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Hurricane
351 Posts |
 Posted - 05/18/2016 : 13:52:38
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I was always told to face the label up or down for wood bats.
Like if you were holing a deck of playing cards.. the side where all the cards are together, but now I am hearing with Maple bats and even Birch and Ash, you should hit with the Label facing back, for the strongest hardest part of the bat? so you would hold the playing cards so you make contact with the Face of the top card?
Anyone shed any light on this? That knows |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2016 : 00:24:38
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Here's the deal.
Always hit with the label up or down, regardless of wood type. Manufacturers put the label so that if you hit with the label in the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position, the grain is positioned correctly for impact.
And to that point, Ash bats are to be hit with the grain 90 degrees different than maple or birch.
In the examples below, consider that the ball being hit is to the right of the lines.
So for an ash bat, you want the grain running front to back where you make impact, i.e.
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For maple and birch, you want the grain running top to bottom where you make impact, i.e.
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In a store, compare the labels on an ash bat to that on a maple and birch, and you'll see that if you hold the labels up, the grain will be positioned as above to ensure that you make impact with the grain in the right position to the ball.
Here's a link to a page with a better graphic to depict what I'm describing above (scroll down to about the middle of the page). just know that you don't need to worry about positioning the label up/down for one or front/back with another. The manufacturers have taken the guess work out of it for you so you just have to know to hit label up or down. They move the label based on the wood type.
http://www.texastimberbats.com/pages/faq |
Edited by - in_the_know on 05/19/2016 08:55:41 |
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3sondad
220 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2016 : 14:43:07
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If you have a custom made bat and you specify Left Handed. Use the label up. If a right hander uses the same bat swing with the label down. I know with one of my son's custom ordered bat the label is a little off center from the normal way a bat is stamped. Meaning the sweet spot is a lot different left side to right side swing with label up. Turning the label down will take care of that issue.
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bfriendly
376 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2016 : 15:20:15
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quote:
Originally posted by in_the_know
Here's the deal.
Always hit with the label up or down, regardless of wood type. Manufacturers put the label so that if you hit with the label in the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position, the grain is positioned correctly for impact.
And to that point, Ash bats are to be hit with the grain 90 degrees different than maple or birch.
In the examples below, consider that the ball being hit is to the right of the lines.
So for an ash bat, you want the grain running front to back where you make impact, i.e.
---------------
---------------
---------------
For maple and birch, you want the grain running top to bottom where you make impact, i.e.
| | |
| | |
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| | |
In a store, compare the labels on an ash bat to that on a maple and birch, and you'll see that if you hold the labels up, the grain will be positioned as above to ensure that you make impact with the grain in the right position to the ball.
Here's a link to a page with a better graphic to depict what I'm describing above (scroll down to about the middle of the page). just know that you don't need to worry about positioning the label up/down for one or front/back with another. The manufacturers have taken the guess work out of it for you so you just have to know to hit label up or down. They move the label based on the wood type.
http://www.texastimberbats.com/pages/faq
This^^^^ is a great illustration showing grain patterns.
When I looked this up, I was informed that the grain should always go toward and make contact with the ball; not up and down.
I did not see any reference to doing it different ways with different types of wood and I looked at several "Professional references".
I bought my kid a green Mako Maple wood bat and the label is on the same side as the grain lines so he hits it ON the label. I just picked up a second wood bat, a LS Maple. On the Louisville Slugger the label is NOT on the same side as the grain, so it(the label) would be up and down at contact for this one; Both bats are indicated as Maple. Both have done well hitting on the grain lines so we will probably keep doing that............but thanks ITK, now I aint too sure any more
Anywho, if the batter gets busted in on the hands or even gets the end really hard, it may make No difference anyway..........I just dont want my kid upset if he breaks it.......I think if he is careful, rather than free swinging, it will be less productive and may also increase the odds of breaking the bat too. |
Edited by - bfriendly on 05/22/2016 17:43:41 |
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bfriendly
376 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2016 : 08:32:51
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Since I found some inconsistencies, I did more google searches and read a few other articles about this subject. Again, there is conflicting evidences.
The "Study" mandated by MLB was also thrown under the bus by one article that indicated the Maple bats will break more often, just not as violently, when they are hit on the sides. And MLB didnt care how often or quickly they broke, so long as they dont become some dangerous flying object.
One of the best examples(IMHO) I found, was an article that used a deck of cards as the bat. If you strike something like a countertop with the flat side if the deck, it will flex or bend on contact. If you strike the same counter with the side or edge of the deck, it will not bend or "Give" at all creating a much stronger striking surface, which should create much more inertia at contact with the ball.........more power, less flex and less breakage........I guess this one is still out for debate, but we will keep hitting the ball on the edge of the deck of cards, not on the flat side |
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Where to put the label when hitting with Wood
