Rock-n-fire,
I don't know how you locate it to view, but HBO did a special a few years ago about the whole wooden bat v. metal bat issue and did a very nice job of showing the differences. With metal bats and realistic speeds for pitched balls and bat swings, roughly equivalent to what you'd expect in a typical college game as compared to the ridiculously low speeds used in BESR testing (70 mph pitch, 66 mph swing), exit speeds were upwards of 120 miles per hour, well above the exit speeds from wooden bats. A new standard, BBCOR, goes into effect in 2011 and I'm not well read on that yet.
It is a simple solution.
Who makes the decision; the school administrators, the State Senators, the coach, the parent or the player.
If a high school coach decided to play with wood bats would you as a parent support this decision.
Cost vs safety. We all agree the baseball hit off a metal bat for the first 120' is quicker to the pitcher and infielder.
As I mentioned before, our American teams use wood in Australia. Each team plays 12 games. Our breakage is 8 bats. We use the SSK maple and ash wood [the same quality as the ML players]. We use the Brett Bat in the batting cages.
Actually pro scouts mentally reduce the distance of a HR hit with metal by a factor of 10%.
In 1987, when I started the Area Code games and tryouts all teams were coached by pro scouts and use wood bats.
Never a complaint from the 24,000 parents, players, scouts or college coaches in the 18 years.
My only regret was that we did not use wood bats in our Goodwill Series with the Japan National Teams.
Bob
Who makes the decision; the school administrators, the State Senators, the coach, the parent or the player.
If a high school coach decided to play with wood bats would you as a parent support this decision.
Cost vs safety. We all agree the baseball hit off a metal bat for the first 120' is quicker to the pitcher and infielder.
As I mentioned before, our American teams use wood in Australia. Each team plays 12 games. Our breakage is 8 bats. We use the SSK maple and ash wood [the same quality as the ML players]. We use the Brett Bat in the batting cages.
Actually pro scouts mentally reduce the distance of a HR hit with metal by a factor of 10%.
In 1987, when I started the Area Code games and tryouts all teams were coached by pro scouts and use wood bats.
Never a complaint from the 24,000 parents, players, scouts or college coaches in the 18 years.
My only regret was that we did not use wood bats in our Goodwill Series with the Japan National Teams.
Bob
rock-n-fraud,
I'm very happy and I sleep well at night. My accomplishments are admittedly modest, but at least they're mine. Sorry about your coverJosh Mark. Maybe you can get a new one at Home Depot?
I'm very happy and I sleep well at night. My accomplishments are admittedly modest, but at least they're mine. Sorry about your cover
Hokie: I would love to read that Grisham!
If you don't make your living in the metal bat industry, I can't think of one good reason for us to continue using metal bats.
If you don't make your living in the metal bat industry, I can't think of one good reason for us to continue using metal bats.
quote:Originally posted by spizzlepop:
rock-n-fraud,
I'm very happy and I sleep well at night. My accomplishments are admittedly modest, but at least they're mine. Sorry about your coverJoshMark. Maybe you can get a new one at Home Depot?
This is entertaining. So,
I agree with Coach2709 in that cost will certainly be viewed as an obstacle by those in charge of making rule changes.
Some types of wood bats (composites, etc) seem to last longer than just a normal wooden bat. It seems like if the change was made that the bat companies (Easton, TPX, etc) could come up with a special coating or something similar that could extend the life of a wooden bat. The question is...if they could do that, would they? Unless they started charging more for the bat initially, that would be money out of their pocket.
chip @ www.getalooksports.com
Some types of wood bats (composites, etc) seem to last longer than just a normal wooden bat. It seems like if the change was made that the bat companies (Easton, TPX, etc) could come up with a special coating or something similar that could extend the life of a wooden bat. The question is...if they could do that, would they? Unless they started charging more for the bat initially, that would be money out of their pocket.
chip @ www.getalooksports.com
quote:Originally posted by GLSprts:
I agree with Coach2709 in that cost will certainly be viewed as an obstacle by those in charge of making rule changes.
Some types of wood bats (composites, etc) seem to last longer than just a normal wooden bat. It seems like if the change was made that the bat companies (Easton, TPX, etc) could come up with a special coating or something similar that could extend the life of a wooden bat. The question is...if they could do that, would they? Unless they started charging more for the bat initially, that would be money out of their pocket.
chip @ www.getalooksports.com
The best way would be for NCAA and UIL to spec out the bat's material properties. Just like the drop number, all they have to do is require bats to have the same elasticity as wood. The bat companies would have the solution so fast it would make your head spin.
The bat companies make so much more money with metal than they every would with wood. Thats why they dont want to see it switch back. It they thought for one minute they would make more money if it switched back dont you think they would be behind the move? Of course they would.
quote:Originally posted by Coach May:
The bat companies make so much more money with metal than they every would with wood. Thats why they dont want to see it switch back. It they thought for one minute they would make more money if it switched back dont you think they would be behind the move? Of course they would.
That's why nobody should ask them. The NCAA/UIL should just set the specs. Then industry will have to respond.
I have a good friend who invented, patented a novel bat, the MetalWood Bat. Aluminum handle with wood barrel essentially. From speaking with him, the big bat companies are very zealous in protecting their market -- rightfully so. They exert a lot of influence over the amatuer (sp?) game...likely will not see any significant changes toward wood, IMO. As with most things, follow the money.