Wood Bats

[CTBats]

Hi Everyone, I have been making wood bats for quite a few years now. I make the Chesapeake Thunder line of bats. I see that a lot of you have questions about wood bats. I would be happy to answer your questions if I can. I deal with various models from adult to youth. I dont make composites but strictly solid wood and might be able to answer some of your questions. I know from my own players there is a lot of mis information out there about wood bats and maybe I can help.
Mike

[Hog Fan]

I have an 11 y/o who will be tansitioning to middle school next year. Currently he is approx 4'11'' 90 lbs. He has been practicing all winter with 2 LS youth wood bats, both bats are 30 inches, one bat is maple(his favorite) and the other is ash. Middle school requirements in my area are no less that -5 (I am unsure on the length requirement). My question is, When should he begin prepping for middle school play? Are his current wood bats sufficient? If not, what size (and dimensions) do you recommend for training? Model #'s would also be helpful.

[dsore1218]

Mike,

Thanks for putting yourself up to answer questions.

I coach and manage high school players. We encourage them to use play with wood whenever they can and definitely during the summer and fall seasons. The biggest issues we see is that the kids will buy a wood bat that is completely opposite of what they swing in a composite or alloy. Can you post some thoughts on what wood bat characteristics would be helpful to a player that is moving back and forth between wood and metal?

Any other thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. I will definitely pass along your information to my kids that are looking for a good wood bat. I have your website infor for them. I also have the Washington Post article link as well.

Good Luck.

dsore1218

[D_wats]

$60 for one of your wood youth bats.... and I'm sure they're worth every penny, and I'd love to start my son using wood bats, but this "almost indestructible" bamboo bat I bought lasted all of 10 days.

Plain and simple, until someone starts paying for our bats I'd go broke trying to keep my son swinging a wood bat.

[tad1961]

Picking a wood bat is player preference. You might want to go to the local sporting goods store and have your player swing a few wood bats. See how he/she swings the bat and listen. You should hear a nice swoosh when they swing and they should be able to stay on balance. Ask the player what he likes about the bat and what the dislikes are. Most of the time you will hear something about the handle, it's to thin it's to thick. Just like wood, metal bats have different balances as well, balanced to end loaded. After choosing a model, look up the model number on the net and see what the specs are. Now you have something to go shopping with. After purchasing the wood bat comes the instructing part. A player needs to learn where the sweet spot on the bat is. Hold the bat vertically and pinch the thinnest part of the handle with your index finger and thumb. With your other hand, and starting from the end of the barrel, knock on the grain side of the wood and work your way up. The bat will vibrate in your fingers until you hit the sweet spot. Keep moving your knocks up the bat until it starts to vibrate again and that will be the end of the sweet spot. You will have to show the player where the sweet spot is and let them know that this is where they need to hit the ball.
Remember label up or down so to hit on the grain of the wood. Players new to wood have a hard time with this. I tell my players to look at the label each time before taking a swing.

[toolsballsoft]

The hard maple bats are by far the best performing bats that I have used since I was signed by the Boston Red Sox six years ago. The way the ball accelerates off of the bats is amazing. Their durability and hardness is second to none. I really do appreciate the opportunity to use these top of the line bats and I am proud to be able to let other people know where to get Chesapeake Thunder bats.

softball hitting drills
http://www.softballhittingonline.com/