.

A question relating to NOVABBall13's statement about only being able to use a BBCOR bat for one year....is it anticiapted that the BBCOR bats will "wear out" and lose their pop as quickly as the BESR bats did? Are the guidelines to receive the BBCOR approval so strict that the companies developing and selling these bats only going to be able to change the colors and design of the bats from year to year?

Duck80... Nope, nothing as complex as that. LOL He heads out to college ball next year so THEY will be the ones buying his bats! Yahoo!!! hahaha

Can you tell us what BBCOR you got for 100 bucks?

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
Can you tell us what BBCOR you got for 100 bucks?

BBallmom-

First and foremost I encourage you to shop your local retailers. If you go to many manufacturers web-sites they can direct you to local dealers if you are not familiar with one in your area. Ask the coach(es) who the recommend. Many internet sites have great deals on bats as well, but after shipping and waiting, your local supplier can likely get you in the ball park and you can feel good about supporting local small business. Many also have the extra knowledge you may find helpful in selecting the right bat.

The answer to you 100.00 bbcor bat question is the Rawlings Plasma, there are others less and a couple around the same price, but this bat is getting the best rating at its price point. you can find it on line on a number sites, baseball savings.com is the one that i use.

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
Can you tell us what BBCOR you got for 100 bucks?

I honestly don't know. My son ordered it from either BaseballExpress.com or baseballwarehouse.com. I really don't know, but he did order it online.

quote:

Originally posted by NOVABBall13:

quote:

Originally posted by FoxDad:
BBCOR bats will still be preferred over wood simply based on cost. My son recently purchased a BBCOR bat - paid ~$100 for it.

Preferred by who? Because I haven't talked to one hitter yet who prefers BBCOR. Pitchers might like them but I doubt you'll find many hitters that do...

Good for you on the $100 bat though. I paid $400 and he'll only use it one season... Ugh...

I was speaking from an economic point of view - not a personal use point of view. I'd rather buy one $100 bat than 3 or 4 wood bats at 2/3 the price. But that's just me. Buy what you want.

He just couldn't see spending $400 for a bat he'll only use for one season (he's a senior).

As far as the wood versus BBCOR. I know that my son prefers wood and if he were to want to go that direction then I wouldn't really care. Its him playing so I let him decide. As far as the BBCOR that we bought. We got him the bat that his college uses this summer so that he could get used to the feel of it. He used it a few times during the summer and will use it this Spring in HS. It'll then probably be set aside and await his brother in a couple of years, or maybe go to Play It Again...

There has been extensive research and development put into BBCOR. While they do not have pop that BESR had, they for sure, have more pop than wood.

quote:

Originally posted by CasaGrande:
There has been extensive research and development put into BBCOR. While they do not have pop that BESR had, they for sure, have more pop than wood.

That might be true but just like many other things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If a player doesn't like the feel or sound of it and doesn't swing it with the same confidence as wood then that sort of shoots a bit of a hole in that. A good hitter will obviously hit with anything put in his hands but all the technology and research in the world can't do anything if his hands prefer something else...

Conversation goes something like. "These BBCOR's stink. Hate the sound AND the feel. What's the sense of swinging something that sounds and feels like **** if its not going to give me a significant upgrade in pop over wood. I'd rather just swing wood because at least I like the sound and feel of it. And since I can hit with wood just as well what's the difference..."