Hi, just picked up a new ash rawlings wood bat today. It is very light swinging and I love it. I have heard that taping the barrel for Ash Bats can prevent the barrel from flaking. Would taping the bat barrel with athletic tape add weight to it? I’d also like to know how much of the barrel should I tape. Thank you
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Just hit it as is, a big reason to hit wood at your age is to learn the feel and the sound of getting good barrel with a wood bat. The thing will break or you will outgrow it before it will flake enough to effect performance.
@Dadbelly2023 posted:Hey 2025. Is that the rawlings ash big stick? My boy love that bat. I bought 4 because they were inexpensive. They have more expensive ones but always reach for that in games due to pop. The baum victus kids make fun of 2023. But he points out he's their 3hole. Held up until he started seeing 80+ reg. Now cracked 2. With ash, it seems youll want to make sure you set up so you hit it on the "anti-label " part of bat. I don't think barrel tape would effect swing wt. Might decrease flaking. True story. One of the bats had a big flake coming off. Kid gorilla glued it. Still swinging it 6 mo later.
Hello, the bat is a Rawlings Hard Ash Pro. Bottom of the knob says 271 so I assume thats the model. Picked it up since it feels great and got it for 35.
Do you know how to "bone" the ash bat?
Bob
@Consultant posted:Do you know how to "bone" the ash bat?
Bob
No, I do not know how to. My other Marucci jr7 Maple with the ink dot is bone rubbed though. Has at least lasted me through around 6,000 swings. @Consultant Would you mind sharing how to bone the bat? Thank you
As dadbelly pointed out, different types of wood are stronger in different relations to their grain. With ash, you want to hit the ball on the edge grain. This is the two sides of the bat where the grain line are close together.
With maple, you want to hit on the face grain. This is the two sides of the bat where the grain lines make circles and not lines.
2025:
place the ash bat on the floor between your knees, use a soup bone or a glass coke bottle and rub the barrel from trademark to tip of bat. This will press [harden] the ash and prevent the bat from ash splintering. This is the reason many pro players are using maple and oak. My son delivers the SSK bats to Javier Baez and 6 other MLB players.
Bob
PS: the model 271 is a narrow handle and medium barrel. It is difficult to "choke" this bat.
@Consultant posted:2025:
place the ash bat on the floor between your knees, use a soup bone or a glass coke bottle and rub the barrel from trademark to tip of bat. This will press [harden] the ash and prevent the bat from ash splintering. This is the reason many pro players are using maple and oak. My son delivers the SSK bats to Javier Baez and 6 other MLB players.
Bob
PS: the model 271 is a narrow handle and medium barrel. It is difficult to "choke" this bat.
Thank you very much
The only time I've seen a barrel taped is a fungo a coach uses to hit a million balls a year for years. I've never seen a player's bat taped for cage, BP or game use. I appreciate you want to preserve a beautiful new bat, but they wear out just like a new glove or pair of spikes do... there's no avoiding it.
