[Introduction of memory foam bats] Will high school students really start using wooden bats in games?
Hello! This is Amazing Baseball Partners!
Starting this year, low-rebound bats will finally be fully introduced in high school baseball.
It will be interesting to see how memory rebound bats, which are rumored to have significantly less flight distance than traditional metal bats, will change baseball in the future!
Meanwhile, it is said that "wooden bats," which are said to fly further than memory foam bats, may become the primary bat used by some high school students.
In this article, I would like to answer the question, "Will high school students start using wooden bats?" in my own words!
About the author of this blog: 
Name: Par-nii, product development manager at Amazing Co., Ltd. Played for Hirakata Boys, Chiben Wakayama, Kansai University and other strong teams in the Kansai region.
He has an unusual career history, having worked as a Shinkansen conductor and for a glove manufacturer.
His favorite tools are gloves and bamboo bats, and his hobby is weight training.
Let me get straight to the point.
table of contents
- 2024 low-rebound bat introduction
- Which flies better, metal or wood?
- What are the benefits of using a wooden bat?
- What are the disadvantages of using a wooden bat?
- What wooden bat do you recommend?
- What's next for high school baseball?
20% off sale on wooden bats for high school students to use in games
Amazing the store is currently running a limited time 20% off sale on the BFJ marked hard wooden bat "ULTIMUS"!
*A certain NPB player is scheduled to use it in official matches starting this year.
▼More details here
https://shop.amazing-baseball.com/pages/ultimus
2024 low-rebound bat introduction
As has been widely reported in the media, low-rebound bats will be introduced in high school baseball starting with this spring's selection tournament.
What is a memory foam bat?
The new standard for memory bats set by the Japan High School Baseball Federation is thinner and thicker than current bats, with a lower rebound that will slow down the ball's speed , making it closer to a wooden bat.
Let's take another look at the specifications of the new standard hard metal bats.
- The maximum diameter of metal bats will be reduced from less than 67 mm to less than 64 mm.
- The thickness of the hitting area is 3 to 4 mm or more, and the weight is maintained at 900 grams or more.
The aim is to dampen the trampoline effect and reduce the ball's speed.
It is said that this memory-rebound bat has a significantly reduced flying distance compared to conventional bats, and in games where memory-rebound bats have been used, there has been a clear decrease in long hits, and it is said that baseball will change as it has been played up until now.
Which flies better, metal or wood?
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the question of whether wooden bats fly further.
Up until now, people have been saying that it would be better to use a wooden bat, because it would help players learn the correct swing, but...
It is said that if wooden bats fly better, then more high school baseball teams will likely choose wooden bats in order to win.
In fact, which one flies better, metal or wood?
Personally, I felt that the wooden bat flew further. (After actually comparing the two)
I haven't tested it in detail, so it's just a gut feeling, but wooden bats fly further.
And once you start using a wooden bat as your main bat, you will no longer be hitting with a metal bat, and you will start swinging using the unique flexibility of a wooden bat.
Personally, I think that using a wooden bat will help the ball fly further and develop in a more flighty way.
What are the benefits of using a wooden bat?
There are two advantages to using a wooden bat.
The first is to improve my batting.
Due to the nature of metal bats, the core is large, so even if the bat is a little clogged or the tip is too tight, you can still hit a home run.
On the other hand, if you remove the core from a wooden bat, the ball won't really fly.
This will greatly improve your ability to hit the core.
Since it has less resilience than a metal bat, you swing it using the flexibility of the bat.
This flexibility is the technique that produces a strong swing , so using a wooden bat will naturally improve your batting.
The second benefit is that it makes you more likely to catch the eye of scouts.
In the world of professional baseball, even if a player has high ability in high school, if he lacks ambition he will stop practicing after becoming a professional and will not achieve success.
It has been said in recent years that people began to look at what kind of player a player is as a person during their amateur years.
By using wooden bats from high school age, you can improve your evaluation in points other than ability, such as "high ambition" and "high awareness." (The same goes for university and working scouts.)
The third advantage is that you can use a lighter bat .
According to the high school baseball equipment regulations, metal bats must weigh more than 900g.
There is no such regulation for wooden bats.
This allows lighter bats to be used in games.
However, if the bat is too light, it will lose power, so we recommend using a bat that weighs 860-870g.
Check the size of the bat
https://shop.amazing-baseball.com/pages/ultimus
What are the disadvantages of using a wooden bat?
There are two disadvantages to using a wooden bat.
The first is that it doesn't fly very far for players who don't have a high flying distance .
If you hit the ball poorly with a wooden bat, it won't fly very far.
For those who usually practice with metal bats and use wooden bats in games,
Please be careful as they definitely won't fit.
Metal bats will fly no matter how you hit them,
There is a specific way of hitting with a wooden bat that is suited to it, so if you want to use one in a game, you should practice with a wooden or bamboo bat first!
Another problem is that it can break.
Because it is made of natural materials, even a brand new bat can break on the first pitch if it is hit in the wrong place.
If your swing is bad, the ball may break even if you hit it close to the ground.
If you use it for a match, it will be an expensive product.
What wooden bat do you recommend?
Wooden bats vary in hardness depending on the type of wood.
Since the feel of the hit varies greatly depending on the hardness, we do not recommend using a bat made of a wood that does not suit a sensitive batter.
It is said that high school students who are used to the hard feel of metal bats are suited to bats made of hard wood.
Therefore, we recommend maple bats, which are said to be used by more than 80% of professional baseball players in Japan.
It is said that the colder the maple bat is produced, the tighter the flesh will be, and the greater its rebound power will be.
Therefore, if you are looking for a wooden bat for a match, we recommend using a bat made of North American maple, although it is a bit more expensive.
▼ North American maple bats are available here
https://shop.amazing-baseball.com/pages/ultimus
What's next for high school baseball?
Finally, regarding the future of high school baseball,
I think we will see fewer scenes like the ones we've seen up until now, where characters risk their lives in the battle before their eyes.
I believe that the memorable high school baseball scenes that have made our hearts beat faster were all made possible by the use of flying metal bats.
Because some bats fly further than expected, the game often turns into a seesaw battle that takes an unexpected turn, and as a result, it's thrilling for the spectators.
The high school students who actually played were at risk of injury.
I believe that the introduction of memory foam bats will give players more options to continue playing baseball well into the future than ever before.
So I think it’s a good initiative for the field.
On the other hand, I wonder if there is a possibility that baseball fans will start to lose interest in baseball if the games continue to be a bit disappointing.
Whatever the outcome, I hope that this will be a positive change for the future of baseball!
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▼TSUMADACHI
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