Bat Care Tips

As bats are expensive, caring for your bat is important. Here are some suggestions to make your bats last, based on information from the Louisville Slugger website (www.slugger.com):

1. Don't use an aluminum bat in cold weather (below 60° F or 16° C), or a composite bat below 70° F (21° C). The reason for this is that balls become more dense in low temperatures, making it easier to dent the bat.
2. Don't store your bat in an area that sees extreme temperatures (hot or cold), such as a garage or car trunk. This can cause bats to crack. For those bats with an end cap, the end cap is usually made of a different material and can expand or contract at a different rate than the rest of the bat, causing end cap failure. Store your bats in your house.
3. Don't use your good bat at commercial batting cages. These places usually use a denser ball than regular balls. Use an older bat for practice in cages, save the good bat for games and practices that use regular balls.
4. On each hit of the ball, rotate the bat 1/4 turn. This prevents denting that results from hitting the ball repeatedly in the same spot.
5. Do not hit waterlogged balls. These balls are denser than normal.
6. Limit the bat to individual use only. You might hit the ball 6 times in a game, however, if the whole team uses the bat, that could be 60 times a game!
7. Routinely check your bat for any damage.