In 2009, MLB conducted a study based on the number of broken maple bats. After 6 months of research by wood experts and scientists, they concluded that maple bats break because maple is a diffuse porous wood and maple bats would be stronger if contact was made on the face grain instead of the final grain. The study did not recommend changes in ash bats. The results of this study have sparked controversy among maple syrup players and companies. Many players believe that the study should have included tests based on the players` actual contact and not in a laboratory. In addition, players can hold the racquet as they wish, regardless of where the logo is on the racquet, regardless of the findings of the study. Please see links to the new regulations and articles from very frustrated maple bat growers.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-maplecontroversy011809&prov=yhoo&type=lgnsezinearticles.com/? Maple-Bat-Regulations-and-Major-League-Baseball&id=2059763mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081209&content_id=3708345&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlbwww.woodbat.org LaCasse Bat`s opinionWhen it comes to attaching the logo to the final grain instead of the front, only time will tell if this will prevail or if players will have to swing a racquet with the logo on the final grain. But players can decide how to hold the racket. Of course, Maple is strong no matter where you place the logo, so the most important factor is always where the ball touches the racket. This could be a controversial study, but one thing is for sure that bats will continue to break. MLB fans may think that a hitter`s abilities can be explained by their fitness and ability to chase a ball and hit it wherever they want. But other factors also play a role. From their posture to their routine, batsmen know what it takes to hit the ball with skill.
In all this, perhaps the most important factor in terms of thugs is lost: the bats themselves. Rod Carew and Ozzie Smith, we found, both used bats on the order of 29 ounces. Considering that many high school players think 30+ ounces are bats for big boys, watching the Oz and Carew would be beneficial. Considering that Carew is probably the best drummer of his era, there should be no shame in swinging a 29-ounce bat. Those who don`t have specific endorsement agreements can usually get their clubs through their team. After all, it`s not a massive investment compared to the money these players receive. Those who decide to buy their own bats are not prevented from doing so. But they have to make sure they follow MLB`s bat protocol. The bat must be a softball bat that meets the specifications and standards of the Little League, as set out in this rule. It must be a smooth, rounded stick and be made of wood or material that has been tested and proven acceptable to Little League standards.
The racquet must not be more than 33 inches (34 inches for the junior/senior league) in length, not more than two and a quarter (21/4) inches in diameter, and if the wood, not less than fifteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inches for bats under 30 inches) on its smallest part. Non-timber bats must be printed with a GMP (Bat Power Factor) of 1.20. Bats can be taped or sleeved at a maximum distance of 16 inches from the small end. Coloured bats are acceptable. A non-wooden bat must have a handle made of cork, tape or compositional material and must be at least 10 inches from the small end. Adhesive tape or similar material is prohibited. NOTE: Approved tee ball rackets can also be used for minor Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch divisions only with the use of approved tee balls. According to the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26″ and under) will bear the USA Baseball mark and text that reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS.
All Tee Ball bats must bear the USA Baseball sign and accompanying text. Tee ball rackets manufactured and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard may be certified with a tee ball sticker approved through the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017. Although the rules for bats have changed little since 1895, the practical construction of bats has changed considerably. Players of the late 19th and early 20th centuries often used clubs weighing 3 pounds or more on the theory that a heavy racquet could hit the ball farther than a lighter racquet. Other players used much lighter rackets, often made of relatively soft wood. Some players, notably Heinie Groh, used “bottle rackets” that narrowed sharply from the race to grip instead of gradually narrowing. The shortest MLB bat we haven`t found yet is a Tony Gwynn racquet measuring just over 32 inches at 32 1/4. Gwynn, perhaps the best hitter of modern times, with a short racquet is unexpected given that most players work assuming that taller tends to be better. However, the fact that the best hitter in the modern game swung a 32-inch bat can help a number of high school players realize that those 33- and 34-inch rackets are simply too big.