Cold weather bats?

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Nov 18, 2015
1,585
113
Good Afternoon DFP -

A man has got to know his limitations. For me, at this point in time, bat knowledge is one of those limitations. So I thought I'd pose a few questions to the experts regarding bats and cold(er) weather.

We're still hovering around 50 degrees, maybe as low as 45, during practice. We're also only a 10U team - I think only one girl has a composite bat. Here's what I need help figuring out:

1. Composites should be a no-go below 50 deg, correct? Any other bat types affected?
2. What are the bat types? Is it all just composite or aluminum? Is there a way to tell if a bat's a composite? Or ideally what the material is? (I think the vast majority are entry level Easton's - 200/300's? Probably the $80 level. Maybe one Hyperlite, and one low-end Ghost (not the $300 version). No DeMarini's, Xeno's, Anderson's, etc.). I thought Aluminum was the low end, but IIRC, the Stealth's are aluminum, and aren't exactly low end? (I could be getting this all bass-ackwards, as well).
3. I'd like to use a pitching machine tonight - any bat types that don't do well with dimpled balls?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Gags
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Good Afternoon DFP -

A man has got to know his limitations. For me, at this point in time, bat knowledge is one of those limitations. So I thought I'd pose a few questions to the experts regarding bats and cold(er) weather.

We're still hovering around 50 degrees, maybe as low as 45, during practice. We're also only a 10U team - I think only one girl has a composite bat. Here's what I need help figuring out:

1. Composites should be a no-go below 50 deg, correct? Any other bat types affected?
2. What are the bat types? Is it all just composite or aluminum? Is there a way to tell if a bat's a composite? Or ideally what the material is? (I think the vast majority are entry level Easton's - 200/300's? Probably the $80 level. Maybe one Hyperlite, and one low-end Ghost (not the $300 version). No DeMarini's, Xeno's, Anderson's, etc.). I thought Aluminum was the low end, but IIRC, the Stealth's are aluminum, and aren't exactly low end? (I could be getting this all bass-ackwards, as well).
3. I'd like to use a pitching machine tonight - any bat types that don't do well with dimpled balls?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Gags

1) At 10u I wouldn't worry about breaking composite bats at any temps that are actually safe to play in. Not to say they won't break, my 9 YO has broken two already, but it had nothing to do with temperatures.
2) You can tell composite bats by the price tag..:D
3) I wouldn't use a game bat with dimple balls..have them use beater bats.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
I’d listen to everything pattar said, at 10U I wouldn’t worry about it. If you can’t control the temperature of the balls, you can control the temperature of the bat!

I know there’s various opinions about machines, I hated them! At 10U I’d rather do Tee-work to warm up then transition into front toss so the girls can see the ball coming out of your hand. That way YOU can control the pitch location and speed.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
1. Composites should be a no-go below 50 deg, correct? Any other bat types affected?
s

This is one of the most overblown topics (composite bats in cold weather) in my opinion. You pay a lot of money for those bats, use them. They will outgrow it before you break it.

Additionally, when it's 50 degrees and sunny where I live my players are wearing shorts...
 
Feb 17, 2014
551
28
Karma will bite me for this, but my DD has never broken a bat. It doesn't matter what the temp is she uses her composite bat. Back when she was one teams that used pitching machines, she hit the dimpled balls with and aluminum bat, but that's been 4-5 years now.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Temps are something manufacturers made up just to profit more themselves..."hey, lets say 60 degrees so we can limit our returns even more"

I would say low 40's are getting cold...but 50's are completely fine
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
This is one of the most overblown topics (composite bats in cold weather) in my opinion. You pay a lot of money for those bats, use them. They will outgrow it before you break it.

Could not agree more. Especially at the younger ages.

Some bats break, no matter what. When it happens people start dreaming up all the things they did that “caused” it.

Here are my only inflexible rules: bats are stored at room temperatures at all times. Same with the balls you practice with. Make sure Coach isn’t carrying the teams balls around in the trunk of the car in the winter. That’s it.

If you can adhere to those rules..... Hit it like you stole it. If it breaks, put it in a box with your receipt, write the RA# on the box, send it in and hit a backup. Repeat.

You only have so many years to play, worry about something worth worrying about.

I’ll add this: your kid will never hit a ball farther than on a fifty degree day. After seven straight years of spring high school ball in the Midwest, I’ll tell you this: your kid will never hit as many hr’s as on a fifty degree day. Cold pitchers fingers plus barreled upballs off a coolish bat equals otf festivals. Old timers talk about warming up the barrel. I say let the other team mush up their bats with heat all they want. Leave ours by the dugout door just chillin’ please.
 

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