I have been out of the Baseball loop for about 20 years. But now that my son is getting into baseball, so am I. Recently friends of mine that play adult softball were telling me all about how they get their bats rolled to maximize distance of batted balls. They also tell me that this was a bid to do in College baseball before they changed the bat specs. Now I wonder if this goes on at the Little League level. I think they should all go back to wood bats. Any thoughts???

what are you talking about?

Unfortunetly there will always be cheaters. I don't think it happens alot in LL. or youth travel. But it does most likely happen. It would be a real shame if a kid was hit with a ball while pitching against a rolled bat. Then maybe that parent would see the big picture. I don't think a rolled bat can make you a hitter, you still have to be able to hit it on the sweet spot. My sons team does alot of tourneys in other states and the real danger is those big barrel. Other then NY and NJ you see these big barrel bats everywhere. I think by 12 years old it should go to wood. I like the metal bats for the young guys because the real little guys can't swing a heavy wood bat.

If someone is paying to get a bat rolled, more than likely its getting shaved and juiced. Its cheating and potentially dangerous. This is from one of many companies that provide the service. Notice their disclaimer at the end.

Bat rolling is a proven process using a custom built machine with specifically designed rollers used to apply pressure to a softball or baseball bat. This pressure stretches the composite fibers and resin type glues that different manufacturers use to let the composite fibers expand and work in a trampoline effect, projecting the ball further and faster than a metal type bat. This increase in trampoline effect is what causes the ball to propel off the bat faster and carry further. Bat rolling is a technique that can be done on both new and well used bats.

Bat juicing involves the process of thinning the inner walls of the bat. The goal of the process is to increase the trampoline effect of the bat in relationship to the ball when they make contact. Bat juicing will greatly increase the amount of distance a ball will travel after being hit. Shaving also adds distance to your balls that you never could have imagined. Juiced bats will cause your home runs to be up to 50 feet farther, and your line drives will be through the infield twice as fast. Juiced bats have become quite popular over the last few years, and a lot of people are swinging these shaved bats all the time. They swing them in games, exhibitions, and home run derbies. Juiced bats are fun to have, but we strenuously suggest not to use them in game play.

The shaving process starts with taking off the end cap. A company skilled in working on bats can remove end caps without damaging them at all so that they can be reused to assure a great fit and finish. The inner walls of the bat are then shaved to thin them out. Proper shaving is done on a lathe that is set to gradually remove material from the inner walls of the bat. Only about one to two ounces of weight should be removed. Shaving should not be done to the handle as this greatly increases the risk for breakage. Shaving a bat will reduce the life of the bat no matter how it is done, but improper shaving could lead to a useless bat.

ProRollers.net LLC bats should only be used in Homerun Derbies, Outlaw Leagues, and anywhere this type of modification is legal for use. Shaved bats will not be used in anyway during sanctioned league or tournament play where the bat certification is to stay below a said performance level. ProRollers.net LLC is not affiliated with any bat manufacturers in any way. All bats purchased from ProRollers.net LLC are brand new second hand and no manufacturers warranty is implied. The buyer of the service(s) assumes responsibility that this bat(s) will not be used during any league, tournament, or ball park where a, modified as such, bat is illegal.

People will continue to cheat no matter the specs or the material used to manufacturer a baseball bat.

The BBCOR bats are already being tampered with as this quote from batrollingblog.com indicates

. . . . One of these changes simply incorporate a bushing (for the lack of a better description) is installed in the barrel of their composite bats which prevent the barrel from flexing too much. Some bat doctors are simply removing the bushings and this allows the bat to perform like it did prior to the BBCOR standard. There are other proprietary altering methods being tested right now as well which will improve the performance of BBCOR bats. Stay tuned for more information as more and more BBCOR approved bats hit the market.


Going wood bat only simply means the sale of cork will increase significantly.


The bottom line is cheaters will cheat but the reality is they really are only cheating themselves in the long run.

Jez---What happened to good old fashioned corking the bat...

Only COMPOSITE bats can be rolled and one would roll it to help expedite the break in time. Instead of having to use the bat for weeks to break it in rolling does it instantly. I see no cheating in that. I do see cheating shaving a bat. You are altering a bat.
I too say go back to wood and glad the BBCOR rule is in effect now.

Are there any restrictions on the type of tape that you can put on the handle of a wood bat?

isnt it sad when you see a nine yr old kid put it over the fence and the first thing out of the haters mouths are the bats rolled

no its sadder that his dad thinks his swing is good.