What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
traditional ash? It seems there's a huge problem with the maple bats exploding
and becoming dangerous projectiles:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Cubs-Tyler-Colvin-hospitalized-after-broken-bat?urn=mlb-270755
This isn't completely different than my experience with maple drum sticks;
unless the sticks are made from absolutely STRAIGHT grain that runs from one
end of the stick to the other, you can almost bet the sucker is going to pop in
half. I don't use 'em; strictly hickory for me.
From the pictures in that article it appears to me that the bat in question
was NOT constructed from straight grain lumber. Don't you think somebody in
the bat making industry would have noticed this by now and made it a selling
point and part of their quality control? Or do you think those suckers would
explode regardless of grain direction?
--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
On 23 Sep, 09:11, Stuart <[email protected]> wrote:
> The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
> recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminates.
18th century cricket bats used to be solid, triangular in section and
tapered. Bowlers bowled slowly underarm. All was good. As bowlers
speeded up and bowled overarm, these heavy bats could no longer be
swung easily enough to respond. Batsman sought a lighter, faster bat
and began to use a thinner and more "paddle shaped" bat, as today,
made of lighter timber like willow. However willow isn't strong enough
for this and they broke where the narrow handle broadened into the
blade. The fix was to insert a stronger cane handle into a vee slot in
the blade - which I believe to be a local invention (Sudbrook, by the
chap who was also chief engineer of the Severn Tunnel).
Steve Turner <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
> traditional ash? It seems there's a huge problem with the maple bats
> exploding and becoming dangerous projectiles:
>
> http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Cubs-Tyler-Colvin
> -hospitalized-after-broken-bat?urn=mlb-270755
>
> This isn't completely different than my experience with maple drum
> sticks; unless the sticks are made from absolutely STRAIGHT grain that
> runs from one end of the stick to the other, you can almost bet the
> sucker is going to pop in half. I don't use 'em; strictly hickory for
> me.
>
> From the pictures in that article it appears to me that the bat in
> question
> was NOT constructed from straight grain lumber. Don't you think
> somebody in the bat making industry would have noticed this by now and
> made it a selling point and part of their quality control? Or do you
> think those suckers would explode regardless of grain direction?
>
Instead of changing the wood, why not look into some elasticy coating the
bats could be covered with? When the bat does break, the coating would
(perhaps) keep the bat together at least long enough to slow the speed
down to something safer.
The idea is not dissimilar to putting plastic between layers of glass to
make them impact resistant.
Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> Not sure about that. I think there are laminated bats, now. I may be
> wrong, or maybe they're just experimenting with it in the minors.
>
> In any case, I don't see a need to do anything. If you look at the
> odds, someone getting hurt by a flying broken bat is about as rare as
> getting hit by lighting while cashing a winning mega-millions lotto
> ticket.
I've never heard of anyone getting hit by lightning while cashing a
winning mega-millions lotto ticket, but I know of a few Cubs players over
time who have gotten hit with flying broken bats. Right now, it's just a
hazard of being a player.
Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.
On 09/23/2010 01:11 AM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
>>>
>
>> 97 mph fastballs, that's why not. :-)
>
> Jeff Thomson recorded at 99.8 mph
>
> http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283875.html
>
> Cricket bowling machines used in practice are rated up to 95mph
>
> http://www.clicksports.co.uk/products/crickettraining/bola-professional-cricket-bowling-machines/
>
> The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
> recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminates.
>
Try this:
<http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38965699/ns/sports-baseball/>
In article <[email protected]>,
sam <[email protected]> wrote:
> Although hickory was used at the beginning of the 20th century,
> hitters today prefer lighter bats. The maple bats came into vogue
> because hitters like Barry Bonds put up good numbers with them, but
> they often break in dangerous ways. I do not think cost is a factor
> at all for major league hitters.
Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
> >
> 97 mph fastballs, that's why not. :-)
Jeff Thomson recorded at 99.8 mph
http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283875.html
Cricket bowling machines used in practice are rated up to 95mph
http://www.clicksports.co.uk/products/crickettraining/bola-professional-cricket-bowling-machines/
The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminates.
