Baseball has a wide range of participants and spectators around the world, and the baseball bat plays a vital role as the centerpiece of the sport. It is not only a tool for players to sweat and show their skills, but also a symbol of passion, team spirit and competitive dreams.
1. Production materials
1. Wooden bats
Made of solid wood, usually a harder wood such as ash, yew or maple. It has a good feel and a strong sense of blowing, but it is heavier in weight and easy to wear or break, so it is mostly used in professional competitions. For the same size bat, ash will be slightly lighter than maple and have a greater tolerance for error. Maple is denser, so it loses less energy when hitting the ball, and it feels more "ball-walking". And the feeling of birch is between maple and ash.
2. Alloy bats
Alloy bats are mostly aluminum alloy rods, which are light and durable, but the disadvantage is that the sweet spot of hitting the ball is smaller, and the vibration when hitting the ball is also larger, so the discomfort caused by the batter is more obvious. Suitable for novices and teens, **moderate.
3. Composite bats
The interior is made of carbon fiber, and the exterior is wrapped with high-strength plastic, which has good shock absorption, and combines the advantages of the first two to have good durability, impact and lightness. The sweet spot of the composite bat is relatively larger, which is easy to master, but it needs to be run in with a special machine before use to give full play to the advantages of the bat.
2. Selection skills
1. Length
Hold the dessert area of the bat with your hand and straighten it, if the end of the bat can be in front of your chest, then the length of the bat is right for you.
2. Weight
You can choose the corresponding baseball weight according to your height. And hold it with your left or right hand, and then lift it flat, hold it for half a minute or more, if you can reach this level, it means that the weight of the bat is more suitable, otherwise it means that it is too heavy.
3. Standard certification
If you buy a bat for international competition, you need to meet local standards. In North America, there are three certification systems for bats. BBCOR, USSSA, and USA Baseball. Take BBCOR certification as an example, the bat under this certification system is suitable for high school and college players, with a weight of up to -3 and the diameter of the rod head cannot be greater than a certain value, with the aim of reducing ball speed and hitting distance and protecting players.
3. Key knowledge
1. Precautions
When playing baseball, make sure you wear appropriate gear, including helmets, protective gear, gloves, and shin guards that protect your head, face, hands, and legs.
2. Maintenance skills
To ensure the dryness of baseball bats, especially wooden baseball bats, usually put them in a dry place, if they are stored in a bag, they need to add desiccant, and they should be taken out from time to time to dry. After using the bat, it is also necessary to wipe it, not only to wipe the soil, but also to remove sweat and avoid corrosion of the bat.
3. Hold the stick correctly
The grip is the foundation, and the grip is generally left hand on the bottom and right hand on the top, so that the finger joints are facing forward, which is more friendly to many new players.
4. Hitting sound
The sound of hitting the ball is also different for different bats of different materials. The sound of a wooden bat hitting a ball is similar to the sound of a tree branch breaking, and it is a "pang" sound. The striking sound of an alloy bat is usually crisp, "ping" or "ding".
Conclusion
As the core equipment of baseball, the baseball bat not only carries the value and significance of the sport itself, but also becomes a symbol of sweat, skills, and cultural and spiritual inheritance. Whether on or off the pitch, it exudes a unique charm and appeal that makes people fall in love with and be obsessed with it.