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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 59 anonymousDiscussion: Bats
| Posted | Discussion |
| Jan. 5, 2011 JamesLG 420 posts | Bats Hi Folks: I was going to order a new Ultra this week and a friend who will go through 4-6 bats this year told me to hold off a couple weeks because Miken in going to start double wrapping there Ultra's like the did a while back because of all the complaints about breakage this year. Does anybody know if this is what is going on with Miken? I am also wondering when the new Combat senior bat will be out and if anybody has tested it? Thank You: James |
| Jan. 6, 2011 VINNY LV Men's 50 178 posts | they better do something.. went through 4 bats and I don't play asmuch as alot of yinz do.. Got the new Reebok and Can't wait to try it out.. say they're more durable |
| Jan. 11, 2011 John27 Men's 50 37 posts | Good luck with the Reebok, mine broke after 60 swings. |
| Jan. 12, 2011 JamesLG 420 posts | I was hoping to hear soon about the new Combat coming out. That bat is not getting much press time but i hope it is a good senior bat. Does anybody have a clue when it will be out? Thanks: James |
| Jan. 12, 2011 wagon487 Men's 55 578 posts | according to kevin (posted on sbf) it is just like the yellow but is now blue. Don't know when it's coming out but I'm hoping soon. Some one has to stop the reebok madness! |
| Jan. 12, 2011 jim16 Men's 65 180 posts | We've waited a long time for the new Senior Combats and it looks like we are still a couple of weeks away. Jim 903 236 3459 |
| Jan. 12, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | This is the price you guys are going to pay. You want hot bats, they aren't going to last. That is just the nature of the beast. How you think you are going to get the special performance you must crave and durability is beyond me. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 hombre Men's 60 240 posts | The first Ultra II I bought lasted about two and a half years. It was my only bat so I also used it for BP also. I know a lot of guys who had a similar experience with their original Ultras. Since about 2004 I've had 5 and have never had one last over 350 hits. Miken has always had the technology to produce hot and durable bats. They began producing bats with poor durability so we ball players would have to buy more bats. In this instance, I do hold a grudge. I will never buy another miuken product if there is anything on the market that is close in performance and durability. Miken has always had the technology to produce a hot durable bat, but they couldn't make as much money. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 John27 Men's 50 37 posts | Hombre, I had the same experience with my original Ultra II. I agree, I think Miken started producing bats with less durability. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I broke my first U2 with 26 swings. They were returnable at the time and asked that it not be counted towrards my warranty and was refused. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | We played in Menifee last weekend and we had one guy on our team break 4 Ultra II's, 3 of which weren't his. They were all virtually brand new as we got a load of them for the tournament in Vegas in November. Needles to say, the guys that owned the were ecstatic. I think it was in the 60's so temp may have been an issue but my MM Combat held up fine and I think it has as much pop as the U-2 and are far more durable. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Hey FOFO, maybe you do not hit them as hard as the guy that broke 4..... I have hit a lot out with the Ultra's and never broke one, I hear them creak like crazy but no break. Some sluggers are just different people. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Not the case. He's not a Crusher by any stretch. Maybe we just got a bad batch...........but I don't believe the U2 holds up as well. Out 2 Big guys were both using MM's and neither one broke a bat all week-end. My last MM lasted a year a half and my U2 didn't make it a year. |
| Jan. 14, 2011 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | FOFO What team were you on in Menifee? |
| Jan. 14, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | AfterParty 50 Major from Las Vegas. Were you there and did you break anything? I had a great time and am trying to talk my team into going down for more of the SoCal Senior events. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | Sorry FOFO but I'm really biased. Because the best tournaments are up the road just a short 7 miles in Hemet :O) Sorry you missed us next weekend |
