The following are tips and tricks to take care of your bat and make sure that you properly break it in for maximum performance. At the end of this post there are some illegal break in procedures that you should absolutely avoid. Some stores and websites offer to roll or shave a bat. We do not recommend this as both are illegal and can result in multiple issues for you.
BAT CARE
- Rotate your bat 1/4 turn each swing to distribute the hitting surface evenly
- Limit the bat to individual use.
- Do not use in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Do not store the bat in extremely hot or cold temperature areas. It takes about 4 hours for a bat to reach the temperature that it is in. You can use the bats in colder weather as long as they are stored in warm places.
- Do not use the bat to hit the dirt off of your metal cleats
- Use regulation leather covered baseballs and softballs. Avoid the dimpled cage balls. It's best to keep an old bat, wood or a cheaper alloy for practice.
- Do not hit waterlogged balls
- Routinely check your bat for any damage
BREAK IN
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Aluminum / Alloy bats do not require a break-in period. These bats are ''hot out of the wrapper'' and can be used in a game right away.
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Composite bats may require a break-in period. If you feel your bat is not at optimal performance out of the wrapper, we recommend about 50-100 swings either off of a tee or by soft toss with a 1/4 rotation of the barrel after each swing. Some bats will require more break in, and others less but please remember composite bat life spans are directly related to how many impacts it receives. Each "Break In" hit takes away overall life of the bat! Once broken In, we recommend that you save you bat for Game Use Only.
Illegal Break In Services: Why Rolling Bats or Shaving Bats is Illegal and the Ramifications. Learn More