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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 58 anonymousDiscussion: Cold Weather Clarification: Bats or Balls?
| Posted | Discussion |
| March 3, 2013 cheezhed1 Men's 70 47 posts | Cold Weather Clarification: Bats or Balls? All of us at one time or another have played in cold weather. I live in Forida and occasionally have had to play ealy morning games in a FHC tournament when the temp was in the 40's. I am considering buying a microwavable bat warmer to protect my bats. I know that the Bat manufactures clearly state not to use a bat in cold weather conditions. My question is, does a bat warmer give the necessary protection or is it actually a false sense of security and the real culprit in cold weather are the balls? |
| March 3, 2013 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | Plain and simple it is the balls. Bat warmer is theoretically to increase performance which is why ASA has banned them. |
| March 3, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | You hit a ball that has been sitting in a shed in near-freezing (or colder) temperatures, or in someone's trunk, and then that ball is thrown out to be hit, and warm bat, or not, you are risking a cracked bat. Warm the balls up (on the floor of the car under a heater, for example) and even a cold bat will likely not suffer harm. |
| March 6, 2013 Silk11 Men's 50 58 posts | Alan- Since some games are played in sub 65 degree temperatures... what do you suggest as far as a type of bat to use? |
| March 7, 2013 Silk11 Men's 50 58 posts | Alan- Since some games are played in sub 65 degree temperatures... what do you suggest as far as a type of bat to use? |
| March 7, 2013 Silk11 Men's 50 58 posts | Thanks Alan! Is there is difference between the 2013 and the 2014 model? |
| March 7, 2013 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Cheezhed/Silk: The bat warmers can also wreak havoc o the molecular structure of the composite materials depending upon how hot the item gets the bat. I use a Reebok Vector-O or ASA Melee and I live in extreme cold weather here in Colorado. If you would like to know more about it, please call me. Ed Andrews (970) 729-3145 Andrews Companies |
| March 7, 2013 tattooball 774 posts | Surf sorry to burst your bubble but bat warmers do nothing to a composite bats structure. The resins used are molded at temps above 280f some much higher. If a bat was able to get that hot it would melt. We tested with ASA various bat warmers and none got above 190f for any sustained period. When the bats were removed from the warmer they dropped in temp rapidly. We also left bats out in the sun on a 85f day and the balck bats reached temps over 165f just by sitting in the sun. They returned to 85f in 4 minutes after being put in the shade. The microwave packs that are used in bat warmers are only supossed to produce temps of 220f max, you may be able to get them higher but it is not safe to do. |
| March 8, 2013 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | tattoo: I am going to listen to qualified engineers over you. You may be highly knowledgeable, but I don't know you. I have spoken with some engineers who have shared that in the event a composite bat is heated too much, it could result in a failure and/or breakage. I tell my customers not to hit below 65 degrees and to be careful with regard to bat warming. |
| March 8, 2013 tattooball 774 posts | Surf you can listen to whom ever you like. I have been in both the bat and ball business for over 25 years and the facts you stated simply are not true. You are a reebok guy here is a fact foe you. They called me to see how to get the Reebok bats to pass the test......... |
| March 8, 2013 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | tattooball, your posts raise an interesting question. If one has a dark bat which absorbs heat and it is a sunny day, what temperature range would maximize performance. If a bat can get to say 165 as you suggest, is it best to let it get that hot or take it out of the sun earlier at a lower temperature. |
| March 8, 2013 tattooball 774 posts | Composite bats are plastic resin and carbon fiber material, some also have fiber glass in them. The resin is what is going to do the flexing. So just like if you took 2 plastic spoons and put 1 in the sun and 1 in the refridgerator, the one in the sun will be more flexable. Same holds true for a bat. However composite bats cool rapidly. The temp that a bat will show better performance is above 125f. |
| March 8, 2013 JamesLG 420 posts | My question is do bat warmers benefit performance or durabuility? Or neither? Thanks: James |
| March 8, 2013 tattooball 774 posts | If it is cold out they will help with durability. Performance not so much, they may have a better feel but for them to perform better you would have to keep the hot. |