In article <[email protected]>,
Doug Winterburn <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 09/23/2010 01:11 AM, Stuart wrote:
> > In article<[email protected]>,
> > -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
> >>> Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
> >>>
> >
> >> 97 mph fastballs, that's why not. :-)
> >
> > Jeff Thomson recorded at 99.8 mph
> >
> > http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283875.html
> >
> > Cricket bowling machines used in practice are rated up to 95mph
> >
> > http://www.clicksports.co.uk/products/crickettraining/bola-professional-cricket-bowling-machines/
> >
> > The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
> > recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminates.
> >
> Try this:
> <http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38965699/ns/sports-baseball/>
That's very good but one must remember that a cricket ball is heavier.
A Cricket ball must weigh between 155.9 and 163g. The mean of which is
159.45
A Baseball ball weighs between 142 and 149g. The mean of which is 145.5g
The damage caused by any projectile depends on its energy which is given
by the simple formula E=1/2mass x Velocity squared.
A cricket ball travelling at 99.8mph (4461 cm/s)
has an energy of 1586569037 erg
On the other hand, a baseball ball travelling at 103mph (4604 cm/s)
has an energy of 1542068364 erg.
There may not be a lot in it but the cricket ball is therfore capable of
doing more damage.
I would therefore assert that willow is just as viable for Baseball bats
as your traditional ash.
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Well, there ya go.
Youp, stick to willow.
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> In any case, isn't a cricket bat flat? That has to play into the
> equation. I'm also curious about the density of willow compared to
> ash/maple. Also, how much wood is there in each bat? Like how much
> volume?
It's about 50 years since I last had a cricket bat in my hands.
The face of the bat is sort of flat but has a slight curve to it in
section. It's also basically triangular in section. It thickens towards
the end away from the handle.
Any pro cricketer will have a bat made to his own requirements, its length
will depend on his height for a start, so it's impossible to say how much
wood might be used.
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Reminds me of those tees at the driving range. Golf is not my forte'.
> My golf and bowling scores are usually about the same.
Personally, I'd rather spend my time in the shop. ;-)
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> I saw the smiley, but I find that a good balance is beneficial.
> I can get shop fever when working too long. Some physical
> activity out in the fresh air seems to recharge the old batteries,
> mentally and physically.
Ah, don't misunderstand me. Once a month my eldest daughter and I go for a
walk along a canal somewhere. Her boyfriend drops us off and picks us up
at the end of the walk. Typically we walk 10-12 miles and hopefully finish
in a pub.
I have also recently joined www.midlandhillwalkers.org.uk
I also have a number of other hobbies including photography, which also
gets me "out and about" and playing 12-string guitar which doesn't. :-)
In article <[email protected]>,
-MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Are you kidding? How about playing in one of those pubs you end up in? :-)
Well, my daughter (flute, "penny" whistle) and I used to play in a ceilidh
band, which was great fun, but the guy who lead it decided to call it a
day.
In some pubs it would probably go down fine in others......
August we wound up at a place called Fazley junction. The weather was
beautiful, there were loads of people about and the canal was busy with
boats. It was a good pub, couple of friendly, youngish lads behind the bar
and a very nice cider on draught. We sat outside in the sunshine by the
tow-path and I reckon we could easily have attracted an appreciative
audience if we'd been playing.
September found us in a former mining town called Bedworth in a run down
tatty pub where the only cider was bottled and the only "beer" came from
one of those chemical factories they sometimes call "breweries". The sort
of stuff they "Blow" out of the kegs with CO2. The few locals stared at us
like we shouldn't have dared step in through the door and the landlady was
a miserable middle aged woman.
Strictly speaking, it would also depend whether the pub had a license to
allow live music on the premises (Quaint English law)
Of course, after walking 12 miles or so, what we really want to do is sit
down, relax and slake our thirst with a pint or two. :-)
On Sep 24, 12:54=A0am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 9/23/10 10:32 PM, Kevin wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:34:39 -0500, -MIKE-<[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> >> The trend has seemed to go to the favor of lighter bats to get faster
> >> bat speed. Babe Ruth and other prolific hitters of his time used very
> >> heavy bats, well over 40oz. If you see old footage of Babe Ruth's swin=
g,
> >> you can see that bat speed wasn't of much concern to him. :-) He sort =
of
> >> flicked the bat out and caught the ball at the apex of his swing,
> >> allowing the trampoline effect of the wood's flex to transfer all that
> >> mass to the ball.
