Wood bat question

[Robbie_L]

Can wooden bats lose their pop? I've been using the same wood bat for over a year now (it's a Louisville Slugger), and I don't know if the ball would go farther if I got a new bat.

I think I've been noticing more of a vibration, but I'm exactly sure about that.

[PhilliesPhan22]

I've never had an issue.

[StraightGrain11]

Actually, it works the opposite. The more you hit the sweetspot of a wood bat, the more it compresses the grain, causing the bat to actually become "harder" (more dense actually) giving the bat MORE pop. The down side to this is that the grain structure then loses its ability to compress and "give" with each impact, so the strain of the impact is transfered down the bat into its weakest part - the "necK" (or transition). When the structure of the grain in this area becomes too broken down, you get a broken bat. So to answer your question, your bat will probably break before it "loses its pop."

Atleast this is my understanding, I could be mistaken. If you REALLY want an answer, find a guy on here who goes by the user name BMH. He's a bat maker at LOUISVILLE SLUGGER. Any question(s) you have on wood, he'll be able to answer. Your best bet would be to drop a question addressed to him in the "Wood bat discussion...." forum, I'm sure he'll be happy to answer any you have.

[jimmies21]

I think I've been noticing more of a vibration, but I'm exactly sure about that.

If you have the handle taped, take it off and look at the wood.

Like Straitgrain said, the neck and handle could be getting weaker, and you might have some small cracks.

[BMH]

It truly depends on the player. I've known some like Biggio and Jeter who will the same bat until it breaks no matter how old it is. Then you have others like Posada and Kendall who believe a bat only has so many hits in it. It is great for reorders but I sometimes find it unnecessary.

My first question is it Ash or Maple? Next like it has been suggested check out the bat, especially around the center brand for hairline cracks. Let us know.

[Robbie_L]

I don't know if it's ash or maple. How do I tell?

There are no cracks in the centre, but a tiny bit of the wood is chipping off near the top (side where the label is). I don't hit the ball there, so I don't think that would make a difference.

[StraightGrain11]

Your bat is "chipping"??? Best way to tell ash from maple: Grain visibility. The grain on an ash bat is VERY visible, the grain on a maple bat almost blends away into the wood. This also makes the maple bat much smoother/softer [to the touch] than an ash bat.
If your ash bat is painted black, you will still be able to see the grain thru the paint; if your bat is maple and painted, you won't.

An ash bat will look like this:


These are maple bats, notice how the grain is very faint - almost water-like.

[BMH]

Nice collection if they're yours!

But yes, if it's "chipping" then it's most likely an Ash bat.

[jimmies21]

Nice collection if they're yours!

But yes, if it's "chipping" then it's most likely an Ash bat.

BMH,
What is the C235? I've never seen it.

[Robbie_L]

Alright, it appears to be ash. I don't know if chipping is the right word, but it's just getting a bit thinner around those areas.

I think my original question has been answered though.

[StraightGrain11]

Nice collection if they're yours!

Haha. Nope. Just a photo I found. I WISH they were mine.