4 Tips for Cold Weather and Bats

"99% of the bats that crack are in the fall and spring, I get maybe one in the summer weeks. When someone says their bat has cracked I go and check the temps in the area and almost all of the time the temps are too low. " -Big Dawg

There have been scientific studies done by Worth Sports and their data is interesting. Balls were tested at 72 degrees and they found that for every 1 degree the compression changed by 5lbs. So moving down the scale from 72 degrees a ball would perform better and moving up the scale it would perform worse. That is why in the spring and fall the ball seems to jump off the bat more and in the hot summer your bat seems to loose pop.

The relationship between cold weather and bats is a double-edged sword. Let me first define what cold weather is; temperatures below 65 degrees. The relationship between cold weather and bats is a double-edged sword. The ball will jump off the bats faster in cold weather because the cold temperature makes a ball denser. The ball makes the bat flex more because of the hardness, causing more trampoline effect. The extreme flex can also cause a bat to crack prematurely.

Any composite bat is more likely to break in cold weather, and we do not recommend use in cold weather, nor do the bat manufacturers. A bat warmer will help, but the balls are the real culprit. Going for batting practice on a day of 70 degrees seems excellent. Still, if those balls were kept in the garage or trunk overnight with 45-degree temperatures, you will be in trouble. Even with the warnings and recommendations from bat companies and here at Big Dawg, people will still go out and use bats in cold weather. During the spring and fall, we will get some bat-breaking complaints, and when the temperatures are checked, it has been under 65 degrees in their area. It isn’t always shaved bats that people are asking about; rolled bats or unaltered will break just the same. I broke a Z series bat in the batting cage over the winter (clean in half). I had made sure the balls I brought were kept inside my house, but one of my teammates brought his bag of balls left in his trunk. There were plenty of other bats used, but I should have known not to pull out the Louisville Slugger because they have a reputation to break easily in any weather.

1 Do not use bats in cold weather under 65 degrees
2 Store your balls in a warm place; not your trunk, basement or garage.
3 A bat warmer will help but cold balls can still break bats
4 Do not use your best bat in cold weather

4 Cold Weather and Bat Tips

Good and Bad of Bats and Cold Weather