| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| GAbaseballdad12 |
Posted - 03/17/2017 : 18:47:44
Come on! $350 gone. Ridiculous. Night before one of the biggest tournaments of the year. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/11/2017 : 10:03:33
quote:
Originally posted by RUSemiPro
quote:
Originally posted by Punishers
quote:
Originally posted by RoamingCF
Saw that a few younger ages (who might use the -10, -8 bats) played in wood bat tourneys; scoring was crazy low. It really does go to show - you really don't know how the "good hitters" will translate until bbcor or wood.
Encourage your kid use wood in cage at least 50% - there is just no truer read of a swing.
Wood told the truth. Some of those teams may never play in a wood bat tournament again due to the real results.
I think that for every 3-4 tournaments, especially at the younger levels, throw 1 wood bat tourney in. Show them what real baseball is, plus I think they are fun to watch as it is something different than a slug fest.
True. The game becomes too boring for those who are used to seeing a slugfest. |
| RUSemiPro |
Posted - 05/10/2017 : 23:13:55
quote:
Originally posted by Punishers
quote:
Originally posted by RoamingCF
Saw that a few younger ages (who might use the -10, -8 bats) played in wood bat tourneys; scoring was crazy low. It really does go to show - you really don't know how the "good hitters" will translate until bbcor or wood.
Encourage your kid use wood in cage at least 50% - there is just no truer read of a swing.
Wood told the truth. Some of those teams may never play in a wood bat tournament again due to the real results.
I think that for every 3-4 tournaments, especially at the younger levels, throw 1 wood bat tourney in. Show them what real baseball is, plus I think they are fun to watch as it is something different than a slug fest. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/10/2017 : 00:22:38
The key to hitting with wood is in the timing. No matter the size of the bat, the timing of the hitter has to be adjusted. The weight and moment of intertia changes the timing of impact to the ball pitched. I remember writing a paper on this for one of my engineering classes. I need to dig it out and post it. |
| TaxiMom |
Posted - 05/09/2017 : 13:40:05
quote:
Originally posted by RoamingCF
Saw that a few younger ages (who might use the -10, -8 bats) played in wood bat tourneys; scoring was crazy low. It really does go to show - you really don't know how the "good hitters" will translate until bbcor or wood.
Encourage your kid use wood in cage at least 50% - there is just no truer read of a swing.
What I saw were some kids who were using wood bats of the same length as their aluminum/composite bats, not realizing how much heavier they'd be, and how much they'd affect their swing.
I also think that the weight distribution is completely different in a wood bat than in most composite bats, again affecting their swing.
The kids who made the easiest transition to wood on our team were those who usually swung end loaded and/or aluminum bats. My son usually swings a -8, 31 inch (end loaded) XL3. He went down to a 29 inch when swinging wood and did fine. He actually liked it better than his XL3.
For those who didn't hit well with wood, I think, they simply weren't used to swinging that kind of bat, but once given practice and repetition with wood or bbcor, they'll be back to being a good hitter. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/09/2017 : 01:30:25
quote:
Originally posted by RoamingCF
Saw that a few younger ages (who might use the -10, -8 bats) played in wood bat tourneys; scoring was crazy low. It really does go to show - you really don't know how the "good hitters" will translate until bbcor or wood.
Encourage your kid use wood in cage at least 50% - there is just no truer read of a swing.
Wood told the truth. Some of those teams may never play in a wood bat tournament again due to the real results. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/09/2017 : 01:25:25
quote:
Originally posted by RUSemiPro
quote:
Originally posted by Punishers
Popped opened another one today. This one has a sleeve in it. Both have orange cap and R for retool on it. Guess the disc breaks and the sleeve holds up better.
What is stopping someone from taking a retooled zen, popping off the endcap and removing the sleeve or disc to go right back to the original zen?? Seems like an opportunity for someone to cheat the system.
About an extra $300 to cut the sleeve out correctly. It's not like the average Joe would be able to do it since it is epoxied in. Without knowing the thickness of walls that would keep the barrel from breaking, it's an expensive risk for those with low level composite knowledge.
For those Home Run Hungry folks out there, I have a good friend that works with composites designing a bat that I did FEA on coming out in August after USSSA 1.15 BPF testing that will be insane. No official name of the company yet but bat will be in limited quantity and expensive. With people paying close to $1500 for a used CF8, he should not have any problems selling them. |
| RoamingCF |
Posted - 05/08/2017 : 22:00:48
Saw that a few younger ages (who might use the -10, -8 bats) played in wood bat tourneys; scoring was crazy low. It really does go to show - you really don't know how the "good hitters" will translate until bbcor or wood.
