| Baseball bats are the most widely produced bat | | | | The bearings and softer nylon rollers will not hold |
| in the United States. In addition, composites | | | | up under the added pressure, this is why some |
| have overtaken the top manufactured position | | | | bat rolling companies have changed there roller |
| that aluminum bats held for so long. With the | | | | material and changed their type of bearings the |
| new era of composite material, bats are more | | | | bat rolling machines utilize. The roller material |
| durable and better performing bats. The | | | | change is the biggest advancement. Because so |
| performance is not limited to the distance and | | | | much pressure is needed to compress composite |
| pop of the first hit, it will actually get | | | | baseball bats the nylon rollers “warp” or |
| “hotter” with use. There has been a | | | | deform to the bat and correct pressure cannot |
| scandal or controversy in the NCAA about rolled | | | | be achieved. This deforming of the nylon roller |
| composite bats and they have decided to go | | | | and added pressure causes the break down of |
| back to aluminum bats. The problem might not | | | | these types of bat rolling machines. Getting back |
| have been with the bat rolling aspect but with the | | | | to the issue of rolling baseball bats; a bat rolling |
| increased MPH achieved through breaking in the | | | | machine with upgraded rollers are needed to |
| bat; naturally through batting practice or the bat | | | | properly roll big barrel baseball bats, the nylon |
| rolling process. | | | | rollers will not create enough pressure on the |
| Big barrel baseball bats have composite that is | | | | surface of the bat. |
| more durable (thicker) than any other type of | | | | After a big barrel baseball bat has been rolled |
| bat. This is part of the reason they hit | | | | you can expect 20-35 feet of distance to your |
| “hardballs” and not softballs. Baseball bats | | | | batted ball, assuming the bat is 34 inches in |
| do pose a problem to bat rollers who want to | | | | length. The longer the barrel the more flex or |
| break in the bat through advanced break in | | | | trampoline effect occurs. Therefore, as the |
| techniques. The barrel is larger and shorter than | | | | barrel length decreases the flex decreases by an |
| other bats. The perpendicular roll of a baseball | | | | inch. In my experiences, the distance lost due to |
| bat is more difficult due to this fact. If you are | | | | a smaller length barrel is about 5 feet every |
| not familiar with what bat rolling accomplishes I will | | | | inch. So, that means big barrel bats under 30 |
| go over it real quick; The resin is broken upon | | | | inches will only gain about 5-10 feet. |
| within the composite which gives the bat more | | | | In Summary, big barrel baseball bats can be |
| flexibility (trampoline effect) and equates to more | | | | rolled with good distance results but some factors |
| distance. A complete roll of a baseball bat is | | | | can decrease that distance. Nylon rollers can |
| impossible with a perpendicular roll only, the taper | | | | deform under the high pressure needed for the |
| will pose the biggest obstacle. This problem is | | | | more dense and thick big barrel baseball bat |
| alleviated with a parallel bat rolling after the | | | | material. A harder roller material is needed to |
| perpendicular roll is completed. The parallel roll will | | | | properly roll a big barrel bat. The length of the |
| cover the entire sweet spot of the baseball | | | | bat is also a factor in the distance gained, a |
| bat’s barrel. | | | | shorter length equals a small decrease in distance |
| As I said before, the baseball bat’s | | | | gained. |
| composite is thicker and more durable than any | | | | Big barrel bats will gain distance to your batted ball |
| other type of bat. For this fact, some rollers will | | | | when properly rolled. |
| break down after repeated baseball bat rolling. | | | | |