Topic: Bat Modifications - Root etc (Read 2738 times)

renegademaster · « **on:** January 06, 2020, 12:49:49 PM »

Anyone know (a) what Root wraps around the top of his bat handle and for what purpose ? (b) Why a lot of pros seem to have fibre glass tape at the top of the bat underneath the handle? (c) why two tone wood seems to be the choice of a lot of pros?

SouthpawMark · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2020, 12:58:29 PM »

Quote from: renegademaster on January 06, 2020, 12:49:49 PM

Anyone know (a) what Root wraps around the top of his bat handle and for what purpose ? (b) Why a lot of pros seem to have fibre glass tape at the top of the bat underneath the handle? (c) why two tone wood seems to be the choice of a lot of pros?

I think it�s to act as a counterbalance. It means you can use a heavier bat, but keep the pickup light. It also helps with hand positioning.

Two tone wood comes from the core of the tree, where the grains are generally narrower. If you want narrow grains, you quite often will have a bat with a decent amount of heartwood.

Psi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:01:14 PM »

... And apparently heartwood is tougher, so a lot of people like to have a small width of heartwood on their outside edge to prevent edge cracks, see e.g.the GM LE bat that I just posted pictures of...

SouthpawMark · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:06:51 PM »

Quote from: Psi on January 06, 2020, 01:01:14 PM

... And apparently heartwood is tougher, so a lot of people like to have a small width of heartwood on their outside edge to prevent edge cracks, see e.g.the GM LE bat that I just posted pictures of...

Heartwood is actually way more brittle, so is much more prone to cracking.

edge · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:10:07 PM »

The counterbalance thing is nonsense, some players like to do it to have something to butt their hand up against at the top of the handle.

SouthpawMark · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:14:24 PM »

Quote from: edge on January 06, 2020, 01:10:07 PM

The counterbalance thing is nonsense, some players like to do it to have something to butt their hand up against at the top of the handle.

It depends on what material you use to build up the top of the handle. Years ago I was given one of Martin Van Jaarsveld�s County (Aus) bats, and he used a combination of lead tape under plaster tape. It made a significant difference to the overall balance, as when I took it off I went from loving the bat to hating it.

jonny77 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:16:29 PM »

The 'counterbalance' argument is funny one. It's been discussed a lot and how much difference a few bits of grip make at the top of the handle is negligible imo. There's been products brought out to put at the top of the handle recently, make your own minds up on them I suppose. Focus have put an insert of denser wood into the top of their handles as well. They posted a pic on Insta a week or so ago.

I'm sure I read an interview where Root said he'd done it because he saw Kalis or someone do it previously, stop copied them.

Psi · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:36:20 PM »

Counterbalance will play a small role in making the pickup lighter, but it is so close to the hands that it will make only a tiny difference. And it certainly doesn't add mass in the hitting area...

ogroupleader · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2020, 01:52:41 PM »

The concept of counterbalance is complete rubbish. To say it allows you to use a heavier bat is a fallacy. If you move the balance point higher up the bat by adding weight to the handle what have you actually achieved? Now you might respond to that question by saying that the bat is now easier to swing through the air. It picks up better so it must be easier to swing. The reality is you have not changed anything. You cannot reduce swingweight (the mass of an object through the air - which is really what we're talking about here) by adding mass. If you have not reduced the mass of the object below your hands then you have not affected your ability to accelerate that mass.

Gurujames · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2020, 02:00:17 PM »

I use a few grip offcuts to create a more pronounced end. This is not to counterbalance the bat but to create a more comfortable top hand.
As it�s so close to the fulcrum the difference it makes to the pickup is zilch.
It is purely a comfort issue.

edge · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2020, 02:01:16 PM »

"This bat weighs too much for me, I don't like it"
"Don't worry, you can fix that easy"
"How's that then?"
"Just add more weight to it"
errrrr.....

renegademaster · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2020, 02:45:13 PM »

Thanks all - anyone else noticed the fibreglass tape at top of bats, under handle? Dean Elgar has it for example. Strengthen splice? Seems unnecessary if so

Psi · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2020, 02:48:47 PM »

The odd thing is that it will only help with the pickup because of gravity. But when you swing the bat back down the opposite is true and the couterbalance will make it harder to swing the bat. But it should only be a tiny effect because it is so close to the hands (the fulcrum)

The dead weight of the bat increases, but it will feel slightly better balanced when you are holding the bat up. This is because we hold the bat way above its centre of mass and so there is a net turning moment from gravity that we have to resist when gripping the handle. This turning moment is of course helpful for swinging the bat back down to play a shot.

jamesisapayne · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2020, 04:07:20 PM »

Quote from: Psi on January 06, 2020, 01:36:20 PM

Counterbalance will play a small role in making the pickup lighter, but it is so close to the hands that it will make only a tiny difference. And it certainly doesn't add mass in the hitting area...

Without trying to be a pedant, surely it depends on how heavy the counterbalance is in terms of making the pickup lighter?

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2020, 04:14:59 PM »

I have a current county players match bat from 2018 season and it has the tape around the top of the bat, when asked why if it was damaged the reply was that it makes the handle stiffer which is what apparently a lot of the pro�s his and a few in the county like. If it does or not I have no idea but Iv noticed a lot of pro players have this set up now.

Author Topic: Bat Modifications - Root etc (Read 2738 times)

renegademaster

Bat Modifications - Root etc

SouthpawMark

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Psi

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SouthpawMark

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edge

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SouthpawMark

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jonny77

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Psi

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ogroupleader

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Gurujames

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edge

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renegademaster

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Psi

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jamesisapayne

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SOULMAN1012

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