| Ray |
Hello! Ray DeMarini here. Let's talk! Questions about hitting? Softball strategy? |
| Mike Estep |
Can you recommend a device to measure bat-speed? |
| John Heitkemper |
Ray, when is your TV show going to air again in Oregon? |
| John Murray |
Ray, light vs heavy bat. I use a 33 oz bat. everyone says its to heavy. I hit .650 to .700 |
| Ray |
Mike, I have used a variety of devices. To me the most critical aspect of such a device is consistency. The machine with the greatest consistency is made by a company in portland, or called sports star. The problem is the cost is like $150. |
| John Heitkemper |
Ray, when is your TV show going to air again in Oregon? |
| Ray |
John, light vs. heavy. The 33 is WAY to heavy unless you are over 500lbs in the bench and are an absolute monster! The key to all high tech bats (of every mfg) is deflect, that is the ability to cave in the alloy and let the ball spring . The lighter the bat, the greater the collision, the more the deflection in the alloy and the more performance you will receive. I have found the 28 ounce works for most everyone. stay right in that range and you can't go wrong, 26, 27, 28 , or if you have to a 29. Heavier than that, you had better have some serious size and leverage! |
| Ray |
John, it airs on prime time northwest on sunday nights at 4:30. The show runs on your local prime affiliate all around the USA at various times. |
| Mitch Kramer |
Hello, I was wondering if you could help me find that perfect bat size and weight for a person of my size. I am 6'2" and weigh about 160 lbs. |
| Ray |
John, on the subject of bat weight and your hitting performance: I have found that FAR more important than bat speed before hitting the ball is maintaining bat speed AS you go through the ball. Example: I swing around 95MPH. As I make contact with the ball and immediately after, my bat speed goes down into the 56 MPH range. The key to hitting perfromance is keeping that number high. For me, I am working very hard at improving my follow through to get me in the 65MPH range. That will equate to many, many feet on the ball. FINISHING YOUR SWING is the most important aspect of your ability to drive the ball at your full potential. I have also found that people that generally prefer heavier bats do not have a good follow through so they need the mass to help them. What ever weight you use remember this: ACCELERATE THE BAT THROUGH THE BALL! |
| David Hogard |
Ray, what brand or type of softball do you prefer to hit and can you explain |
|
Ray, I play slo-pitch in Canada and organize a league. Both the major Canadian slo-pitch organizations have banned the double wall bet - the reason, I'm told, is that no one knows what substance the wall are made of, and unless they can prove they are not titanium they will not approve them for safety reasons. Do you have any reports available on the testing of these bats & what they're made of? |
| Linda |
Sorry, I'm the nameless slo-pitch player in Canada - logged in wrong - oops! |
| SysAd |
Oh, thanks Linda. Glad to have you here! |
| Mark |
Ray - When using the hand over hand grip, how do you maintain bat control? |
| Mike Estep |
Ray, can you contrast your pre-1.2 bpf double wall bats and the double walls that now conform to the 1.2 bpf? I saw a claim by someone on another web page who sells equipment that says the new double walls are not as "hot" as the old ones, nor the TPS no |
| Ray |
David, great question! I test bats every day and make it a point to use every ball on the market for testing. I am NOT affiliated with any ball mfg so I am speaking from the facts I have found. If I have my choice, I am taking a Legend. You may not ever have heard of this brand from Tennessee. They are GREAT balls! Why ... they stay liveley, but most important, they are EASY on bats. Somehow, these guys have figured a way to get the great performance of the best of balls without being so hard as to destroy bats. I really love this ball! Right in there of course, is the Dudley Heat, the new Worth super dot and the very excellent STAR ball. You can't go wrong with any of these choices, but check out the LEGEND for bat life. Have fun ... hit HARD!! |
| Ray |
Linda, I can assure you that NONE of my bats have EVER been constructed of any titanium alloy! I believe that the CSA will adopt performance standars for 1997 similiar to the USSSA standards in the USA. Why they would ban the bat, I have no idea. I know there is tons of erroneous info floating around about the DeMarini double wall bat. The simple facts are: the ball comes off the bat at the same velocity as my single wall bats. What makes the bat superior is the gigantic sweet spot, NOT increased performance. This has been documented by New York University on numerous occasions. The bat IS superior. But the reason is a single wall bat has a 1/2 inch sweet spot (meaning you have to hit the ball in that 1/2 inch area to achieve your maximum distance). The double wall has a 5 inch sweet spot! That is what makes it superior. Again, I feel confident that CSA will adopt standards ... the double wall WILL pass. Thanks Linda. Have fun! |