Encourage your kid use wood in cage at least 50% - there is just no truer read of a swing. |
| RUSemiPro |
Posted - 05/08/2017 : 16:54:04
quote:
Originally posted by Punishers
Popped opened another one today. This one has a sleeve in it. Both have orange cap and R for retool on it. Guess the disc breaks and the sleeve holds up better.
What is stopping someone from taking a retooled zen, popping off the endcap and removing the sleeve or disc to go right back to the original zen?? Seems like an opportunity for someone to cheat the system. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/04/2017 : 20:01:17
Popped opened another one today. This one has a sleeve in it. Both have orange cap and R for retool on it. Guess the disc breaks and the sleeve holds up better. |
| Crazyforbball |
Posted - 05/02/2017 : 09:54:41
I think they said the end cap would be a different color on the.re-tooled.bat and there would be visible signage on the bat that it is now legal. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 05/01/2017 : 22:54:46
Not a sleeve, but a disc to keep the trampoline of the barrel stiffer. Combat and Easton do the same. I just opened a retooled one up just to inspect what was done. Still think the damage has been done to this model from a marketing standpoint. |
| ryansville34 |
Posted - 05/01/2017 : 15:32:58
If all they are doing is removing the end cap and adding a "sleeve", wouldnt the bat still be the SAME BAT that is on the banned list? How will people tell the difference between an illegal bat and one that has had the sleeve added? Sounds like a big disaster waiting to happen if they go this route. |
| Crazyforbball |
Posted - 05/01/2017 : 14:03:52
Wonder which will be better as far as getting close to what we lost..the re-worked model or next years zen when it comes out? |
| Zigzag3141 |
Posted - 05/01/2017 : 12:57:35
UPDATE: due to the volume of warranty calls Demarini has now outsourced their customer service and claim processing. Again we have two claims filed (one custom, and one standard -10 Zen). They of course screwed up the credit voucher and only gave us the standard $350 credit after Mark from Demarini assured us they would keep us whole for the full purchase price. Just called. Answering service transfer us to Demarini management immediately after I explained what was going on. Problem fixed in 5 mins after waiting 30 mins on hold to get thru. Reconfirmed we'll be getting full purchase price credit.
In addition, since we submitted our claims, Demarini also came up with a new option to receive a 're-worked' bat that is legal for play. Had questions about this. Apparently they are removing the end cap and installing a 'sleeve' in the barrel. How can this not add weight?; so where we ordered a -10 would we not get a -8 in exchange? Demarini reassured the drop weight will not change because they are using a 'new' lighter weight end cap. Still I cannot see this being the same bat. Minimally swing weight must change with the added weight from the sleeve. will the reworked bats still be 'balanced'???....So Demarini agreed to give us one for free to let us try it out and if we like it. if we do, we can keep it for one of the claims filed.
Will let you know when we get the reworked bats and share pics and experience. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 04/24/2017 : 21:34:44
quote:
Originally posted by CaCO3Girl
quote:
Originally posted by ncbulldog5
My son is 12u and has played for 5 years now. Never broke a single aluminum or composite bat. Yet in 2 wood bat tourneys in Oct and Nov he broke 3 bats just himself. Cant see at that rate where a $40-$50 bat will outlast a $350 bat with a full warranty replacement
It's all in the swing and angle of the hit. Wood will force you to swing correctly or the ball doesn't go anywhere AND/OR you break your bat. Three bats in one tourney is operator error, not the bat.
Have to agree. Seems like a lot of close to handle hits. Not hitting with the sweet spot. Tells me that all the composite and aluminum bats did was help his hitting and the wood bats told the truth about his swing. Wood is unforgiving, doesn't lie, or give false impressions. Maybe he should back-off the plate about 3 inches. Hard to gauge without seeing his swing. Wood bats do not have that extended 10" barrel like aluminum or composite bats There is only about 4" of barrel sweet spot for most wood bats over 30" in length. Most hits not in that area will most likely break it since the hit is on the thinner part. |
| CaCO3Girl |
Posted - 04/24/2017 : 15:25:03
quote:
Originally posted by ncbulldog5
My son is 12u and has played for 5 years now. Never broke a single aluminum or composite bat. Yet in 2 wood bat tourneys in Oct and Nov he broke 3 bats just himself. Cant see at that rate where a $40-$50 bat will outlast a $350 bat with a full warranty replacement
It's all in the swing and angle of the hit. Wood will force you to swing correctly or the ball doesn't go anywhere AND/OR you break your bat. Three bats in one tourney is operator error, not the bat.
