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PeachFuzz
76 Posts |
 Posted - 08/18/2011 : 23:13:46
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We had our first team/parent meeting and after being briefed on the projected tournaments, it turns out the 90% of them are wood bat touneys. Here's my question....I know wood bat tourneys are popular....but when you compare performance of wood bats to metal/composite (BBCOR included)....why are the wood bat tourneys so popular?
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Going-Going-Gone
62 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2011 : 23:50:20
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| One little suggestion for you.......RUN!!! |
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davidh6265
27 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 00:09:15
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| That's the way baseball was meant to be played. As an umpire I can tell you, there is no better smell in the world than the puff of smoke coming from a baseball after a foul tip. Call me a traditionalist, but I'd rather see a 3-2 game than a 14-12 game. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 00:18:39
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Because until now (the BBCOR Era) playing with wood bats was a novelty, especially with the younger ages. A chance to play like the big leaguers.
As you get into high school age, more of the tournaments are wood bat in fall and late summer and it seems to provide a better barometer of hitting ability for scouts and coaches. You don't get the benefit of having otherwise weak hitters masked by a hot bat.
Not sure what age you're team will be playing, but it sounds like you're at the HS level. Recruiters prefer to see what the players can do with wood bats at that level. |
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beanball
222 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 05:49:11
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| Fuzz, I assume you're playing in an older age group (15U+). Most of the tournaments that are worth competing in are wood. I think its good for the boys to learn to hit with wood. Its a better game, in my opinion. And using wood really separates the men from the boys - even BBCOR. Just go with the flow and acquire 3-4 wood bats for the season, thats about the same $$$ as one good BBCOR. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 08:58:21
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I think it started with Perfect Game putting on wood bat tournaments. PG puts these on because they have many pro scouts coming to their events. Pro scouts want to see how a kid does with wood as that is what they will use there. I think from there, other tournaments wanted to cash in on what they saw was a market for wood bat tournaments. To these other tournaments, wood is not as important as with PG. There just are not anywhere near as many pro scouts coming to these other events. PG has upwards of 200 teams for each age group coming to their tournaments here in Georgia, so the other tournaments figured they were that popular. Not really so because it is the scouts coming to the events that make it popular, not the fact that they use wood bats.
Either way, I don't think it's bad to play in wood bat tournaments. Personally, I like wood. However, just because a tournament is wood bat does not make it a better tournament. Due diligence should still be done to find out what scouts will be there. I have seen wood bat "showcase" tournaments put on in which you were lucky to have one scout in attendance.
JMHO. |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 09:48:01
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| Wood is great. Changes how the game is played. More bunts, fewer HRs and gap hitting and base running becomes the game changing difference. At 14U and up it separates the players who have talent, have been training with good coaching/instruction and good baseball IQ from those that have just been getting by on athletic ability and being able to swing hard. |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 11:37:27
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Over the past few weeks, my son has discovered the joys of wood bats. Although most of our tournaments will not be wood bat, he wants to use his as much as he can. He realizes that he can hit further with a metal bat, but loves the feel of wood. Since in my opinion, fall is the time to develop. I am encouraging him. (now, if he is coming up to bat in a close game, I may encourage he get one the trusty composite.)
-BTW. My son is playing 12u :-) |
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PeachFuzz
76 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 13:50:54
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Thanks for the feedback...my player is 16U...has spent the better part of the last couple of weeks swinging a wood bat in our backyard cage. Was not a big fan at first, but he's really warming up to it.....He's a big/strong 6'+ kid...he's starting to figure out that he actually can hit with a little power with a wood bat.
My complaint is the 2 broken bats he's already gone through....
He's hitting off a MLB quality pitching machine...would you guys recommend bamboo or composite for a BP bat? I've been told that maple has the most pop and is preferred for game use (but is more fragile than bamboo or composite).
Also, would I be better served taping the barrel/upper handle on his next BP bat?
Any feedback is appreciated...would like to avoid killing another tree (or another $100).... |
Edited by - PeachFuzz on 08/19/2011 14:10:58 |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 14:24:05
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My son is 15U for the coming 2012 season but played majors/elite the last 2 seasons in 14U. We did a lot of wood bat stuff and he takes BP with a wood bat.
We've had great luck with the Mizuno bamboo bats. Very strong and my son loses maybe 20-30 feet off deep shots verses his non-BBCOR composite. Were switching to a BBCOR this week so that will be interesting. I've only bought 2 bamboo bats in the last 3 years. The first one busted in the cages (85 mph) machine after 1 1/2 years of BP and games. He got it off the end of the bat and the handle cracked. We still have number 2 and use it regularly. They are great bats and around $45-60.
Taping the barrell only tells you where he making contact after a BP session. Doubtful it would do anything to protect the bat. It's the handle that generally snaps unless you've got it turned the wrong way (emblem up or down only) then the barrel may crack. It is wood after all. Hope this helps. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
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justletemplay
46 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 15:02:43
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| Look at Baum bats. My son has had one for 2 years aand will be able to use it for another year or two. Expensive, but a one time purchase. Not a good plan if you'll be changing lengths a lot, but my kid has been able to swing the same length, 32" and probably at least one more year, if not 2. That'll depend on how much bigger/stronger he gets. |
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Mike Corbin
523 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 16:12:22
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| I would recomend a Baum bat. They are a composite wood bat that are legal all the way to low A pro ball. They are also BBCOR certified now and hit just like wood. Our older team used two of them for two seasons before either one of them broke. Here is the link: http://baumbat.com/ |
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crackedbats
160 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 16:17:59
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| my son has swung Brett bats. those also have proved quite sturdy and the weighting seems fairly balanced |
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BeanerBALL
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 16:56:41
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| Just go and get your son a wood composite bat . You'll save yourself a lot of money .you will lose five feet on your distance vs a real woodbat ,but there is not much difference. I'be been using mine for about 2years now and it still hits great. So what I'm trying to say is get ur son one real woodbat and a composite, and have him switch off an on w/ the other.cut cost the old beaner way. |
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Critical Mass
277 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2011 : 17:36:56
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| +1 bballman |
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itsaboutbb
164 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2011 : 11:54:40
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| Question about wood bats and the label. I was brought up hitting a wood bat and the label had to go up. I see in the Majors that they point the label at the pitcher and or the camera. Is this done for advertisement purposes? |
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I'm sure this has been asked before...
