Discussion on Wood Bats

[ras-tbone]

Carolina Clubs has a new webpage! cheers

[batfanatic]

What weight of a 34" M110 would feel the same as a 33.5"-31.5 oz m9 M110?
Would a 34-32 feel the same...fairly light and balanced... Or would the extra length and weight make it feel different and much heavier?

And would a 34-31.5 m110 break that much easier than a 34-32

[tomhagen]

What weight of a 34" M110 would feel the same as a 33.5"-31.5 oz m9 M110?
Would a 34-32 feel the same...fairly light and balanced... Or would the extra length and weight make it feel different and much heavier?

And would a 34-31.5 m110 break that much easier than a 34-32

Interestingly, I have had 3 M110's lately... all 34" and each with a different feel, and they are all Ash and all LVS 1XX or MLB Select

My #1 is 1XX my first and it is balanced wonderfully for me, nicely spaced medium wide grain. two tone cherry, red. lots of pop, hits balanced through the zone.

My #2 & #3 are MLB Select and were made the same day, same stain, same weight etc., but one has wider more uneven grain, the other even close together grain. I can pick up each with my eyes closed and tell you which is which,with one swing and I can tell everytime. The even, close together grain is more balanced feel "faster through the zone". I haven't used them, so I don't know the "pop". I have actually sold one, and plan on selling the other, because they don't feel like my #1 that I love so much. That is not to say they are not great bats, they are gorgeously turned and stained, they are MLB quality, but for my personal feel, I prefer the #1.

So I guess this tells you that every single bat is completely different, even same model, weight, manufacturer and date...

[tomhagen]

Sorry it's taking so long to answer, it's been a hectic week. Anyway, we are in the process now of loading up the build sheets into SAP for making production tickets for these new bats. The new store line models are in the 2013 catalog so the beginning of July I believe.
Birch won't be available yet for store line production.

Alright, Amish: we first ventured into vacuum dry maple by using a mill run by some Amish. So, to keep it separated from our normal stock we started calling it Amish Maple and labeling the knobs with an "A". Most players say the bats feel "harder" than our regular kiln dry. They are not really harder but have less flex (less moisture) in the handles which makes it feel as if the ball hit harder. Is it better? We have had very positive results in the Pro's with our Amish line and there has been a huge decrease in the amount of bats bowing. Veneer is as it sounds. Usually when you cut trees for bats you take the best looking wood (straight, now imperfections, no knots or tree limbs, etc) and sell those logs to veneer companies that pay up to $3000 per log. Well, we stopped selling them and we are now using them for bat production.

Thanks for the info as always, BMH! Where can one obtain the 2013 catalog?

Interesting on the Amish, I have been swinging a new M9 T141 lately and I actually felt it "flex" when I drilled the ball, (more than my previous one that broke). So I guess the Veneer is pretty pricey wood... which is "better" Amish or Veneer? or which costs more to make? (not that that makes it necessarily better).

J. Hamilton is using the veneer, and I have seen some used pros using Amish as well. Seemingly since Napoli stopped using Hamilton's bat, and switched companies his numbers have declined ouch

[CobraT]

Thanks for the info as always, BMH! Where can one obtain the 2013 catalog?

Interesting on the Amish, I have been swinging a new M9 T141 lately and I actually felt it "flex" when I drilled the ball, (more than my previous one that broke). So I guess the Veneer is pretty pricey wood... which is "better" Amish or Veneer? or which costs more to make? (not that that makes it necessarily better).

J. Hamilton is using the veneer, and I have seen some used pros using Amish as well. Seemingly since Napoli stopped using Hamilton's bat, and switched companies his numbers have declined ouch

I was about to ask about the LS catalog or how to order from LS as well.

thanks

[BMH]

Thanks for the info as always, BMH! Where can one obtain the 2013 catalog?

Interesting on the Amish, I have been swinging a new M9 T141 lately and I actually felt it "flex" when I drilled the ball, (more than my previous one that broke). So I guess the Veneer is pretty pricey wood... which is "better" Amish or Veneer? or which costs more to make? (not that that makes it necessarily better).

