batting cages - aluminum bats

[Patrick425]

I hear all sorts of conflicting stories regarding the use of aluminum bats in batting cages, especially the batting cages that use the dimpled balls. Are the dimpled balls bad for aluminum bats? Do aluminum bats have only so many hits in them before they begin to weaken and therefore should not be used in the batting cage at all (whether it's a regular ball or dimpled ball?).

 

I coach a baseball team and we have access to batting cages once a week. The machines use the dimpled balls. Some parents are concerned about this and will not let their son's use their normal bats. I'm getting my son a new bat for Christmas and I know he is going to want to use it right away. Should I have any worries?

 

Couldn't find a whole lot on the internet about it, but I found this message board. The opinions seem to be all over the place:

 

http://www.stevepinto.com/Baseball_Equipment/Baseball_Bat/4585.html

[Houlie24x]

Aluminum bats last a long time so I doubt using it in the cages is much of an issue. Aluminum bats lose their "pop" over time regardless of where you use it, but the cage balls are probably slightly harder on them. If your son is real young it probably isn't an issue at all to use the bat in the cages. He will probably outgrow the bat before it loses any of its pop. Plus he probably won't be swinging at high speed pitches. If it's possible to find a bat that is the same in length and weight to use in the cages then I'd recommend doing that but it's probably not that big of a deal.

 

If you were buying a composite bat then definitely don't use it in a cage. They don't last as long.

[T B0NE 10]

We actually have a batting cage at my house. So im the summer I take about 100 swings a day.

 

DEFINATELY DO NOT USE A COMPOSITE BAT

 

I ruined two composite bats this way before realizing how stupid I was.

 

I don't even use my nice Aluminums in the cage anymore, I just use my crappy old bats.

[Patrick425]

The bat I'm looking at for my son is not a composite bat, but it is a bigger barrell senior level bat (2 5/8). It's a Dimarini, Voodoo Black with a -9 drop. It's fairly expensive ($250). I would assume that even though it's not a composit bat, I should still be concerned about using it with the dimpled balls because of the size of the barrell and the trampoline effect.

 

edit: Actually, this may be a composite bat. If you go tot he Dimarini site, and filter on composits, it does not show up, but if you look at the description of this bat a component of the bat as something called "Pitch black plus - Tightest and strongest composite combined with Silver Trace bonding agent, adds strength to maximize power transfer to the barrel for added performance" So, I'm not sure. Is it a composite?

 

http://www.demarini.com/demarini/product.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198674747208&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302760029

[Houlie24x]

That is a hybrid bat. The barrel is aluminum and the handle is composite. I would not use that in a cage.

[Buckylovesbeer]

I know most expensive softball bats come with a warning that the warranty is void if you use it with anything besides real softballs - i.e. in a cage. But this is a great topic....I too would love to know if that actually hurts a bats performance.

[T B0NE 10]

I know most expensive softball bats come with a warning that the warranty is void if you use it with anything besides real softballs - i.e. in a cage. But this is a great topic....I too would love to know if that actually hurts a bats performance.

I'm convinced it does.

 

I'd also advise to be safe than sorry when dealing with bats that can be over 300 bucks too.

[jwill535]

Do not use any of your nice softball bats at batting cages that use anything other then softballs. The yellow dimple balls are a hard plastic that doesnt give and you are going to dent your bat in no time. If you really want to go to a cage, either use a bat they have there, or use the crappiest bat you have.

[dadofandrew]

I had no idea bats cost that much. Why do the cages use these strange balls?

[T B0NE 10]

I had no idea bats cost that much. Why do the cages use these strange balls?

Pitching machines can't throw regular balls. The balls they used are these dimpled ones. They also last longer I guess.

[Hammer]

NEVER NEVER NEVER use anything that is new or expensive for batting practice or in the cages. If you are hitting regular balls you can take a swing or two with your "game" bat but other than that use an old piece of crap that is the same weight.

[Patrick425]

dadofandrew[/b]]I had no idea bats cost that much. Why do the cages use these strange balls?

Pitching machines can't throw regular balls. The balls they used are these dimpled ones. They also last longer I guess.

Actually not all machines use the dimpled balls. There was an indoor place in Muskego, "Dingers", that had machines that threw regular baseballs. You could program the machines to throw curves, changeups, inside, outside, etc. They charge by time instead of using tokens. I think they are closed now, but they usually reopen before the spring. You can also purchase machines online that can be set up to throw real baseballs.

[dadofandrew]

Years ago, the cage I went to in EC used regular baseballs and softballs.

[mothershipconnection]

Was that Swing Right in Banbury Place, Al? I remember going to one like that growing up, but can't remember which one.

[dadofandrew]

Nope, right along Clairemont near Sacred Heart and the Pizza Hut.

[Bikeage77]

where are there indoor cages in milwaukee? burghardts has them I know, but do you have to be a member or in land o lakes or high school ball to use them? Grand Slam USA is closed last I checked, though they could be remodeling I guess. I know Carver Park has an indoor cage, but but again, dont know if you can only get in there with a league or county park membership.

[Patrick425]

where are there indoor cages in milwaukee? burghardts has them I know, but do you have to be a member or in land o lakes or high school ball to use them? Grand Slam USA is closed last I checked, though they could be remodeling I guess. I know Carver Park has an indoor cage, but but again, dont know if you can only get in there with a league or county park membership.

My son belongs to a youth baseball organization on Waukesha that rents it's own warehouse space and has set up some batting cages. Other than that, there is Hegan's Field of Dreams on Lincoln avenue (although, I heard a rumor that they closed or may just be shut down for the season...perhaps will reopen closer to spring?). Other places are Frozen Ropes in Menomonee Falls, World Class sports in Hartland, Nx level .

 

I'm not certain that all these places have open cage times, but you can call and find out.

 

There is also Dinger's in Muskego, but the site states it is currently closed. My guess is that it will reopen in February or March. Dingers is nice when it's open because it uses real baseballs.