Cupping--does it really work, or just mental

[TallPaul]

I suspect cupping merely functions to give you a shorter effective bat. What would be the difference in a 33 inch bat that is cupped and a 32.5 inch bat? I suspect very little. Weight would be about the same. Sweet spot woudl be about the same distance from the knob because the cupping would change the weight distb and so move the sweet spot in toward the knob a little bit. I think this whole cupping thing is so much baloney.

[Coach 10025]

It moves the center of mass of the bat closer to the hands. That makes it easier to accelerate the bat, so you swing more quickly and control the bat better.

You can get the same acceleration effect by choking up (moving your hands closer to the center of mass), although of course that effectively shortens the bat. That's why your coach tells you to choke up when you've got two strikes.

[smithy10101]

the only reason for cupping in the first place is to make the wood denser and to get the perfect weight of the bat.

Its all Preferance

[Coach 10025]

Cupping does not affect the density of the bat. As I said before, it moves the center of mass of the bat toward the hands. That makes it easier to accelerate the bat.

That is all simple physics.

[Coach Jim]

I just started turning a few bats on my simple lathe. I love them, but now I would like to cup the ends. What kind of tool do you recommend for a home workshop?

[nystixs]

Cupping does not make the wood denser.. It allows you to use a denser/heavier billet, when making a bat that needs to be within a certain weight range.. If I normally use a 98oz billet to make a 33" 72, but only have a 100oz available. After turning the bat, the bat may be 1 oz heavier than I want. Cupping will lighten bat, within or at weight of my original intent.

[rlb]

Are there any disadvantages to cupping? What would be the effective difference between two bats the same length and weight but one cupped the other not cupped? This would be for a youth bat(11 yo) if that matters.

[nystixs]

A concern with a cupped bat would be for balls hit of very end of bat. Depends on the depth of cup, a deep cup could cause a break, simply because there's not enough wood to support impact.

I start cupping at 31" bats.. 30" and below don't get cupped..

[Bushido]

I wanted to say that I don't know much about making a wood bat but it's nice to see an increase in post/traffic in the wood bat forum in recent weeks.

I am a firm believer in taking BP with wood from as early an age that they can handle the weight.

Thanks guys,keep it up.

[tom2p]

We have two sweet 29" LS youth wood bats that my little guy really likes. They are significantly cupped - and the handles are thinner than the other youth wood bats we have. The model number is 125YBW.
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