Posted by: jayminsa (jaymzinsa@yahoo.com) on Wed Apr 3 15:57:51 2002

No, I never played for the AAU hitdogs, but I am a member at the hitdog training center in Stoughton.
> > There's no question about it - the NCAA needs to start using wood bats. I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of 20-18 ballgames! When you combine a D1 college player, rotational mechanics and metal bats, it is indeed, quite deadly.
> > Still, wooden bats are too expensive for high school play. If the NCAA were to switch, the school would probably provide its players with bats. In high school, each player has to buy their own bat. That's a little too expensive for me (but I'm sure Mr. Mizuno doesn't mind!)
> > I understand that metal bats are more dangerous for obvious reasons. But c'mon! I don't exactly feel like we're saving lives here. The ball hasn't changed, the field hasn't changed, and it's not like the fielders have on helmets. The risks are high no matter what.
> > Besides, I'm a hitter and this is a hitter's site so lets get rid of the freaking wood!
>
> Have you checked out George Brett's bats (brettbats.com)? I made an inquiry there re: breakabilty and was told of a team in NY that ordered 12 "Stealth" bats last year and didn't have a single break during the season. Good luck.

Hitdog you're right, this is a hitter's site and without wanting to be insulting, real hitters swing wood. If your season's only a couple of weeks into the schedule we'll assume you've played let's say 5 games with 4 ab's/game meaning you've broken 3-4 bats in 20 ab's. Sorry, but you're obviously doing something wrong and aren't much of a hitdog. I'm not trying to knock you but it's a good bet that aluminum has hidden flaws in your mechanics just as it has for almost everyone, including myself, who has grown up in the aluminum bat era. You should want to hit with wood in order to truely learn how to hit a baseball. Also if you have any aspirations of playing at the pro level you will have to learn to use wood anyway so why not start now rather than later when it may be too late. I was fortunate in that I went into a college program where we used wood almost exclusively except for game days so that when I was given an opportunity to play at the next level I was able to stick around for a few seasons while guys who were bigger, stronger and faster than me got released because they just couldn't make the adjustment to wood. Just my two cents.

James