Bat Compression Testing

[Houlie24x]

I can't find anything on where we have to go to get this done. Was there any info given out at the manager's meeting? What about the standards the bat has to meet to be legal?

 

We are also switching to crappy balls in this league as well. It should be an interesting season.

[valpocrewsader]

They come to the field, sometime in the first couple weeks of season, put stickers on the bats that pass. Once they've done the tests, only bats with stickers are allowed (in any weeks before they come out to do testing, it's a free for all). Someone wasn't listening too well at practice!

 

Bats acquired during the season can be tested at the Rec Dept on certain evenings throughout the season.

[Houlie24x]

Well, I guess I was just so heart broken about losing the Reaper I blocked out everything you were saying. Actually I listened, I just saw a pdf file earlier today that said this is only being done for all other leagues besides social leagues and co-ed. It also said we have to take the bats in to the rec department and it gave dates for when they were doing the testing. The pdf was dated 3/13 so I'm guessing they changed how they are handling this. I just wanted to make sure. Sorry for the confusion.

[valpocrewsader]

The main softball page of the Milwaukee Rec site has a link to the following slideshow: http://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/adult-sports/softball/info/SB%20MANAGER'S%20MEETING.pdf

 

I believe Page 4 has the bat testing info. I also double-checked with program supervisor via email this afternoon to make sure all this was accurate, even for our Social league.

[Houlie24x]

These pretzels are making me thirsty!

[RightFieldCoder]

What is wrong with these "crappy balls"?

 

I play in an outseam league on Mondays. Those are crappy balls.

[Houlie24x]

That's besides the point though. We could find plenty of balls worse than what we are switching to. It just seems like a bit much to take away the good bats and switch to this ball. I guess we'll have to wait and see though.

[nullbyte]

What's crappy about them? Are they nerf?

[Houlie24x]

No, they are some generic knockoff of Nerf.

[TooLiveBrew]

Curious... what equipment does MPR allow in its leagues? Houlie said they '[took] away good bats'; could you clarify what they changed from '11 to '12?

 

And I assume you guys are playing a men's league & not coed?

[Houlie24x]

We are switching to 300lb compression balls from 375lb balls last year. They aren't banning any additional bats, they are just doing compression testing on all of them. Most good composites will probably fail if they have been used enough because they will exceed the limit. I don't know for sure though so maybe I am overreacting, and the new ball and bat testing won't make a big difference. I just hate the idea of having an expensive bat go to waste.

 

We play in a mens league.

[Houlie24x]

In memory of the greatest bat Sijan has ever seen...

 

[TooLiveBrew]

We are switching to 300lb compression balls from 375lb balls last year. They aren't banning any additional bats, they are just doing compression testing on all of them. Most good composites will probably fail if they have been used enough because they will exceed the limit. I don't know for sure though so maybe I am overreacting, and the new ball and bat testing won't make a big difference. I just hate the idea of having an expensive bat go to waste.

 

We play in a mens league.

Thanks for the response. Bat compression testing is something that I've wanted to look into for a while now, largely because of what you allude to -- that approved bats can fail, and you can get false negative & false positive test results.

[Houlie24x]

I'm not an expert, but I think a lot of composite bats start out at or near the limit. When they get broken in, a lot of them exceed the limits set by ASA.

[valpocrewsader]

In memory of the greatest bat Sijan has ever seen...

 

 

Needs more cowbell.

 

I think this should clearly be the bat's theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkKXzdUeNMA