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Online now: 3 members: CDNSmitty, CowboyVis90, TABLE SETTER 11; 118 anonymous| Posted | Discussion |
| Oct. 23, 2012 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | r alan,you need to inform ssusa(or this senior board) who this individual is that is altering their bat....this is how we get rid of the cheaters..don't turn your head about it,if it is enough to tell them no on a replacement bat,it is good enough to turn their ass in...... |
| Oct. 23, 2012 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | don't care,if they alter a bat,it needs to be known by the associations...a guy who feels the need to alter a hr derby bat,to me is just as guilty......if you don't turn them in who else is gonna,as your the one to see it has been altered.....also if the mfg'ers or reps do turn them in,do ya think maybe they would not be trying to push an altered bat by you...your way there is no penalty to the cheater,someone has to take a stand and quit burying their heads in the sand..... |
| Oct. 23, 2012 titanhd Men's 60 638 posts | Alan, how do you tell that a bat has been rolled ?I totally understand how you would tell a shaved bat but, what indicated to you that the bat was rolled? |
| Oct. 23, 2012 5ToolsinOhio Men's 50 160 posts | You forgot number 8 on original post..light coat of wintercrest right before bedtime. |
| Oct. 23, 2012 Full Monty 88 posts | Tri18 What is your opinion or advice on the use of "Bat Warmers" in cooler weather? Will they maximize the life of the bat? Legit or Gimmick? |
| Oct. 23, 2012 rick#8 28 posts | Alan, are you going to be in naples next month for the Winter Nationals, if so, I have an Ambush you should look at, 50 swings, balls all 44/375, temp above 75, totally blown out. Rick Snodgraass Conn. Sportsplex 55 Major Plus |
| Oct. 23, 2012 rick#8 28 posts | Alan, get me your shipping address and I/ll try to get it out to you this week, it was 1 of 3 you sent to my buddy in McKeesport,Pa. I was hoping to get it ready for Las Vegas, but, it didn't last long enough, this senior softball is really starting to get quite expensive, this is the 5th bat that I have broken just this year, 3 ultra's, 1 reebook and then this ambush, I do still have the Combat Original that I got at the start of the season, they seem to last about a year for me, but they are not the same as when they first came out about 5 years ago, drop me your shipping address and I will look forward to seeing you in naples, Rick rsnod8@comcast.net |
| Oct. 23, 2012 db14 104 posts | To my fellow softball players....yes bat warmers do work. Especially so on senior bats due to the thickness/thiness of their barrels. All of the above recommendentations are in fact prudent as well. Also no need to pay $50 or more for one. If you are creative and observant you can make your own. Just my personal experience and in no way scientific however they have allowed me to add a bit more life to my bats. Hope this helps. Gary 19 no need to chirp in on this one but i'm sure you will. |
| Oct. 24, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Tri18-I have heard that even with a bat warmed in a warmer, that hitting cold softballs is detrimental to the life of a senior bat because it makes them harder. Truth to that one? Sounds logical. Thanks. |
| Oct. 24, 2012 Full Monty 88 posts | Tri18 Thank you for your reply. From what I can understand from your reply is that you don't use them. And that below 60 degrees a senior bats life is reduced whether a bat warmer is used or not. Is this correct? |
| Oct. 24, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Alan, totally agree. I try to find a USSSA bat which approximates my senior bat for BP and spring use. It might be helpful if the senior bat sellers, you, mike and ed. put out a list of USSSA bats which approximate the feel and weight, balance point etc. of the various senior bats. It would put substance to what you are suggesting. I have found the old virus enhanced end-loaded combat closely approximates my trusty yellow MM combat, but I am clueless what would approximate my Reebok Balanced Melee. Any suggestions?? |
| Oct. 24, 2012 softball4b Men's 70 1248 posts | What bat would be have an approximate swing weight/feel to Reebok End loaded. ASA and or USSSA |
| Oct. 24, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | softball4b: Our ASA/USSSA Melee swings a bit similar to our Melee EL. I keep one in my bag as we do experience cold temperatures in the mountains. Our ASA Melees and Vector-O's have a 1 year warranty. Ed Andrews (970) 729-3145 |
| Oct. 24, 2012 Gorilla Boy Men's 50 271 posts | I sure am glad that I didn't have to dial in on my bats or I might not have ever hit a home run. Mike Macenko aka: Gorilla Boy |
| Oct. 24, 2012 Al33 Men's 55 183 posts | Tri18 - Alan, you are 100% right on the money. Mighty Mike could hit it 400+ with anything and I saw him do it many times. Unfortunately it was against my team. Mike hit some of the longest and most majestic bombs I have ever seen. Over 6,000 home runs in his career says it all, and your years in 1987 and 1988 were mystifying. We in the north know all about the tips you have provided to extend the life of any composite but mostly the senior bat. If it's real cold we'll use alluminum bats for BP just so we can get swings and work on our timing. Thanks for your continued assistance to senior players. Al Drechsler #33 Pace Electronics |
