Do Wood Bats Wear Out?

[TallPaul]

We hear a lot about metal bats wearing out or going dead, but what about wooden bats?

I have a 20-year-old wooden bat that is in nice condition, but when hitting fungos I felt that my 1-year-old Rawlings Big Stick was giving more speed to the ball and has a better sound hitting the ball. Both weight about the same and are the same length. The old bat is slightly narrower (1/16 in the handle and 1/8 in the barrel).

I'm going to get a T and see if I can further compare them. I think having the T will provide more consistent swings and so a better basis for comparing the two bats. If I hit 20 balls with each bat I'll be able to see if one is hitting the balls farther.

[batmaker06]

I wouldn't say that they wear out, but I would say that the wood does get old. With Ash, the wood will dry out and begin to flake a little. It may just be coincidence, but it seems that last years wood never quite lasts as well as the new stuff. I make mostly maple bats, and I know lots of guys that make it through an entire season with one bat, just to have it break early on the next year. I have also seen guys buy a bucket of 20 year old bats at a yard sale and they never seem to last more than a couple at bats.

[TallPaul]

Well, I took the 20-year-old bat out to the park today and got some nice hits off the T. So I think it is as good as the new Rawlings bat. Of course, what you say about breakage very well may be the case Oh well, I think I'll use it anyway. If it breaks, it breaks. At least I'll have some fun with it.

[batmaker06]

I totally agree, use it or it's useless. Realize though, that the forces on the bat are a lot less without the incoming baseball having some velocity. A fungo doesn't break in a similar situation, but would never stand up to live pitching.

[Coach 10025]

Once it's off the tree, wood cures and continues to cure -- it becomes drier and harder. Bat makers accelerate this in a kiln before turning the bat.

A good bat, well cared for in a dry (but not too dry) environment will continue to improve if it doesn't crack or break, and will generally become lighter and harder.

[Coach Jim]

I have 3x3x36 billets of ash that sat in a barn for a year as 9' logs (trunks). We cut them into 3x3 just a few days ago. They continue to dry and crack. I turned a couple into bats, but I would like to get them as dry (and light) as possible before sealing them.

My oven is not large enough, and I don't have a kiln. Any home workshop ideas for drying bats? Should I dry the billets before turning, or the bats after?

By the way, we keep our bats under our beds for the winter (Michigan), never out in the garage or attic.

[nystixs]

Hi Coach Jim,

You have to dry the wood down to 8-10% MC before you can turn bats.. What is sounds like what happen to the wood was not protected on the ends. If your going to air-dry the wood, you have to apply wax to the ends, so the wood does not check and split..

-AJ