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Online now: 4 members: CHI-TOWN BALLERS, TABLE SETTER 11, Walt Disney, btsoftball; 77 anonymousDiscussion: Bat Gimmick
| Posted | Discussion |
| April 13, 2015 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Bat Gimmick I know that we have discussed bat gimmicks from the past, but I was at a clinic yesterday where they discussed a bat that has been causing some issues and discussions. It is the Easton Torque, and the handle evidently rotates with your hands. It made me thnk of the Baden Axe that I saw last year with its odd knob design that did not feel comfortable in my grip at all. This apparently has not caught on, but it at least is stationary. I cannot even imagine that a rotating handle would feel right or help your swing. I wish that they had one there to see what it feels like. I guess they have caused some controversies already in tournaments here. Has anyone swung one or seen any other odd bat gimmicks lately? I know they mentioned a fast pitch bat that changes color as it breaks in (Xeno?), but that would not feel different in your hands. I am hoping that Tim's bat compression tester will be at the park during the Brickyard. While it is calibrated for younger adult bats, we have had some fun watching the senior bats exceed the acceptable scale for that specification. Of course the youngsters are jealous, but I tell them if they keep playing that they can some day swing one too. Some things you have to earn, like senior softball. |
| April 13, 2015 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Hi Nancy, I took a few swings at Softball Mag's Spring Training with that Easton. It's Helmer's new bat. He was there and told me that it is meant to keep the bat in "zone" a little longer. I couldn't feel the handle turning. |
| April 13, 2015 OZ40 549 posts | I think you hit the nail on the head: Gimmick. The guys playing in the non-senior Mens Major Softball tournaments can hit a baggie full of dog sh!t 400 ft. using a table leg. What's Helmer going to do, raise his average from .899 to .900 using this new bat? I remember a homerun derby back in the 80's when Mighty Mike Macenko cleared the right field roof in old Tiger Stadium in Detroit using a Steeles aluminum bat. |
| April 13, 2015 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Oz, I believe that all Bret wants to do is sell a few more! |
| April 13, 2015 ju25 Men's 60 235 posts | Easton used to have the Reveal, clear barrel that was supposed to change color when exceeding test limits. Reebok had the Vector O with holes in the handle for less drag. Mizuno Blur had the strips which were supposed to grip the ball and put more spin on it, and the Dudley Lightning with the tacky barrel which is supposed to grip ball also. |
| April 13, 2015 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | OZ40, I did get a chuckle out of the average comment. Sorry, Bret. Bruce, how did the ball come off the bat, any differently? The furthest that I have ever seen a ball hit in senior softball was in a world series in Memphis. I believe that it was Bruce Meade's rookie senior year. He was amazing. |
| April 13, 2015 jfsully 82 posts | The ultimate gimmick bat : http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-06/news/8703050234_1_bat-tidal-wave-official-softball |
| April 13, 2015 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I couldn't tell any difference. |
| April 13, 2015 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | jfsully, we had talked about this and some others in another thread. We had one, but one of the players was crazy for it, and Coachie let him have it. It froze and burst over the winter. I still have the Broadsider which is a triangular bat. These were all prior to Ray Demarini showing us that lighter weight meant faster bat speed. Bruce, thanks. I am probably just over thinking it. I know it is very controversial on some of the tournaments here already. I think it is more about just not knowing about it since they really could not explain why. Since you did not say that you were trading in your bat for it, I know it probably cannot compete with what we have in seniors already. |
| April 13, 2015 Bubble Gum 122 posts | On the contrary! That bat would sell well if a senior version is made. Seniors will grab at anything they can in hopes of getting that magic bat. Just ask Dave V about all the inquiries he got about his "Jack Slap"!! |
| April 15, 2015 sobs3 14 posts | Hi Nancy!I swung that Baden Axe bat and it almost ended my season before it began. First swing I tried to roll my wrists and almost broke my right wrist doing so.. I am lefthanded and tried to do something that the bat clearly was not designed to do. I can see if maybe your trying to undercut the ball but trying to top it....well forget it!.... your right...just a gimmick to get us to buy buy buy. I was thinking of a very heavy spring that you can cock back and set until you are ready to hit... just as you swing you "pull a trigger" that releases the barrel of the bat at 110 miles an hour... think it will sell????....lol |
| April 15, 2015 bogie Men's 65 448 posts | Bruce, with my back injury, i didnt get to swing much at Spring Training.. but I did take some dry swings with the Easton Torq, and I felt like it made my wrists snap more and separate the snap from the roll. That was what I understood its use was from Helmer. I understood the concept and could feel it, just didnt have the opportunity to be healty and swing the bat live and hard...and see how it felt full swinging....guess we will see how others feel and if they buy it. I had the Steeles axehandle bat and within 100 swings, both sides flattened out, ha...I know what you are feeling on that. |
| April 24, 2015 Gary33 149 posts | The Baden Axe senior bat broke in just a few swings because you hit the ball in the same spot. I got a deal on them and broke two in less than a hundred swings. |
| April 24, 2015 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | It's too bad Baden and Easton didn't get together and combine the axe handle and the torq handle! |
