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Online now: 2 members: Rangview85, TABLE SETTER 11; 66 anonymousDiscussion: STAFF bat knobs
| Posted | Discussion |
| May 6, 2014 B.J. 1107 posts | STAFF bat knobs what is SSUSA posistion of bat knobs...i know many batters have used the knobs at the end of the bats....now they are using 2...i on the end and 1 in the middle. are they legal? |
| May 6, 2014 SSUSA Staff 3490 posts | The SSUSA Official Rulebook details our position on bat knobs at §3.4 G • OFFICIAL BATS on page 14, as follows ... G. Shall have a safety knob of a minimum of ¼ inch protruding at a 90-degree angle from the handle. It may be molded, lathed, welded or permanently fastened. A "flare" or "cone" grip attached to the bat will be permissible as long as it is a commercially manufactured flare or cone. Taping into a cone will be considered altered. The knob may be taped as long as there is no violation of this section. |
| May 6, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | There are four I know of that are out there. One I use is just the standard cone at 1.25" long*, another at 1 7\8" long with a slip in it and a ring that your pinky finger goes into so when you swing it, it goes with you instead of staying attached to the bat. third is about same as before without the finger thing or slit at 1 3\4" long and the last is also 1 3\4" long but has molded into it 2 areas for fingers to lay in. Some are harder to put on that others. All are made from molded rubber and some come in black, blue and red that I know of. I use the 1st type on all my bats. Fills the area between the bat and where small finger\palm area lays against the knob and handle. They can deteriorate over time and start to crack, so replacing them might become necessary after much use and hot\cold times. * long ='s length of cone taper from knob downward. Some are harder to put on than others. |
| May 9, 2014 B.J. 1107 posts | STAFF...I hear that SSUSA has changed their stance on 2 knobs on the handle, also that a knob does not have to be a manufactured one that you can now make one from tape ...???? |
| May 9, 2014 SSUSA Staff 3490 posts | We have not changed our position on this, but rather have simply issued a clarification in response to a specific inquiry ... Someone has misquoted, or you have misunderstood, what we stated ... A second knob/flare is allowable, so long as it is commercially manufactured as a bat knob/flare AND so long as it is secured with tape not to exceed a thickness of two wraps around the knob/flare ... However, "building" a knob with athletic (or any other type) tape is not permitted, as stated in the rule section quoted above ... We presume this topic has become popular as a result of the YouTube "Swing Makeover" series by Ken Van Bogaert (Bogie) ... |
| May 9, 2014 B.J. 1107 posts | thx for the clarification and yes this did come up as a result from the videos |
| May 10, 2014 SSUSA Staff 3490 posts | And we're not exactly going out on a limb here, but we suspect adding another knob/flare to a bat handle isn't an automatic that you'll be transformed into a Bogie-Class hitter! |
| May 10, 2014 B.J. 1107 posts | Bogie-class hitter....lol im hoping for out of the infield |
| May 10, 2014 'Skerz Men's 60 9 posts | I guess I really don't understand why taping a cone is outlawed...I've had mine that way and have played just about everywhere, including Reno, Sacramento, Vegas, Mesquite, etc, and never been told to take it off (SPA, different story). Can someone explain please? Thx. |
