A composite bat is more than just a piece of slo-pitch equipment. For most players, it is a big investment. Purchasing a high quality bat is always worth the investment to help your performance, so you should take care of it.
Composite bats cost hundreds of dollars, but when you care for them properly, they can last for years. If you don’t take care of your bats, they can quickly lose their pop and even crack, making them completely useless.
That is why taking care of your bat matters. It saves you money, helps you perform at your best, and keeps you confident at the plate.
A recent poll on Slo-Pitch Central shows that around 70% of players already take care of their bats. That’s because they know how valuable they are. If you want to get the most out of your investment too, here are the top 7 ways to take care of your bat.
7 Tips to Take Care of Your Composite Bat
1. Break Your Bat In the Right Way
Composite bats need a good break-in period before they reach their full potential. This usually takes 200 to 300 hits, rotated around the barrel so the impact is spread evenly.
Start your swing at about 50 percent power, and work up to your full power gradually. The best way to break in a bat is by doing batting practice with your teammates. We recommend never trying to break in a new bat at a tournament or any other competitive event. By breaking your bat in at BP or your next practice, you can really focus on doing it properly.
Avoid shortcuts like rolling or shaving. Not only are those methods illegal in competitive play, but they also dramatically shorten the lifespan of your bat. They can also void your warranty, so it’s not worth the risk.
After all, your bat is an investment, and you should treat it that way!
2. Keep an Eye on the Temperature of Your Bat
Temperature has a direct effect on how your bat performs. Cold weather makes composite bats brittle and more likely to crack, while extreme heat can soften the barrel and ruin its durability.
The easiest way to know if your bat is safe to use is with Temp Sticks. If you’ve never heard of Temp Sticks, it’s because they’re a brand new product in Canada - only sold by approved vendors. Temp Sticks are stickers you place on the lower barrel of your bat, just above the handle. They’re easy to apply and easy to use.
These simple stickers change colour to tell you if it is too hot, too cold, or just right for hitting. Just like how the mountains on Coors cans change to blue when your beer is cold enough!
Before every game, you can double-check your bat to make sure it is at an optimal temperature for hitting. Temp Sticks are the fastest and most reliable way to tell if your bat is too cold and vulnerable to damage.
3. Rotate Your Bat After Every Swing
Every hit on your bat leaves a mark on the barrel, even if it’s not visible. If you keep swinging in the same spot, that area will wear out faster and eventually go dead.
By rotating your bat a quarter turn between swings, you spread out the impact across the whole barrel. This not only extends its lifespan but also keeps your hits consistent across the entire hitting surface.
Rotating your bat is recommended to do all the time - not just while you’re breaking it in. This keeps the sweet spot consistent and adds years to your bat’s performance.
Keep those hits coming by rotating your barrel after each swing, or as often as you can remember.
4. Be Smart About Batting Practice
Your bat is not designed for endless BP sessions, especially with harder balls. Use older, softer balls for practice whenever possible.
Never hit waterlogged or dimpled balls, since they put extreme stress on the composite and can lead to cracks.
Pro Tip: Consider using an alternate bat for practice and save your favourite bat for tournaments only.
Most experienced players keep one bat for practice and another for games, which helps preserve their best bat for when it matters most.
5. Limit Sharing Your Bat
If you have a cool new bat, the unwritten rule is that your teammates will want to swing it.
Sometimes it’s tempting to let teammates take a few swings with your bat, but remember every hit adds up. If three people are using your bat in a single game, that is three times the wear and tear.
A single game where multiple teammates are swinging your bat is the equivalent of weeks of wear.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you have new players wanting to use your bat. New players are still learning, and might not barrel every ball perfectly, which can hurt your bat over time.
If you really want to protect the investment you made into your slo-pitch composite bat, you should be the only hitter using it regularly.
Keeping your bat to yourself isn’t selfish. It’s one of the easiest ways to extend its life and protect your investment.
6. Store Your Bat in the Right Conditions
Leaving your bat in your car trunk might be convenient, but it is one of the worst places to store it. Cars experience extreme heat and cold, which can warp or damage the composite materials in your bat. Long-term storage in your car can weaken the bat over time, so it’s best to bring it inside after every game.
After bringing your bat indoors, store it in a dry, temperature-controlled place. For extra protection, check out Temp Sticks so you always know your bat is at the right temperature.
7. Treat It Like the Investment It Is
A composite bat is one of the most expensive and important pieces of equipment you will buy for slo-pitch. Taking proper care of it ensures maximum performance swing after swing, season after season.
By breaking it in carefully, rotating it between swings, and monitoring the temperature with Temp Sticks, you can keep your bat game-ready for years.
The Bottom Line
Your bat can last much longer and perform at its best when you treat it right. With proper care, you will protect your investment, avoid costly replacements, and come into each game with confidence.
If you are already taking care of your bat, you are in the majority. But if not, now is the time to start.
👉 Ready to extend the life of your bat? Pick up Temp Sticks today and always hit in the right conditions.
temperature-controlled
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