>
> >> Home run hitter of today are only concerned with bat speed. They will =
us
> >> a 32 oz bat and let bat speed do the work.
>
> > And they are also putting that weight out in the barrel by making the
> > handles thinner, and voila they break more often. =A0There's no minimum
> > diameters specified, only the maximum.
>
> Thinner handles contribute to more flex, too, adding to the trampoline
> effect.
>
> I hit another homerun tonight and it was all bat. =A0 :-)
>
That musta really left that rubber tee flapping, eh?
.
.
.
.
g, d & r
On Sep 21, 8:27=A0pm, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> Steve Turner <[email protected]> wrote innews:i7agsi$u93$1@=
news.eternal-september.org:
>
>
>
>
>
> > What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
> > traditional ash? =A0It seems there's a huge problem with the maple bats
> > exploding and becoming dangerous projectiles:
>
> >http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Cubs-Tyler-Colvin
> > -hospitalized-after-broken-bat?urn=3Dmlb-270755
>
> > This isn't completely different than my experience with maple drum
> > sticks; unless the sticks are made from absolutely STRAIGHT grain that
> > runs from one end of the stick to the other, you can almost bet the
> > sucker is going to pop in half. =A0I don't use 'em; strictly hickory fo=
r
> > me.
>
> > =A0From the pictures in that article it appears to me that the bat in
> > =A0question
> > was NOT constructed from straight grain lumber. =A0Don't you think
> > somebody in the bat making industry would have noticed this by now and
> > made it a selling point and part of their quality control? =A0Or do you
> > think those suckers would explode regardless of grain direction?
>
> Instead of changing the wood, why not look into some elasticy coating the
> bats could be covered with? =A0When the bat does break, the coating would
> (perhaps) keep the bat together at least long enough to slow the speed
> down to something safer.
Duct tape.
> The idea is not dissimilar to putting plastic between layers of glass to
> make them impact resistant.
>
> Puckdropper
>
> --
> Never teach your apprentice everything you know.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
"dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Steve Turner wrote:
>> What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
>> traditional ash? ...
>
> Don't think there's any "love" associated w/ it at all--suitable ash has
> become hard to find (thereby read "expensive") is what I've heard. Don't
> think there's anything more to it than that.
>
> --
Yes and we all know that MLB players have to watch their money as they don't
make very much. :)
If suitable ash is hard to find, someone forgot to tell the baseball bat
manufacturers who turn them out by the million. Mable is just the latest
"fad".
On Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:38:22 -0500, -MIKE- <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On 9/21/10 10:40 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> I take it you don't play baseball. Maple bats have different
>> hitting characteristics, preferred by many players.
>>
>
>The maple bats may be lighter, which is probably why players prefer them
>(bat speed) but it is definitely more "brittle."
>
>Most of the "power" from a bat comes from its trampoline effect, similar
>to a tennis racket. The more the bat flexes when making contact with the
>ball, the further the ball will go.
>
>I started hitting a lot of home runs in softball, in the past few years,
>and it has nothing to do with me. I'm not a big guy and I haven't gotten
>stronger in my old age. :-)
>
>The composite alloys they use to make modern bats allow them to flex so
>much at the handle and also in the face of the barrel, that it's like
>hitting a golf ball with a tennis racket. When you hit the ball square
>at the apex of your swing, you can feel the trampoline effect and the
>ball goes about 360 feet.
I second that. There's a palpable sweet spot.
-Zz
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> dpb <[email protected]> writes:
> >Steve Turner wrote:
> >> What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
> >> traditional ash? ...
> >
> >Don't think there's any "love" associated w/ it at all--suitable ash has
> >become hard to find (thereby read "expensive") is what I've heard.
> >Don't think there's anything more to it than that.
>
>
> I take it you don't play baseball. Maple bats have different
> hitting characteristics, preferred by many players.
>
> Most major league bats are custom made for the player.