| Jan. 15, 2011 John27 Men's 50 37 posts | I have 2 Combat MM's that are a year old with plenty of swings on them, in the same time period I have broke 2 Ultra's and 1 Reebok with hardly any swings. Makes me wonder, but I will say I have had Combat MM's that have not lasted either. I wish they could take some of the pop away for more durability. The problem is they know we will keep buying more until something better comes along. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | John, I am sure they could take some pop away and increase the durability. But then the seniors who crave the special bats would not buy them. Guys will continue to whine about them breaking, but keep buying them for their 'special powers'. It is pretty amazing what dopes some mature men can be. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Gorilla Boy Men's 50 271 posts | Yes the new MM Gear 2 will be available very soon. It will be sometime after Feb. 1. The bat is the same as the Yellow one. The difference is that it will have the new graphics with the 1.21 BPF on the barrel. No need to fix something if it isn't broke. If you have any questions you can e-mail me Mike Macenko at mike@bigcat844.com. I hope this helps. Good luck in the 2011 season to all senior softballers. I will be coming down to Ft. Myers for the T.O.C. Looking forward to it. Always a great time. We will be doing a number of thiings again. Hitting clinic along with Home Run contests and the annual All Star game. Like I said I will see you there. Mike Macenko National Sales And Promotions Anaconda Sports Inc. Ph- 330-419-0205 Fax- 330-273-9491 mike@bigcat844.com Home Of TRUMP Softballs |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Tater50 Men's 60 336 posts | FOFO: that's why I do not use anyone's bat & do not loan mine; if I break one, I pay for it. Happened to me back in the 80's; dented a bat in practice & although the guy said nothing about it cause others had used the bat; I shelled out $300 cause it dented when I used it. I do not borrow unless owner says it OK if it breaks. Tater50 John |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | I'm sure I'm not going to win any friends with what I'm about to say. And I doubt I will get a Christmas Card from Miken this year. But with years of experience as an Hi Performance Automotive rep we had a saying for parts that wore out or broke prematurely. Its called "programed obsolescence". This is what the tag line in this string should read. You can't sell 40,000 bats each year if they lasted forever. Years ago I made a sales call on Pep Boys. I had a line of OEM replacement open cell green foam air filters that had a life time guarantee. The buyer just laughed at me and said. "why would we buy anything that had a life time guarantee? Parts have to break or wear out so we can stay in business" Now with that said striking the balance of performance and durability would in my mind make more sense. Is there such a bat out there? Could be. Time will tell. My money is on a small company dedicated to just that. Keep your eye and ears on the new generation GBA and all the additional products that will soon be announced by the Gates. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Big D from Tennessee Men's 50 79 posts | Big Cat / Mike I am glad to see that you are doing well and the new MM will be out soon! I will see you at the TOC in Polk County! |
| Jan. 15, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Big Cat, Glad to see you are doing well. Big D is right, don't to to Ft Myers looking for the TOC! Hope to see you in Winterhaven! |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Tater50 Men's 60 336 posts | Marv19: I am probably wrong, but my Logic is this; A company decides to start marketing SSB Bats; they construct them well to get a portion of the market; they evaluate the sales; if their product takes off & is resilient, they reformulate the equation. Like you said: "Parts have to break or wear out so we can stay in business". Tater50 |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | Yes but "when" is the relevant question. A bat with no guarantee should give you more than 50 swings. The GBA is warranted for 30 days. That's 30 days more than some right? |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | The problem is, and Seniors have helped to create it, there is sadly little incentive to make durable bats when guys will keep buying them as long as they continue to enable old guys to hit balls harder than when many of them were half their ages. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Marv, I'm all for coming to Hemet or wherever else good teams are playing ball. I noticed that Hemet has quite a few tournaments so one way or another I want to play some games there. I'm old enough for the 55's so I can find a 55 team to go with if mine won't go. Tater, I could not agree more. I don't use other peoples bats, if I want to try one I buy it, and if I did I would ask, and most certainly replace it if I broke it. