In 2016 Joe Root used 23 bats – that’s about 1 every 2 weeks.
In the 1980’s, my dad used the same bat for 10 years. OK, he didn’t play every day, but he did net and play perhaps 3 games a week during the season.
So what’s changed?
Well, to start with, bats are now made with the specific purpose of hitting the ball as hard as possible. So, “ping” off the middle is important in the search for hitting maximums. Unfortunately, this also means that bats are less durable, because to maximize the “ping” they are pressed less in the manufacturing process, so remain softer.
What else is different?
The number of grains on a bat. A grain is the equivalent of a years growth, so a bat with say, 8 grains is 8 years old. Traditional wisdom dictates that this ‘young’ bat will last longer than say an 18 grain bat because wood is a natural substance and will inevitably deteriorate with age. The 8 grain bat might be a ‘Grade 3’, take a bit longer to knock in but have the potential to last a lot longer.
But, and it’s a big but. An 18 grain bat, with no blemishes and straight grains is highly sought after, will cost more and is deemed to be a ‘Grade 1’ product for which you will pay significantly more. Granted it will play very well immediately, won’t need so much knocking in, and it will look great. BUT, it might not last very long, especially if you practice a lot in the nets year round and play a lot of games during the season. And remember, because the bat is pressed lightly, to maximise ‘ping’ its more susceptible to damage.
How often has your prized bat been cracked, broken or plain worn out in practice in or in the nets before you have had a chance to play an 18 game league season with it ? I bet you have a teammate whose pride and joy has split down the middle just before the season starts.
Blog 2, The Solution?......