| Linda |
Thanks Ray. Is there anywhere I can get a copy of the documents by New York University, to send them to the "powers-that-be" ? |
| Ray |
Mark, I love that 'hand over' grip but I NEVER recommend it to anyone. It is really hard to use effectively. I adopted it because of my short stature. I have NO leverage at all! Using that grip in effect makes the bat longer in my hand. I need that badly! It was something that worked for me right away. It just feels natural to me. Remember though, that if you insist on using it, control IS an issue. I recommend you get VERY strong in your hands. I really hate to see you use it though, it is hard to do effectively! If you are 5 foot 6inches or so, OK, try it, If you're taller I'm not sure what it buys you compared to what it costs. |
| Ray |
Linda, I have authorized the CSA to receive access to this proprietary info from NYU. They know what is going on, they are simply formulating their standards based upon all the info they are now acquiring. |
| System Admin |
OK, kids-- clearing the screen to enhance refresh time (in 2 mins). Chat is still in session. |
| SysAd |
Shoot out a question, Joe. There are 2 or 3 ahead of you. |
| Mike Estep |
One more double wall question: Is there a preferred temperature range they should be used in? |
| Ray |
Mike, great question! This is a 'touchy' issue but here is MY take: Basically, the BPF 1.20 standard allows all the great performance that you're used to. None of the bats that were sold to the public in the 90's exceed this standard OTHER than titantium. I feel this standard is EXACTLY what the sport needs and that the standard is perfect ... allows all the great performance to hit missiles and bombs, but does not allow the ridiculous performance of the titantium bats now NOTapproved. To answer your question, my double wall c405 model right now is superior to ANY double wall I have ever made. It is right on the line of bpf standard and has proven itself over and over on the field!. My early double walls had a GREAT sound, they tinged and sounded like titantium. That caused me lots of problems with the assosciation. They thought they were ti (they NEVER were) and some people feel to this day they were better. Believe me, they weren't or I 'd still be using the original double wall configuration. The 96's are better.Thanks for the question! |
| Ray |
Mike: i will answer that question generally - you are asking for trouble with any CU31 or C405 bat under sixty degrees. The bats are cut thin to approach the max on the BPF, they can get tempermental below 60 degrees. If you have power approaching 300 feet and beyond be careful. A GREAT tip for bat longevity - rotate the bat 1/4 inch after every swing in batting practice. You will spread the load around the entire barrel and significantly increase the life of the bat ... and you will REMOVE smaller dents and 'wavy' spots. Rotate the BAT! And under 60, watch it closely. |
| Ray |
Somebody must have a question about weight training for more hitting power ... so much to be gained ... ask me! |
| Mike Estep |
Uh...ok. Ray, do have a weight training regimen for more hitting power? |
| SysAd |
Mike's cool. |
| SysAd |
Is Joseph still here? How's about a Q? |
| Ray |
Mike - yes, yes, yes. You can read about all the regular stuff in the magazines that everybody does so I won't waste your time with those. There are some exercises that the public seems to have forgotten. They are too hard ... but they work! My number one exercise for increasing power is DIPS. Use a dip station and start with just your body. When you can do 12 or 15 reps with just your body weight, get a weight belt that allows you to attach wieght plates to the belt and go to it. Of course, you have to go slow, You are NOT going to start doing dips tommorrow and suddenly be able to do wighted dips with 100 lbs. It takes time. Lots of time. but your goal should be at least to strap on 75 lbs and do six reps. You will NOT believe what this will do for your power. I have tracked my hitting performance and there is a direct correlation to my dip performance translating to distance on the field. I am at 110lbs right now and by next spring I hope to be at 135lbs. All I can tell you about this exercise is since i've done it I just keep hitting further and further. I am NOT stopping. They are difficult to do. They hurt. They WORK!!. Another great exercise is bent over rows with dumbbells and weighted chin ups. You use lots of back muscles to hit. These exercises work. |
| System Admin |
Any last minute questions? We're a-gonna shut this thing down in about 5 mins. |
| Ron Codi |
Ray great idea |
| Linda |
Just want to thank Ray - this was a great idea - being able to talk to the manufacturer directly. I enjoy your newsgroup too! Thanks Ray - keep up the good work!! |
| System Admin |
Hey, Linda-- be sure to come back for our next chat in September. And tell your friends!@ |