| Bamboo Baseball Bats….The New Cage Bat? | | | | Bamboo Bats are not MLB approved, there |
| Asia has again made their mark on Baseball in | | | | seems to be a more popular argument used. |
| America. Bamboo Baseball bats have become | | | | Bamboo bats are widely considered to be similar |
| increasingly popular among youth and amateur | | | | to composite bats based on the way they are |
| baseball players in the U.S. and across the globe | | | | made. Composite bats are also off limits in the |
| for that matter. Bamboo bats have yet to | | | | MLB. Most experts believe that Bamboo will never |
| receive the stamp of approval from Major | | | | receive Major League Baseball’s approval |
| League Baseball, and most people think that | | | | unless the MLB approves all composite bats. |
| stamp of approval will not be coming at all. | | | | So, now looms the bigger question. How will |
| There are a lot of people asking why Bamboo | | | | Bamboo Baseball bats survive in America? Well |
| has yet to be accepted into the MLB? So | | | | since Bamboo bats seem to be so durable, many |
| let’s go over the main arguments keeping | | | | youth and amateur players and teams are using |
| Bamboo on the outside of Major League Parks. | | | | them as Batting Cage bats. More coaches and |
| Here is a Major League Baseball Rule that | | | | players are catching onto the benefits of training |
| addresses this particular issue….1.10 | | | | with wood bats, even if they play in an Aluminum |
| (a) The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not | | | | Bat league. Hitting with wood forces the hitter |
| more than 23/4 inches in diameter at the thickest | | | | to swing with proper mechanics, while aluminum |
| part and not more than 42 inches in length. The | | | | often delivers good results even when improper |
| bat shall be one piece of solid wood. | | | | mechanics are used. |
| NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be | | | | Maple Bats, Ash Bats, and Birch bats all provide |
| used in a professional game (either championship | | | | better power than Bamboo, but none of them |
| season or exhibition games) until the | | | | provide the durability that Bamboo does. That |
| manufacturer has secured approval from the | | | | means a perfect match for Bamboo Baseball Bats |
| Rules Committee of his design and methods of | | | | and |
| manufacture. | | | | Batting Cages. A player or team can reap the |
| Bamboo bats are made by laminating a bunch of | | | | benefits of training with wood, without having to |
| bamboo strips into a blank, and then turning the | | | | continually purchase wood bats because of |
| blank into a bat. Which makes the bat very hard | | | | overuse. Bamboo bats are becoming a big part of |
| to break, and obviously violates rule 1.10 (as | | | | the resurgence of wood bats in America. So in a |
| shown above) which states that the bat shall be | | | | game where so much has changed, wood is |
| one piece of solid wood. | | | | looking like the one constant that doesn’t plan |
| Although that rule seems to be a big part of why | | | | on going anywhere soon. |