>
> scott
Although hickory was used at the beginning of the 20th century,
hitters today prefer lighter bats. The maple bats came into vogue
because hitters like Barry Bonds put up good numbers with them, but
they often break in dangerous ways. I do not think cost is a factor
at all for major league hitters.
s
On Sep 21, 10:06=A0am, dpb <[email protected]> wrote:
> Steve Turner wrote:
> > What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
> > traditional ash? =A0...
>
> Don't think there's any "love" associated w/ it at all--suitable ash has
> become hard to find (thereby read "expensive") is what I've heard.
> Don't think there's anything more to it than that.
They pay the guys a $M a year and can't afford a couple of bucks more
for a bat? If Ash is so expensive, why not Hickory?
On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:28:42 -0500, Steve Turner
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On 09/21/2010 07:41 PM, Zz Yzx wrote:
>> Ask me about the "4 outs in an inning" rule. It's a good one.
>
>Ok, I'll bite. What is the "4 outs in an inning" rule?
In certain situations, 4 outs can be recorded in one inning, as per
the following example:
Tie game. One out, runners on first and third. Batter hits fly ball
to outfield, caught (2 out). Runner on third tags and is called safe
on the attempted put-out at the plate. Runner on first is thrown out
at third (3 out). Defense appeals the tag-up at third (runner left
early); he's called out (4th out) and defense succesfully removes the
run scored.
It's actually in the rule book last time I checked.
-Zz
On Sep 23, 9:52=A0am, Doug Winterburn <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 09/23/2010 01:11 AM, Stuart wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > In article<[email protected]>,
> > =A0 =A0 -MIKE-<[email protected]> =A0wrote:
> >>> Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not tha=
t.
>
> >> 97 mph fastballs, that's why not. =A0 :-)
>
> > Jeff Thomson recorded at 99.8 mph
>
> >http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283875.html
>
> > Cricket bowling machines used in practice are rated up to 95mph
>
> >http://www.clicksports.co.uk/products/crickettraining/bola-profession...
>
> > The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
> > recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminate=
s.
>
> Try this:
>
> <http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38965699/ns/sports-baseball/>- Hide quoted=
text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
105.
On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:34:39 -0500, -MIKE- <[email protected]>
wrote:
>The trend has seemed to go to the favor of lighter bats to get faster
>bat speed. Babe Ruth and other prolific hitters of his time used very
>heavy bats, well over 40oz. If you see old footage of Babe Ruth's swing,
>you can see that bat speed wasn't of much concern to him. :-) He sort of
>flicked the bat out and caught the ball at the apex of his swing,
>allowing the trampoline effect of the wood's flex to transfer all that
>mass to the ball.
>
>Home run hitter of today are only concerned with bat speed. They will us
>a 32 oz bat and let bat speed do the work.
And they are also putting that weight out in the barrel by making the
handles thinner, and voila they break more often. There's no minimum
diameters specified, only the maximum.
Steve Turner wrote:
> What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
> traditional ash? ...
Don't think there's any "love" associated w/ it at all--suitable ash has
become hard to find (thereby read "expensive") is what I've heard.
Don't think there's anything more to it than that.
--
On 9/21/10 9:53 AM, Steve Turner wrote:
> This isn't completely different than my experience with maple drum
> sticks; unless the sticks are made from absolutely STRAIGHT grain that
> runs from one end of the stick to the other, you can almost bet the
> sucker is going to pop in half. I don't use 'em; strictly hickory for me.
>
Same with me. I tried maple stick but they gave no warning, they just
snap in half.
Most often, Hickory and Oak start to splinter and weaken and you can
feel it in your hands, which gives you plenty of warning to switch sticks.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/21/10 10:40 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> I take it you don't play baseball. Maple bats have different
> hitting characteristics, preferred by many players.
>
The maple bats may be lighter, which is probably why players prefer them
(bat speed) but it is definitely more "brittle."
Most of the "power" from a bat comes from its trampoline effect, similar
to a tennis racket. The more the bat flexes when making contact with the
ball, the further the ball will go.
