Rolled bats

[NA_Jacket]

I have been around this sport a long time myself. The fan/umpire etc will notice zero difference in sound or appearance. They don't have the luxury of cutting a bat open to see the inside. Most would have no clue a bat was altered unless they know what they are looking for if they did. I have had umpires say they can tell. They can't unless it is painfully obvious like vice marks or a major barrel color change from a bad shaving job. The vice marks you mentioned is old school. Bring on the testers it is the only way cheating will be stopped. I agreed with most of what you said it just appeared these things are easy to spot. I don't believe they are and I do know bats.

[hittingcoach333]

Wellllllll I dont know what to tell you buddy I'm sure you have been around this game for quite a while. But development and bat testing is what I do for a living. I am just giving you advise. Ask me about umpiring and I would be clueless. Dont think I am attacking you cause that wasnt my intention. I agree with you umpires cant tell but since you are an umpire answer me this. When was the last time a bat company or someone versed in bat technology came in and taught you guys what to look for? This is something I have pushed for a long time.

And just so you know.... bat shaving happens inside the barrel not on the outside so they are the least obvious when you look at them.

Let me make this clear I have never said that you dont know bats, in fact you know a little too much so you must have done your homework. And rest assured last I heard a certain bat company who designed it has made ASA 50 of them. They are small enough to travel in a suitcase.

Oh and if you want to learn the sound differences go to a slowpitch tournament where altering is more prevalent and just listen you will be able to learn the sound.

[NA_Jacket]

It would be nice to know when these compression testers will be affordable for use at most tournaments. The last list I saw NC purchased 1 GA purchased 2 and SC none. This is hardly enough to make someone think they will get caught. I cant imagine them using testers at a fastpitch event when there is adult events going on where this is a widespread problem. My bat experience comes from Mens Major level playing on bat sponsored teams and now being around the fastpitch game. I have seen about every trick you can imagine as you have. This has been in the slowpitch game forever where manufactures would make "advanced player bats" that were hotter than anything you could buy. Even in the metal days we were swinging extreme thin wall bats that would bend and crack in one tournament. Now if you go to a slowpitch tourney you will see 5-4 120 lb guys hitting 380 ft shots. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the results or hear the sound and know what is going on. Answering the question about training ASA did provide some info on bat altering. In my opinion it lead to many bats getting removed that were not altered and turned it into a witch hunt for any little scratch. Where your original post about sounds etc got me was because 99.9 percent of umpires wont have a clue even after training and will never pick up on it. As soon as they start they will be throwing out bats they have no business removing. Fans will be calling for bat removal on every HR or when a team really hits (only if they are losing of course). Take the Rocket Tech's that have a different sound when the ball is hit sharply or the Combat that has a different sound than other composites. I could see these bats getting removed for no reason. The testers is the only answer as they remove judgement from the issue.

[hittingcoach]

LOL thats how you are so knowledgeable about bat altering, you are a slowpitch boy. You are 100% correct cheating is out of control in slowpitch. It saddens me to see that there are many times in slowpitch where the powers that be chose to ignore the issue rather than enforce strict consequences to those who choose to cheat. And even if they do get caught they just get suspended from that league for a year... so what do they do they play in another association.

There is one difference that hopefully will save the integrity of our game.... these girls are amateurs with something to lose. If they are banned from ASA play for using an altered bat then they wouldnt be eligible to play in any association who abides by ASAs rules. It is my personal opinion that the fear risking the of eligibility and future of their child or players will cause most parents and coaches to think twice about altering bats. I would think that this would be why the testers will be used more at FP events. They can prevent the widespread corruption we see in slowpitch.

I agree the machines are the only answer to this problem and they are coming. I am not sure when the machines will be available at every tournament. That would be a question to ask the NC or SC ASA director. It seems that nationally they are only showing up at state and national tournaments. But if you want to see them at more tournaments then my advice would be to voice your interest. And being that there are rarely 2 ASA Fastpitch tournaments in NC being played in the same weekend one machine has the potential of catching a lot of people.

[swingaway]

As I was reading this thread, I noticed the ad at the top of the webpage for bat rolling. It "rolls" on and off the webpage. Interesting!