Composite Baseball bats...WOW

[jtvang125]

That's good news if you play baseball but how much better is it at cracking someone's skull than a regular bat?




I kid. I kid.

 

[Kntx]

Originally posted by: theknight571

Originally posted by: cpacini

Originally posted by: Insomniator
I don't really see why wood can't always be used, it doesn't make any sense to me. Yeah I used metal all the way through college because honestly, you can't compete with wood against metal unless you are headed for the majors. But come on, how many injuries have been suffered in the majors from splintering wood bats? Now lets take little kids to middle schoolers... you think they swing the bat hard enough to cause a risk of splintering?

Wood sounds good, smells good, feels good.

Aluminum bats became popular in youth/little league/high school because they last a lot longer.

This is what I've always heard.

That makes it cheaper over time since they purchase bats less often.

However, based on what I've seen with composite hockey sticks... I don't see how the composite bats will last at all.

I've seen 10 year olds break a composite hockey stick trying to take a slap shot... I can't imagine an 80+mph fastball not breaking a bat.

10 year old breaking a comp stick??? Either a crap stick or it was defective.

 

[rh71]

hockey players could've told you this years ago. Composite sticks are epic. I remember using aluminum back in like '92. I also had a carbon/kevlar stick that was no better - maybe I should use that as a weapon...

As for breaking, the sticks are hollow save for a few mm of material that make up the structure - I just spent a half hour cutting one of mine down and even the newest ones are like this - they're very easy to break. In addition, high flex sticks (low numbers like a 50 flex junior) are much easier to break than something like a 75 intermediate. The bats may also be hollow but the structure won't be as thin nor flex as much. There has to be some kind of regulation on the flex I can imagine. Shooting a puck harder is not as big a deal as hitting a ball further (with less effort) as a result of flex.

 

[Miramonti]

Let's see how you rate them after one of your kids gets hit in the head or face with a ball coming off one of those bats. Kids often can't react fast enough using aluminum bats, and it sounds like these aren't any more of a treat for their defensive capabilities.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Let's see how you rate them after one of your kids gets hit in the head or face with a ball coming off one of those bats. Kids often can't react fast enough using aluminum bats, and it sounds like these aren't any more of a treat for their defensive capabilities.

ehh, i played baseball my entire life, watched my 4 nephews play it now, and have never once seen a kid injured.

If you're afraid of getting hurt, don't play, stay inside where its safe. Freak injuries can occur in any sport, this is just another one.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Let's see how you rate them after one of your kids gets hit in the head or face with a ball coming off one of those bats. Kids often can't react fast enough using aluminum bats, and it sounds like these aren't any more of a treat for their defensive capabilities.

Not a big deal, he has a concealed carry permit too.




J/K


He plays against kids that use the same bats, so I don't see a problem with it. If he was the only one using it, maybe, but now he is even as I see it.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: ric1287

Originally posted by: jjsole
Let's see how you rate them after one of your kids gets hit in the head or face with a ball coming off one of those bats. Kids often can't react fast enough using aluminum bats, and it sounds like these aren't any more of a treat for their defensive capabilities.

ehh, i played baseball my entire life, watched my 4 nephews play it now, and have never once seen a kid injured.

If you're afraid of getting hurt, don't play, stay inside where its safe. Freak injuries can occur in any sport, this is just another one.

This.

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: destrekor
bah.

As a big baseball fan, nothing more than aluminum should be used at any age, and anything above high school should be strictly wood.

High performance bats pose a great risk to players on the field in the event of a line drive.

a ball hit at a player at 100+ mph, regardless of what kind of bat was used, is going to hurt if the player only catches the ball with their face.

Blaming the bat I always though was stupid. Baseball and softball are sports. Just like any sport there are risks involved. If you aren't willing to accept those risks and learn to play correctly to minimize those risks, you deserve every bit of pain from any injury you receive.

I play slow pitch softball and I pitch. I have composite bats and I use them along with everyone else.

I also can catch, have good reaction time, wear a cup, mouth guard, and some light catchers equipment when I play.

I have been injured before and will undoubtedly be again. That comes with playing sports. 99% of injuries I get are from trying to hard or mistakes from others. Not from the equipment used.

EDIT, side note, I grew up playing baseball WITH metal bats. I NEVER had a problem reacting fast enough to catch the ball. Why? With little kids they really can't hit it with enough force regardless. Sure the metal or composite helps a it, but not THAT much. And when the kids get older and older and CAN hit harder then guess what? The fields also get bigger!!! Meaning the balls have further to travel and lose velocity before getting fielded.

The only people that get hurt playing ball and blame it on equipment are idiots. If I play slow pitch, and I see a fat, slow, old, beer guzzler pitching while not wearing protective equipment or even "getting set" to react to ball that could be hit right back at them immediately after they release the pitch then I have ZERO sympathy if they get hurt.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: HumblePie

Originally posted by: destrekor
bah.

As a big baseball fan, nothing more than aluminum should be used at any age, and anything above high school should be strictly wood.

High performance bats pose a great risk to players on the field in the event of a line drive.

a ball hit at a player at 100+ mph, regardless of what kind of bat was used, is going to hurt if the player only catches the ball with their face.

Blaming the bat I always though was stupid. Baseball and softball are sports. Just like any sport there are risks involved. If you aren't willing to accept those risks and learn to play correctly to minimize those risks, you deserve every bit of pain from any injury you receive.

I play slow pitch softball and I pitch. I have composite bats and I use them along with everyone else.

I also can catch, have good reaction time, wear a cup, mouth guard, and some light catchers equipment when I play.

I have been injured before and will undoubtedly be again. That comes with playing sports. 99% of injuries I get are from trying to hard or mistakes from others. Not from the equipment used.

if you're accelerating the speed of balls to the point where the players can't safely field them, it gets dangerous. Wood bats are made to slow down teh average speed, that's it.

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

if you're accelerating the speed of balls to the point where the players can't safely field them, it gets dangerous. Wood bats are made to slow down teh average speed, that's it.

See my edit above.... but basically no. If you can't safely field a batted ball hit directly at you, then you shouldn't be playing. Period. Or you are playing above your competition level and need to look at moving to a easier and slower division. Would you seriously expect your average 40 year old with a beer gut that can barely walk up a flight of stairs to safely field a line drive hit at them by a MLB pro player? Even if that pro player is using a wood bat even? No. So there is where your argument is moot. So regardless if that MLB player is using wood or a better performing bat, that 40 y/o guy is going to get hurt more than likely.

There are wood only leagues, for both baseball and softball, and most leagues have levels of competitive play to match players up with equal skill. If your skill level isn't where it should be to field the hits coming at you, then you are in the wrong league.

 

[BAMAVOO]

I think they can only propel the ball at a maximum of 98 mph, if I remember correctly.