How to Doctor a Softball Bat
When it comes to softball bats, the term "doctoring" refers to making modifications to the bat itself in order to improve performance. Basically, when you doctor a bat you increase the flexibility of the material, and it creates a trampoline effect when ball and bat meet. This results in more distance and more consistent outcomes. There are a couple of effective doctoring techniques for softball bats called shaving and rolling that are commonly used to increase a bat's performance.
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Instructions
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Shaving
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1
Remove the end cap of your softball bat. You can use a small, flat screwdriver, chisel or other tool that you can fit into the opening and pry it loose.
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2
Place the bat on the spinning part of a standard lathe. Ensure that it is secure and will not fly off while you are shaving it.
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3
Insert a boring bar into the barrel of the bat to remove a very fine amount of material from the inner walls. Removing too much will damage the bat. Consult a professional if you are unsure of how much material to remove.
Rolling
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4
Secure your softball bat between the two rollers of a bat-rolling machine. The barrel should fit evenly between the rollers.
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5
Apply pressure to the bat by tightening the nuts on top of the machine. Turn each nut three or four times to get the right amount of pressure.
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6
Turn the lever at the end of the machine to roll the bat. Consult the instructions with the machine, or consult a professional bat roller to determine how many rolls are right for your bat.
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Tips & Warnings
It is wise to seek out professionals for both doctoring methods. It is easy to remove too much material or use too much pressure and damage your bat.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit girl playing softball image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