|
| ncbulldog5 |
Posted - 04/24/2017 : 14:55:46
My son is 12u and has played for 5 years now. Never broke a single aluminum or composite bat. Yet in 2 wood bat tourneys in Oct and Nov he broke 3 bats just himself. Cant see at that rate where a $40-$50 bat will outlast a $350 bat with a full warranty replacement |
| ultimatesports10 |
Posted - 04/23/2017 : 07:48:21
Saw quite a few ZEN -10's in Perfect Game this weekend. Coach asked umpire and they went to the PG onsite and the comment was this is the last weekend they will be able to be used..... |
| Crazyforbball |
Posted - 04/22/2017 : 22:57:41
Stand by on the zen ....was not illegal at PG, only at USSSA and TC. |
| coolbeans |
Posted - 04/20/2017 : 21:27:58
quote:
Originally posted by turntwo
quote:
Originally posted by coolbeans
Some are buying the 2 5/8 model but most reports say it isn't very special.
You must not watch much 11 or 12U baseball if you truly believe the comment I pulled from your quote...
I was referring to the the -10 which is a the bat many are turning to. I know the -8 and the -5 are very good but everything I heard about the -10 was not very good. We also just played in a tournament with teams from up and down the east coast and I didn't see a single -10 2 5/8 zen used at the 10U level. The 12Us and up were using the -5s like crazy. |
| turntwo |
Posted - 04/20/2017 : 16:37:31
quote:
Originally posted by coolbeans
Some are buying the 2 5/8 model but most reports say it isn't very special.
You must not watch much 11 or 12U baseball if you truly believe the comment I pulled from your quote... |
| coolbeans |
Posted - 04/20/2017 : 11:27:08
quote:
Originally posted by Zigzag3141
Demarini just emailed me the return shipping labels for our warranty-return and we shipped them back yesterday. Still no word from Demarini on what we're waiting for; ie the new USAbats.
I see they are now "re-working" the CFZen and you have the option to get this done, or accept the credit.
Has anyone tried a re-worked bat yet? What do they do during the re-working process and how does this effect play of the bat?
I haven't seen anyone report they have used a retooled zen in action but some yahoo put one on ebay and wants $2,500 to buy it now. Conventional wisdoms says they will take your bat, remove the endcap, insert a sleeve inside the barrel that will increase the bat's compression numbers thus reducing it's tremendous trampoline effect, put a new orange endcap on the bat, and paint some orange identifiers on the bat. Who knows what kind of bat you will get back so most are taking the voucher and waiting on the next model. Some are buying the 2 5/8 model but most reports say it isn't very special. I got my voucher two days ago and am waiting for the next model. If they aren't any good, I'll buy a Wilson A2K for my son to have when his current on wears out. |
| Zigzag3141 |
Posted - 04/20/2017 : 10:06:40
Demarini just emailed me the return shipping labels for our warranty-return and we shipped them back yesterday. Still no word from Demarini on what we're waiting for; ie the new USAbats.
I see they are now "re-working" the CFZen and you have the option to get this done, or accept the credit.
Has anyone tried a re-worked bat yet? What do they do during the re-working process and how does this effect play of the bat? |
| Punishers |
Posted - 04/10/2017 : 22:47:47
quote:
Originally posted by turntwo
quote:
Originally posted by Punishers
Even if you paid $150. That's 2 bats for $300 and you are still under the $350 price tag of a single Zen.
$350 for a Zen... PLUS a warranty replacement.
The thought is, you're going to go through more $40-$60 wood bats than you will $150-$300 metal/composite bats in a season (CF8's aside).
Logical from the outside looking in. But when you know that a composite bat is carbon fiber and is not impact resistant like aramid (kevlar) it is destined to fail. It's not like they use the highest quality of carbon fiber available. Usually it's cheap unidirectional pre-preg with the pretty weave outer layer. From experience I'd say that most manufacturers cost are not more than $100 for composite bats and about $50 for aluminum bats to make. Even with a warranty for a 1 time replacement they are still in the green and you (the consumer) are in the red.
My old ash bat took close to 2000 hits before it failed. Try that with a composite. |
| Punishers |
Posted - 04/10/2017 : 22:31:57
quote:
Originally posted by CaCO3Girl
FYI Wood is not allowed everywhere for ALL ages. Per PG website:
BCS/Youth Bat Restrictions
BCS - Metal Bat Tournaments
14U-18U: Metal bat. All teams must use BBCOR -3 bats that are legal according to the National High School Federation.Wood bats are also allowed.
13U: Metal bat. All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15 or BBCOR on it. There is length to weight ratio maximum of -5 (5 ounces). NO WOOD BATS
9U-12U: Metal bat. All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15. NO WOOD BATS
I have a feeling that will be changing. I know TC allows wood bats. |