I started hitting a lot of home runs in softball, in the past few years,
and it has nothing to do with me. I'm not a big guy and I haven't gotten
stronger in my old age. :-)
The composite alloys they use to make modern bats allow them to flex so
much at the handle and also in the face of the barrel, that it's like
hitting a golf ball with a tennis racket. When you hit the ball square
at the apex of your swing, you can feel the trampoline effect and the
ball goes about 360 feet.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/21/10 7:41 PM, Zz Yzx wrote:
>> Instead of changing the wood, why not look into some elasticy coating the
>> bats could be covered with? When the bat does break, the coating would
>> (perhaps) keep the bat together at least long enough to slow the speed
>> down to something safer.
>>
>> The idea is not dissimilar to putting plastic between layers of glass to
>> make them impact resistant.
>>
>> Puckdropper
>
> Right now, it's against the rules. The bats must be made out of a
> single piece of wood (no laminations or alterations).
>
> Ask me about the "4 outs in an inning" rule. It's a good one.
>
> -Zz
Not sure about that. I think there are laminated bats, now. I may be
wrong, or maybe they're just experimenting with it in the minors.
In any case, I don't see a need to do anything. If you look at the odds,
someone getting hurt by a flying broken bat is about as rare as getting
hit by lighting while cashing a winning mega-millions lotto ticket.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 09/21/2010 07:41 PM, Zz Yzx wrote:
> Ask me about the "4 outs in an inning" rule. It's a good one.
Ok, I'll bite. What is the "4 outs in an inning" rule?
--
What percentage of the driving populace do you suppose actually
understands the rules of engagement at a four-way stop?
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
On 09/22/2010 02:56 AM, Ross Hebeisen wrote:
> I would think some good old piss elm aka american elm would make a
> hellava bat. will not split very easy, it has stringy cross grain and
> light weight. kinda like the olde piss elm club.
Perhaps, but I'd have to think by now that with the huge popularity of baseball that people
have experimented with bats made from almost every wood, but have rejected most species for
one reason or other. Going back (once again) to what I know, I can see many parallels
between baseball bats and drum sticks. You can make 20 pairs of identical drum sticks from
20 different types of wood, and they will all feel different in a drummer's hand. Some
won't hold up to the punishment for 5 minutes, some are way too heavy, some are too light,
and some are too rigid and transfer unwanted shock straight to your hands. Very few will
have just the right weight and feel, the right "resonance" and "flex", but when they do you
KNOW it. I'd have to think that experienced baseball players are just like any other expert
in their craft; they like to have just the right tool for the job.
--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
On 9/22/10 1:32 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>> Not sure about that. I think there are laminated bats, now. I may be
>> wrong, or maybe they're just experimenting with it in the minors.
>>
>> In any case, I don't see a need to do anything. If you look at the
>> odds, someone getting hurt by a flying broken bat is about as rare as
>> getting hit by lighting while cashing a winning mega-millions lotto
>> ticket.
>
> I've never heard of anyone getting hit by lightning while cashing a
> winning mega-millions lotto ticket, but I know of a few Cubs players over
> time who have gotten hit with flying broken bats. Right now, it's just a
> hazard of being a player.
>
> Puckdropper
Hit and hurt are different animals. But I failed to make my point...
Read the article...
"Colvin's upper left chest was punctured by a flying piece of Welington
Castillo's(notes) bat as Colvin came home from third to score on a double.
If the term "impaled" doesn't do the job by itself, the aftermath makes
for one of the scariest baseball injuries in recent memory. Colvin
needed to be hospitalized because of a wound described as "fairly deep."
Sutures helped to close the wound and a tube was inserted into Colvin's
lung to prevent it from collapsing."
That kind of hurt is as rare as what I described and surely doesn't
necessitate any further safety measures.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/22/10 7:45 AM, Steve Turner wrote:
> On 09/22/2010 02:56 AM, Ross Hebeisen wrote:
>> I would think some good old piss elm aka american elm would make a
>> hellava bat. will not split very easy, it has stringy cross grain and
>> light weight. kinda like the olde piss elm club.