J. Hamilton is using the veneer, and I have seen some used pros using Amish as well. Seemingly since Napoli stopped using Hamilton's bat, and switched companies his numbers have declined ouch

The catalogs are out internally for right now. They are missing the MLB select bats. We are redoing our branding and the decision on these bats were finalized until after the catalog was produced. It's a different look... I'll post up pic's when I"m allowed.

Veneer is more expensive. You are correct, it doesn't necessary make it better but it does limit the amount of defects allowed in the wood.

[CB22]

The catalogs are out internally for right now. They are missing the MLB select bats. We are redoing our branding and the decision on these bats were finalized until after the catalog was produced. It's a different look... I'll post up pic's when I"m allowed.

Veneer is more expensive. You are correct, it doesn't necessary make it better but it does limit the amount of defects allowed in the wood.

Will the branding redo appear in MLB production soon? No signs yet.

[CB22]

All Star game? I remember the bats with the huge "Louisville" logos on the back of the barrel way back when.

[CB22]

Found it: 1989bobatback1.jpg

[batfanatic]

Is there a LS model that has an M110 barrel and handle but with a flared knob similar to an R219 knob?

[ras-tbone]

I've got the H176 which is similar to what you want but not a bell knob. the F163 fielder model has the bonds knob but is not a M110 barrel. speaking of Prince, Brian (bmh) what's the deal with still having fielder on your web page in a brewers uniform and no bat in his name for sale? bring it back bro!

[PhilliesPhan22]

Ras,

Just ordered the Phoenix Bats version of the CU26. I'll post up when it arrives.

[ras-tbone]

I love the CU26 bat and the CB15 from marucci, but for me the Sam AS12 fits my swing from the right side and the LS M356 is also fantastic! from the left side I prefer cone handles and I gotta get the Phoenix S123 aka F123. I am always on the lookout for an R219 and M216 but not many around that are game worthy. I'm looking forward to the pic!

[BMH]

Will the branding redo appear in MLB production soon? No signs yet.

It will appear on Store line product before going to our MLB offerings.

[BMH]

Found it: 1989bobatback1.jpg

We got in a lot of trouble with MLB over that one. It's what started all the rules on brand sizes.

[BMH]

Is there a LS model that has an M110 barrel and handle but with a flared knob similar to an R219 knob?

No. I've got it with the T141 barrel and the S318 barrel.

[tomhagen]

Thanks for the info as always, BMH!

Interesting on the Amish, I have been swinging a new M9 T141 lately and I actually felt it "flex" when I drilled the ball, (more than my previous one that broke).

This was a regular M9, not Veneer or Amish. What are these regular M9's made of then?

BTW, these Beltran bats (veneer?) look sweet. http://ow.ly/i/Kr8k

[BMH]

They do look good, that is our new "white wash" finish, though we don't have a name for it because they don't want to use white wash. It does have our new spray finish on them too. I miss being in Pro bat all the time these days.

[PhilliesPhan22]

I know that "white hot" is taken. How about "white glazed finish?" Kind of looks like a thin layer of white glaze.

[CB22]

Just saw this. Quite a new look!

[The Glovedoctor]

They do look good, that is our new "white wash" finish, though we don't have a name for it because they don't want to use white wash. It does have our new spray finish on them too. I miss being in Pro bat all the time these days.

Beltran must like that White Wash. I got to help make a batch of his bats long ago at Marucci.

[ras-tbone]

everything looks great except A-Fraud in there! Slugger should not whatsoever have him as one of the faces of the company! promoting an admitted cheater sends the wrong message! I don't care if he continues to swing LS.

[tomhagen]

Just saw this. Quite a new look!

very cool, though I prefer the classic look of LVS, staring at the same logo as the greats.

BMH, what should we make of this? The new 1xx or Pro Series exact model bats as pros?

[CB22]

everything looks great except A-Fraud in there! Slugger should not whatsoever have him as one of the faces of the company! promoting an admitted cheater sends the wrong message! I don't care if he continues to swing LS.

Couldn't resist: Here is ARod's C271 barrel (again, from LVS Facebook page):599734_10151026585254293_854925330_n.jpg

[CB22]

very cool, though I prefer the classic look of LVS, staring at the same logo as the greats.

BMH, what should we make of this? The new 1xx or Pro Series exact model bats as pros?

Is this going to be a re-brand of the M9 line, or an "extension" for MLB going forward?