[Ichiro used it!?] The bond between baseball and Japan's forests - the power of the blue bat

May 24, 2023

Hello!
Amazing I'm Megane Fujiwara, your baseball partner!

Last time, we introduced the appeal of wooden bats.

In a recent article, my brother Parr introduced maple wood.

This time we will introduce a different material, "Aodamo"!

I used to hear it a lot, but I wonder if anyone still uses it these days?

The appearance of the blue damovat
Characteristics of blue ash
The manufacturing process of Aodamo
The charm of blue damovat
Care and maintenance for your blue damobat
The future of Aodamovat
summary

The appearance of the blue damovat

Ash

While maple and ash are the mainstream materials for baseball bats in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, Aodamo (ash) has established its place in Japan. This unique material choice is closely related to Japan's geography, environment, and culture.

The blue ash tree is native to the cold regions of northern Japan, and due to its hardness and durability it has traditionally been used as a material for farm tools, furniture, etc. It is only relatively recently that its strength and beautiful grain have led to its use as a material for baseball bats.

Characteristics of blue ash

The characteristics of Aodamo are its extremely high hardness and beautiful grain. These properties greatly influence its performance as a bat. Aodamo is much harder than other woods, so it absorbs the impact well when hitting and can transmit strong energy to the ball. As a result, a ball hit with a Aodamo bat flies at a faster speed than with other bats.

On the other hand, the grain of the Aodamo wood is very fine, which gives the bat a unique beauty. The fine grain gives the surface a smoothness that makes the bat feel good in your hand. It also has a deep color and a unique luster that is visually appealing.

The manufacturing process of Aodamo

Wooden bat_manufacturing process

The making of blue ash bats requires great care. Mature blue ash trees are first selected and then dried to ensure the right humidity for bat production. This drying process is very time consuming, but it helps the wood retain its strength and makes it less likely to split.

Next, the wood is turned and shaped on a lathe. In this process, the ratio of the handle and barrel is important to maintain the balance of the bat. By maintaining this ratio properly, the bat can achieve the weight balance and hitting power that the player desires. Finally, the surface is polished and finished, and a single blue damo bat is completed.

The charm of blue damovat

One of the reasons why players love Aodamo bats is the feel they give when hitting the ball. Aodamo is a very hard wood, so there is little vibration in the hitting area, and many players feel that the feeling of hitting the ball is clear. Another big attraction is that it is less likely to break than other woods. Its hardness and durability can be expected to improve the ball's hitting speed and distance.

In addition, the beauty of the Aodamo bat is also a big attraction. The deep color and fine grain give the bat a unique beauty and texture. For players, the bat is not just a tool, but a part of self-expression, and its beauty brings more confidence to the player's play.

Precautions and maintenance for blue damobats

Maintenance of Aodamovat

However, due to its hardness, blue ash wood has the disadvantage that it is easily damaged if it dries out too much. To solve this problem, regular oil maintenance is required. This will prevent the wood from drying out too much and keep it in good condition.

It is also important to pay attention to the direction of the wood grain when using it, as the internal structure of Aodamo wood is unidirectional, so by checking the direction of the grain and using the bat accordingly, you will be able to get the most out of it.

The future of Aodamovat

The blue ash bat is favored by many players for its performance and beauty, and it occupies an important position in the baseball world. Blue ash is grown in Japan, and the bats are also manufactured domestically, reducing the environmental impact and contributing to the revitalization of local industries.

And as the sustainable management and use of blue ash continues, the blue ash bat will continue to be a part of the baseball world. Through sustainable forest management and material use, the bond between baseball and Japan's forests will be further deepened, and the blue ash bat will play an important role as part of that.