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Tater50 Men's 60 336 posts | Gary19:"old guys to hit balls harder than when many of them were half their ages." I was not in favor nor did I vote for the SSBBat: I did not use one until late 06; but Gary19 that is what the majority decided to use & that is what the assoc. are using. I may not agree, but I am not going to a war w/a BB Gun when everyone else is using M16's. I think that SSBallers are now content; do not think they will revert back; look how many companies are jumping on the SSBBat bandwagon. I cannot recall more than once or twice that I have seen anyone use something besides a SSBBat. Just my opinion Tater50 |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Tater, I understand that. But the truth remains that companies will continue to produce bats with less than desirable durability because (a) I am not so sure the technology exists to make the wall flexible enough to produce the pop guys wants and still maintain any real level of durability and (b) Senior have shown that they will continue to go out an buy bats that don't last very long because of the pop they produce. I know, sad as it is, they won't revert back. But because of that they should not expect durability nor whine because they don't get it. They are getting what they ask for, and insist on. |
| Jan. 15, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | I guess my point is when a company finds this balance then they can and will give the leader a run for their money. FOFO we will look for you soon then :O) |
| Jan. 16, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Gary you hit the nail right on the head. People will keep buying anything they think will give them an edge and feels good in their hands no matter how long it lasts and Miken can make a lot more money if guys have to buy 4 or 5 a year so why would they change? Who do you play for Marv? Who do you play for Marv? |
| Jan. 16, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | First team I play on is the SCSSA. Second is Promoting the SCSSA. Third is promoting the products, sponsors and the teams that suport the SCSSA. And last would be the Base Hawgs :O) |
| Jan. 16, 2011 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Miken would go broke if they depended on guys like me to earn a living. I've got over 2 years on my current gamer. Paint is almost worn off. That's playing 2 differnet age groups and league. DON'T USE FOR BP OR WHEN IT'S COLD/WET. I'd never complain about their durability................. |
| Jan. 16, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | i have one senior combat(gray one) that i'll use for bp,it needs to be hit anyways,but like everyone else do try to do bp with them.if i do bp just before a game yes,i'll take 10-12 swings max with my gamer after warming up some with another bat. |
| Jan. 17, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Damn Marv, you get around. As we have only one 50 and no 55 teams here in Las Vegas, I don't get to play many tournaments. As for the bats, I like hitting with the Senior bats and am not worried about the durability issue. I do have far too many though. Every time I want to try one I buy one. The latest is the Reebok and I haven't swung it yet but I'm anxious to do so. |
| Jan. 17, 2011 gott2play Men's 60 212 posts | FOFO, We were in Menifee last weekend and broke two U2's (one of them mine) and two U2 Maxload's. I was in Menifee this weekend with 55 Majors and my buddy broke his U2 and a guy from the R & R broke a brand new Grey U2 after 6 swings!!! That said, I'm done with Miken bats until they get durability issues resolved. Swinging my original Combat Da Bomb (indestructible) and purchased an MM Combat which I used some this past weekend...NICE! Tony Baltazar Barcelona Bandits #22 50 Major |
| Jan. 17, 2011 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Hey Tony, I hope you didn't break any bats while kicking our a$$, which I happen to be tired of by the way. You guys have a Great team that knows how to win close ball games, Nice win last week-end. Wish I could have gone back and played this weekend. Looked like perfect weather for it. I think you will enjoy the MM. They get better amd better with more swings. Bert Cochran 44 LV Afterparty |
| Jan. 17, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | You know you guys are loosing points by not attending our tournaments. Remember we are giving away $20,000 this year in Prizes and Ca$h! Go to stats tab on the site. If your looking for a really well managed regional tournament on sodded & groomed enclosed fields keep us in mind for future events. AND its only 7 miles from where you were. |
| Jan. 17, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | Oh! forgot... Tommy if your reading this you are in 3rd place just 2 points out in the "Chase for the Points". Also You WILL NEVER HAVE TO PLAY A MAJOR TEAM or MAJOR PLUS TEAM with us. Have good one! |
| Jan. 17, 2011 Marv19 Men's 60 498 posts | Need to add to this because people have asked about the video: The fence is 300'. The soccer goal was placed at exactly 400 feet. Balls were all .44/375 Baden Lexum from a shag bag that have been hit dozens of times. The red/white/blue bat is an ASA. The black one is UTrip. There was a laser range finder. Furthest ball hit with the ASA bat was 418. Furthest ball with the UTrip bat was 432. Hope this answers a few questions |
