Posted by: Scott B (batspeed@integritycorp.com) on Thu Jun 6 18:09:35 2002

Bats go dead, get cracked, get bent out of shape, and all the rest. I did some research into the alloy standards, and the $160-300 bats seem to have tougher metals, double walls, etc. But every bat I've purchased for my kids (now 13 yo girl, 14 yo boy) has been damaged within a year. I've sent a few back to the manufacturer, which under warranty, is usually good for one new bat (stamped "not for resale", and also not for return).

Use any old piece of garbage you have for practice, but save the "game bats" for games.

Even then, you'll have problems keeping your kid's bat out of the hands of every other player. If you or your kid is "selfish" with his new $150 bat, some of the other players will take exception. I intend to have a team fundraiser at the start of next season to fund purchase of a couple semi-decent bats for the kids who can't afford their own. (Mine do yardwork and wash cars to pay for their own.) Then we'll establish a policy of "don't touch another players bat; don't even ask." It's sounds pretty mean, but we've had bats ruined in three games.

Now my son is looking at the maple "X-bats". He loves wood bats, but went through about 3 of them in a month before we gave up on tradition.

Regards.. Scott