| Oct. 24, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Mike, we will have to let these guys know they are a little late to the party. I remember watching you hitting balls halfway up the hill to the Zoo on Rose field in the mid-70s. You and Indian Joe were always fun to watch in the home run derbies there. |
| Oct. 24, 2012 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | If you hit a ball 230feet do whatever you want with a bat, hit in cold weather, hot weather, etc.... you will not harm your composit bat. It will last you 10 years. This is a lot of people. I see some bats that are weathered from the sun, not the hitting. NOW, if you can hit a low linedrive to the fence or crush one over the fence, then, you need to take care in breaking the batin, YOU want a long lived bat... No wet balls, Rotate bat. Very little batting practice. Do not hit close to the end of the bat. Use in tournaments only. Even then if you hit 3 out of 10 out of the park you may destroy your bat. My 30oz black centenarian has 107 swings on it. About 45 swings on sweet part. Is broken in and will launch ball out of 300ft park against light breeze. NO spider webbing. 1. Always rotate bat, wrote 1-6 on bat to make sure I rotated bat. 2 types of marks on bat 1. Ball skin ripped off ball on bat & 2. Where a dumbass bounced the bat against the concrete or something in dougout putting up the bat while I am going to touch 1st base or running bases. Have a good winter. |
| Oct. 25, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I got proof positive this year that the Mikens just don't last like they used to. In March, in Phoenix, in 65 degree weather I broke both my bats, a melee and a miken. Crusader had an old 1.20 29 oz U2 balanced that he had bought from a guy that retired. No telling how many cuts on it, but it was pretty weathered. That bat not only lasted until Sunday of worlds in Vegas, it was also the hottest bat I had. I did some bat experimenting so it wasn't the only bat I used this year, but it was my main one. I put literally hundreds of cuts on it and between tournaments and league games here in Albuquerque probably had 60 or 70 HR's with it. It hit wet balls hard in Dalton, got some cold weather work in Reno and held up (40-50 degrees and a few snow pellets on Friday),I will miss that bat. |
| Oct. 25, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Crusher, you are so right. There really are 2 worlds out there and the "230s" really don't have to be concerned. Do you find the bat throwers are the guys that always seem never to have a bat and always want to borrow one? Pet peeve! Webbie, I have tried a number of times here to get guys to distinguish between 1.20 and 1.21 Mikens. To my knowledge no post of very premature breakage with the 1.20's. Impossible now to buy 1.20's new- the word go out fast. |
| Oct. 25, 2012 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | HJ, i'd bet all Miken did was change the 0 to a 1 on the BPF, so it 'complies' to the new standard. 1.20's are out there but you have to look for them. My last one had well under a 100 when it broke in Reno this year. Broke clean at the ring finger of the upper hand. |
| Oct. 25, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Taits, as I understand it, and I could be wrong, the bat under the 1.21 standard had to meet the new standard after a longer break in period. I believe the older 1.20's could not pass the new test because they became too hot to pass the test after the break in. Therefore Miken had to reformulate the bat for the new standard and therefore there are real differences. Alan,Ed and Mike is this correct or am I wrong? |
| Oct. 25, 2012 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Not sure about that other you mention but there is a somewhere that 'reasonable assumption' when you purchase a new 'product' that can or should be be used for a reasonable amount of time. Now then what is reasonable would be the other side of the coin. I gave my thoughts on that and under 100 hits would not meet that standard especially is it was altered in any way. I think they should last twice that or more. |
| Oct. 26, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I'm surprised that no one had mentioned not using ASA balls and/or using 52/300 balls. The ASA balls are somewhat heavier than USSSA and ISA balls, thus causing more damage. (thanks to Kevin S for this tip several years ago). Usually before games early in the morning (dew on ground) we use the pink bp balls, 50 cor, 125 comp. I would think these are still available through Gorilla Boy. |
| Oct. 26, 2012 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Bruce - did not know about the heavy ASA ball. Sometimes when throwing befor a game a guy will pull a ball out and it seems light or heavy compared to what seems normal. Bet what you said is the reason. |
| Oct. 26, 2012 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | bruce forgot all about that,but your right....we use the 52-275/300 ball now for most of our bp sessions,and we like it...we also use the ASA 52 ball for all leagues in our area..... |
