| As you may or may not know Composite bats | | | | you're doing and you can't roll a bat properly in 5 |
| are made of multiple layers of carbon fiber, resin, | | | | minutes or less as shown on many videos floating |
| and glue. The combination of these materials gives | | | | around the internet. With a Parallel bat roller you |
| modern day bats their strength and durability. Due | | | | are making contact over a 6-7 inch area on the |
| to the natural makeup of these bats they | | | | bat. Bats where never designed to accept |
| typically come from the factory performing at a | | | | pressure in this manner and by doing this you are |
| low level. This is because the walls are stiff and | | | | applying much more pressure on the barrel. This |
| are not able to flex as much. As soon as you | | | | CAN potentially cause your bat to break faster |
| start using your bat the glues and resins begin to | | | | and will not give you optimal results. |
| break down. In the Baseball and Softball world this | | | | From ALL the information I've received from the |
| in known as "breaking in". As this "break in" | | | | experienced bat rolling companies is that they ALL |
| occurs, the barrel of the bat the barrel will begin | | | | roll bats via the perpendicular way. I look at it this |
| the flex more. This creates greater trampoline | | | | way, "If it isn't broke then don't try to fix it". |
| effect and dramatic increases in performance can | | | | Anyone trying to sell you on the fact that you |
| be seen. Balls will travel further and your sweet | | | | must roll Parallel or some combination of |
| spot will increase. | | | | Perpendicular or Parallel is simply giving you a sales |
| Around 2003 it was determined you could achieve | | | | pitch. You need to look past that and look at it |
| the same "break in" of composite bats via | | | | logically. when you come across a site like this ask |
| methods other than normal usage. One of those | | | | them to prove that there claims are true. They |
| methods is Bat Rolling and it is accomplished by | | | | won't be able to because there simply is no |
| compressing your bat through nylon or hard | | | | independent data to support their claims. |
| rubbers rollers. Your bat is compressed at | | | | You would think that by using a Bat Roller to |
| increasingly more pressure by a Bat Rolling | | | | advance the break in of your bat you would |
| Machine and rotated around the circumference of | | | | shortening the life of that bat. For the most part |
| the bat 8-12 times to completely break the bat in. | | | | this is correct but if you've ever taken the time |
| A typical bat roll will put the equivalent of 300-500 | | | | to read the warranty cards that come with your |
| hits on your bat. These increased hits equate to | | | | bat they give you instructions on the proper use |
| an increase in batted ball speed and farther | | | | and break in. As you use your bat normally you |
| distance of hit baseballs or softballs. Multiple | | | | are suppose to rotate the bat a 1/4 turn after |
| independent studies have been done and the | | | | each hit. I think it's safe to say that most people |
| performance increases are astounding. | | | | won't do this. This creates dead spots and weak |
| There are 2 primary ways to roll your bat. | | | | spots along the barrel of the bat. |
| Perpendicular and Parallel. The most widely used | | | | As you use the bat more and more these spots |
| method is Perpendicular Rolling. Composite bats | | | | increase in size and number. Your bat will never |
| are designed to accept impacts in small areas | | | | be fully broken in evenly. By rolling your bat you'll |
| (similar to that of a softball or baseball). | | | | get even performance and you will not have any |
| Perpendicular rolling most closely mimics this | | | | weak spots. In the end I'd say Bat Rolling will |
| impact area on your bat. All of the independent | | | | shorten your bat life by about 5%. This is only |
| studies I mentioned above where done with a | | | | my best educated guess since no one has ever |
| perpendicular style roller. Experienced bat rolling | | | | done a comparison. The performance increases |
| companies use a perpendicular roller as their | | | | will out weight the durability loss so it becomes a |
| primary recommended way of rolling. Companies | | | | non issue. |
| that try to sell you on different methods simply | | | | Summary: Composite bats will have performance |
| don't have enough experience to know this. | | | | increases as they become broken in, Perpendicular |
| Within the couple years or so a Parallel roller was | | | | rolling is the preferred method of bat rolling, Some |
| designed and put on the market. The MAIN | | | | companies will give you the choice of which rolling |
| reason this unit was put on the market was to | | | | method they use. This is a good sign they know |
| speed up the bat rolling process. Bat Rolling is not | | | | what they are doing. |
| rocket science but you do need to know what | | | | |