How to Tape a Baseball Bat Properly

Taping a baseball bat handle is an easy process.

Baseball players tape their bats for a number of reasons. Athletic tape applied to baseball bat handles increases the batters' grip strength, and thick tape can absorb some of the shock created when the bat makes contact with a pitch, which reduces the amount of sting transmitted to batters' hands. Additionally, taping a wooden bat's "sweet spot," the thickest part of the bat, can extend its lifespan.

Things You'll Need

• Sand paper
• Ruler
• Athletic tape

Instructions

1. Sand the handle of the baseball bat to remove any residue glue left over from old tape.

2. Measure five inches of tape and wrap the handle twice above the knob.

3. Roll out four more inches of tape and place the end at a 10-degree angle over the tape you applied in the last step.

4. Apply the tape to the handle, maintaining a constant 10-degree angle so the tape spirals up the length of the handle, smoothing the tape as you go along.

5. Stop when you have covered 14 inches of the handle and cut the tape.

6. Measure five inches of tape and wrap the handle twice where the spiral tape ends.

References

• Lehigh Valley Batworks: Bat Anatomy
• Big League Edge: Caring For Your Bat
• Sports Comet: How to tape a baseball bats handle , making X's (like Barry bonds bat)?