>
> Perhaps, but I'd have to think by now that with the huge popularity of
> baseball that people have experimented with bats made from almost every
> wood, but have rejected most species for one reason or other. Going back
> (once again) to what I know, I can see many parallels between baseball
> bats and drum sticks. You can make 20 pairs of identical drum sticks
> from 20 different types of wood, and they will all feel different in a
> drummer's hand. Some won't hold up to the punishment for 5 minutes, some
> are way too heavy, some are too light, and some are too rigid and
> transfer unwanted shock straight to your hands. Very few will have just
> the right weight and feel, the right "resonance" and "flex", but when
> they do you KNOW it. I'd have to think that experienced baseball players
> are just like any other expert in their craft; they like to have just
> the right tool for the job.
>
When I got my lathe, one of the first things I did was make a bunch of
drumsticks.
I was a man on a mission, making sticks from every hardwood and exotic
in my pile.
I quickly learned that there was a good reason most stick makers have
settled on oak, hickory, and maple to make their sticks, and cost is
only part of the equation.
The sticks I made from anything but oak and maple (didn't try hickory),
including a bunch of exotics like cocabolo, wenge, bubinga, padouk,
ebony and others either snapped in a a couple minutes or left my hands
feeling like I'd used a ROS for 7 hrs straight.
The pair I made from oak was the best feeling sticks I've ever played,
but the other thing I quickly learned was that my time was much more
valuable and it took me a lot longer than the stick companies to make a
$4 pair of sticks. :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/22/10 2:47 PM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> sam<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Although hickory was used at the beginning of the 20th century,
>> hitters today prefer lighter bats. The maple bats came into vogue
>> because hitters like Barry Bonds put up good numbers with them, but
>> they often break in dangerous ways. I do not think cost is a factor
>> at all for major league hitters.
>
> Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
>
97 mph fastballs, that's why not. :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/23/10 3:11 AM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Well, cricket bats have always been made out of willow so why not that.
>>>
>
>> 97 mph fastballs, that's why not. :-)
>
> Jeff Thomson recorded at 99.8 mph
>
> http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283875.html
>
> Cricket bowling machines used in practice are rated up to 95mph
>
> http://www.clicksports.co.uk/products/crickettraining/bola-professional-cricket-bowling-machines/
>
> The only reports I have heard of a cricket bat breaking were in more
> recent times when they were trying out different materials and laminates.
>
Well, there ya go.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/23/10 4:17 PM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>> Well, there ya go.
>
> Youp, stick to willow.
>
I'm agreeing with that. I'm just agreeing with the mph thing.
In any case, isn't a cricket bat flat? That has to play into the equation.
I'm also curious about the density of willow compared to ash/maple.
Also, how much wood is there in each bat? Like how much volume?
What I'm getting to is would willow be too heavy for a baseball bat...
or too light, for that matter. There's an equation for baseball that
goes something along the lines of each ounce added to the weight of the
bat at the same speed of swing adds X distance to the ball's travel.
Each mph of bat speed for the same weight bat adds X distance to the
ball's travel. So the quandary left to the baseball batter is whether he
can swing a heavier bat fast enough to make up the difference in speed
lost to the lighter bat.
The trend has seemed to go to the favor of lighter bats to get faster
bat speed. Babe Ruth and other prolific hitters of his time used very
heavy bats, well over 40oz. If you see old footage of Babe Ruth's swing,
you can see that bat speed wasn't of much concern to him. :-) He sort of
flicked the bat out and caught the ball at the apex of his swing,
allowing the trampoline effect of the wood's flex to transfer all that
mass to the ball.
Home run hitter of today are only concerned with bat speed. They will us
a 32 oz bat and let bat speed do the work.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/23/10 4:34 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
> On 9/23/10 4:17 PM, Stuart wrote:
>> In article<[email protected]>,
>> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>>> Well, there ya go.
>>
>> Youp, stick to willow.
>>
>
> I'm agreeing with that.
>
Oops, *NOT* agreeing. :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/23/10 10:32 PM, Kevin wrote:
> On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:34:39 -0500, -MIKE-<[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>> The trend has seemed to go to the favor of lighter bats to get faster
>> bat speed. Babe Ruth and other prolific hitters of his time used very
>> heavy bats, well over 40oz. If you see old footage of Babe Ruth's swing,
>> you can see that bat speed wasn't of much concern to him. :-) He sort of
>> flicked the bat out and caught the ball at the apex of his swing,
>> allowing the trampoline effect of the wood's flex to transfer all that
>> mass to the ball.
