Tape vs. Pine Tar

bballdad20161,000+ posts

I have searched the archived forums and didn't come up with a whole lot on the subject, or at least enough to answer my question.

When I purchased a new bat for my Son we went with tape. Theory being... i didn't want pine tar all over the place. After a few weeks, the tape looks to be quite worn and probably needs to be re-taped. For arguments sake, he is in the batting cage about 3-4 hours a week on average. So now i am starting to wonder if we should have just gone with pine tar and maintained the grip as needed rather than having to peal off the old tape and re-tape on a monthly basis.

My question to the masses is: Are there any pros/cons to tape vs. pine tar. Is there a difference in the grip and feel, or is it just a matter of preference?

10/21/1110:03 AM

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cabbagedadHSBaseballWeb member since 2011

Pine tar is a bit tackier. Both require regular maintenance. The pine tar stick is easier to use than the bottle/rag combo but not quite as tacky and has a bit more waxy buildup. With tape, you can vary the thickness and add texture if desired. We use a lot of hockey stick tape. If you layer the tape, you can get a little bit of give or vibration absorption but be aware that it will make the grip thicker. So, you will want to consider that when buying a bat. Also, if you layer the tape, you can remove just the top layer after several uses and have a new, tacky feel. Some of the boys use both - a thinner tape application and pine tar on top of that.

10/21/1110:24 AM

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Jimmy3310+ posts

If you use real pine tar, you'll need to use real rosin with it if you want the right feel.

Pine tar and rosin on top of tape is the best way to go.

http://www.TheBatJack.com (The Bat Jack Grip Trainer)

10/22/111:29 AM

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