| Oct. 26, 2012 boston Men's 60 355 posts | Webbie; My condolences on the lose of ur favorite bat. :) |
| Oct. 26, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Crusher, Most ASA balls weight 7-7.1 ounces. The USSSA and ISA balls may weigh as little as 6.8 ounces. Of course some that have been outside in the rain my weigh over 7.4 ounces. |
| Oct. 26, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | boston-it's on my wall of bat fame, right next to my steeles bat, and my brown Louisville 38 oz bat. Is your noew team going to make it to Winter Worlds? |
| Oct. 26, 2012 boston Men's 60 355 posts | Trying to get these guys to get their senior cards. We have about 9 guys w/o one. Coaching grown men can often be more trying than t-ballers. If not, I may come out of the closet and show my senior side with a team my age. lol Big John H. kept calling me Gary 19 during league a few weeks ago. Guess I'm going to have to get my identity back. Nothing personal Gary 19. I may even break out my senior bat. "Stay thirsty my friends" |
| Oct. 26, 2012 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Hey Webbie - I had 2 38oz Steeles bats, thaught at the time they were the greatest bats ever. Paid like $13 each for them. Even though they seemed to be solid Alum they would send the ball out of the park now and then. Put them in back of garage and probably sold them as scrap alum for more than paid for them 25 years before. Hell, I think they were solid alum. They were a solid bat before the GSM or whatever the latest solid core bat is to be. Have a great day W.. C |
| Oct. 27, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | boston-having Big John calling you that should wake you up. It's not a compliment-I know him too well. LOL You are right about coaching old men.I did it for 2 tournaments when Reid was out and it is tough. crusher-I used a 38 oz for a long time and then when I got the Steeles I got a 35 oz and was amazed how light it felt. It was a great bat. I pulled it out in a tournament last year and hit one to the warning track with it on a 300 foot fence-no pop-maybe I should send it back??? LOL |
| Oct. 27, 2012 ? 121 posts | Tri18 As I was reading your comments on this thread something didn't seem to make sense to me. In your comments you stated that the use of Senior Bats in temperatures below 65 degrees will drastically shorten the life of the bat. Then you suggested that purchasing a USSSA bat with a 1 year warranty for the cooler weather to be used in place of the senior bat. The problem is that USSSA bat will not last much longer than the senior bats if used in temps below 60 degrees. Sure, you get a 1 year, 1 time replacement warranty, but both the purchased and replacement bats could be broken in just a matter of months if used in cold weather. A few years ago I did just what you suggested and during the cooler Las Vegas months I cracked 2 USSSA Miken Denny Crine Pyscho bats with warranty. The first bat I cracked was the one I purchased and the second bat was the warranty replacement. While I agree that USSSA bats will hold up better than senior bats during cooler weather there is no guarantee they will not break. The use of the U-trip bats is only a bandage and not a cure for use below 60 degree weather problem. I am still looking for a solution for the cool weather bat use problem. |
| Oct. 27, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Tri18-did you ever think it would come to this when you were playing in the 70's and 80's and a bat lasted for years? Let's go back to the aluminum bats and the hot balls. Hot balls are cheaper. |
| Oct. 27, 2012 ? 121 posts | Webbie25 "Hot balls are cheaper." NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN! |
| Oct. 27, 2012 ? 121 posts | Webbie25 "Hot balls are cheaper." NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN! |
| Oct. 28, 2012 Clean Up 68 posts | YES! Here we go again.... WHICH HAS THE GREATER PROFIT? Buying Hot Balls that cost about $5.00-$10.00 per ball.... Or buying bats that cost about $150-$300 per bat.... Is it very hard to figure out which choice the Bat Companies and bat sales reps want you to purchase? $$$$$$$ IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY $$$$$$$ :-( :-( |
| Oct. 28, 2012 ? 121 posts | Webbie25 "Hot balls are cheaper." NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN! |
| Oct. 28, 2012 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | A little birdie told me.... "ALL repeat ALL composite bats and ALL repeat ALL high end aluminum bats, no matter the make or model, senior version or not, are prone to break when used at temperatures below 60 degrees!" |
| Oct. 28, 2012 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | A little birdie told me.... "ALL repeat ALL composite bats and ALL repeat ALL high end aluminum bats, no matter the make or model, senior version or not, are prone to break when used at temperatures below 60 degrees!" |
| Oct. 28, 2012 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | Glad I play in the Tropics! I break um but not as often has cold weather regions...Aloha, Fabe |
| Oct. 29, 2012 ? 121 posts | Some guys have all the luck. |