>>
>> Home run hitter of today are only concerned with bat speed. They will us
>> a 32 oz bat and let bat speed do the work.
>
> And they are also putting that weight out in the barrel by making the
> handles thinner, and voila they break more often. There's no minimum
> diameters specified, only the maximum.
>
Thinner handles contribute to more flex, too, adding to the trampoline
effect.
I hit another homerun tonight and it was all bat. :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/24/10 12:19 AM, Robatoy wrote:
> On Sep 24, 12:54 am, -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 9/23/10 10:32 PM, Kevin wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:34:39 -0500, -MIKE-<[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>
>>>> The trend has seemed to go to the favor of lighter bats to get faster
>>>> bat speed. Babe Ruth and other prolific hitters of his time used very
>>>> heavy bats, well over 40oz. If you see old footage of Babe Ruth's swing,
>>>> you can see that bat speed wasn't of much concern to him. :-) He sort of
>>>> flicked the bat out and caught the ball at the apex of his swing,
>>>> allowing the trampoline effect of the wood's flex to transfer all that
>>>> mass to the ball.
>>
>>>> Home run hitter of today are only concerned with bat speed. They will us
>>>> a 32 oz bat and let bat speed do the work.
>>
>>> And they are also putting that weight out in the barrel by making the
>>> handles thinner, and voila they break more often. There's no minimum
>>> diameters specified, only the maximum.
>>
>> Thinner handles contribute to more flex, too, adding to the trampoline
>> effect.
>>
>> I hit another homerun tonight and it was all bat. :-)
>>
>
> That musta really left that rubber tee flapping, eh?
> .
> .
> .
> .
> g, d& r
>
:-)
Reminds me of those tees at the driving range. Golf is not my forte'.
My golf and bowling scores are usually about the same.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/24/10 2:41 AM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>> Reminds me of those tees at the driving range. Golf is not my forte'.
>> My golf and bowling scores are usually about the same.
>
> Personally, I'd rather spend my time in the shop. ;-)
>
I saw the smiley, but I find that a good balance is beneficial.
I can get shop fever when working too long. Some physical
activity out in the fresh air seems to recharge the old batteries,
mentally and physically.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 9/25/10 5:07 PM, Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I saw the smiley, but I find that a good balance is beneficial.
>> I can get shop fever when working too long. Some physical
>> activity out in the fresh air seems to recharge the old batteries,
>> mentally and physically.
>
> Ah, don't misunderstand me. Once a month my eldest daughter and I go for a
> walk along a canal somewhere. Her boyfriend drops us off and picks us up
> at the end of the walk. Typically we walk 10-12 miles and hopefully finish
> in a pub.
>
> I have also recently joined www.midlandhillwalkers.org.uk
>
That's better than walking laps inside the shopping malls like there do,
here.
> I also have a number of other hobbies including photography, which also
> gets me "out and about" and playing 12-string guitar which doesn't. :-)
>
Are you kidding? How about playing in one of those pubs you end up in? :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
>Instead of changing the wood, why not look into some elasticy coating the
>bats could be covered with? When the bat does break, the coating would
>(perhaps) keep the bat together at least long enough to slow the speed
>down to something safer.
>
>The idea is not dissimilar to putting plastic between layers of glass to
>make them impact resistant.
>
>Puckdropper
Right now, it's against the rules. The bats must be made out of a
single piece of wood (no laminations or alterations).
Ask me about the "4 outs in an inning" rule. It's a good one.
-Zz
dpb <[email protected]> writes:
>Steve Turner wrote:
>> What do you guys make of this new-found love for maple bats instead of
>> traditional ash? ...
>
>Don't think there's any "love" associated w/ it at all--suitable ash has
>become hard to find (thereby read "expensive") is what I've heard.
>Don't think there's anything more to it than that.
I take it you don't play baseball. Maple bats have different
hitting characteristics, preferred by many players.
Most major league bats are custom made for the player.
scott