Last updated 4/07/2008

Caring for
Your Fastpitch Softball Bat

Page 2 of 2

This page has the following information regarding the care of your Fastpitch Softball Bat.

• Batting Cages & Pitching Machines
• Bat Fatigue - "How long before your Fastpitch Softball Bat becomes dead?"
• What is a Rotation Index and how does it help?
• Miscellaneous:
  1. Rolling Fastpitch Softball Bats - does it help?
  2. Using wax to get rid of scratches?

Batting Cages & Pitching Machines

Do not use high performance Fastpitch Softball Bats in batting cages or with pitching machines. Today's Fastpitch Softball Bats are designed for game softballs, not the type of balls typically used in batting cages or from pitching machines. We suggest you use an old bat of similar weight and length for these kinds of practice or warm-up sessions. Also, if you use your new Fastpitch Softball Bat in batting cages or with pitching machines, it may invalidate your warranty - again, check with your Fastpitch Softball Bat manufacturer.

Another reason not to use your new Fastpitch Softball Bat in batting cages and with pitching machines is "bat life". The more the Fastpitch Softball Bat hits a ball, the sooner the bat will become "dead" - see Bat Fatigue below.

Bat Fatigue - "How long before your Fastpitch Softball Bat becomes dead?"

A big draw back for thin wall Fastpitch Softball Bats is durability. Each time the ball is hit it causes metal fatigue. Hit after hit again and again in the same spot will cause this spot to become dead. however in other spots the bat may be like new so it's difficult to tell exactly when the bat overall is ready to be scraped or used as a practice bat.

Generally, you can expect a new thin wall aluminum FastpitchSoftball Bat last a least two seasons but beyond you want to pay attention as to whether or not it is losing its "flex" and "tramploline" effects.

"What is a Rotation Index and how does it help?"

DeMarini developed a concept called a "rotation index" which is a series of numbers that encircle the bat barrel. It is used to remind the player to slightly rotate the bat in in their hands after every hit during "at bats" or batting practice. This is a simple concept developed to distribute the impact of batted balls evenly around the barrel, that is, even out the number of hits on the barrel and reduce flat spots which could occur over time. In short, it lengthens bat life by extending the time before the "sweet spot" becomes "dead". Simple but effective concept.

Miscellaneous

1. Rolling Fastpitch Softball Bats - does it help? No - it will decrease the life of your bat and virtually all Fastpitch Softball Bat manufacturres warranties are voided if you run your at through a rolling process to harden it.
   
2. Using wax to get rid of scratches? Certain scratch lines are part of the composite manufacturing process, and others occur during normal use of the bat. Some people polish their bats with car wax to make them less noticeable, but this is not recommended as it could be considered illegal as a foreign substance. A good composite Fastpitch Softball Bat needs 100 to 200 hits before it is fully broken in, so my advice is to view these scratches as a badge of honor—that the bat is finally ready for action! Remember, a bat is bought to be used, and scratches are nothing more than a sign that your are using the bat for its intended purpose.

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