Are bamboo bats ok? What about maple/bamboo hybrid? I know maple and ash are ok but i've seen alot of these other ones for a good price and wanted to see if they are ok before I purchase them
I looked this up recently. As I read the League rules (see below), bamboo is permitted in 45+ and 55+ divisions only. My impression is that a hybrid or composite bat, including those that use bamboo, are also permitted in 45+ and 55+ divisions (although if anyone can confirm this last point, please do). Here's what the rules (there's a link on the league home page) say:
6-2: Bats
All Divisions: Wood bat only.
18+ Division: Major League Baseball approved bats only.
33+ Division: Major League Baseball approved bats only.
45+ Division: Bats must meet Major League Baseball specifications as to size and dimensions but can be all one piece wood or an all-wood laminate. No metal, fiberglass, plastic or man-made products are allowed. Tape and gripping materials are allowed. Bamboo and other non-tree sourced plant materials are allowed.
55+ Division: Bats must meet Major League Baseball specifications as to size and dimensions but can be all one piece wood or an all-wood laminate. No metal, fiberglass, plastic or man-made products allowed. Tape and gripping materials are allowed. Bamboo and other non-tree sourced plant materials are allowed.
What confuses me is this the first line of the rules states 1 "ALL DIVISIONS WOOD BATS ONLY!"
but then the rules contradicts the main part of the rules by saying "but can be all one piece wood or an all-wood laminate. No metal, fiberglass, plastic or man-made products are allowed. Bamboo and other non-tree sourced plant materials are allowed.
This would definitely eliminate composite bats
SO WHY PUT IN THE RULES- ALL DIVISIONS WOOD BATS ONLY? this is a wooden bat league not a bamboo league correct? whether there is an advantage in using one over the other is a huge debate, some readings state there is a difference some readings state there is not much a difference
We play by MLB rules in the 18+ and 33+ Divisions re: bats. MLB does not approve the use of bamboo, so bamboo cannot be used in the 18 and 33 Divisions per their rule. The key to the MLB rule is that the bat must be "one piece of solid wood.'' Since bamboo is hollow, strips must be pressed together to form a bat. So, in essence, bamboo is not "one piece of solid wood.''
This is the MLB rule: 1.10 (a) The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood. NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture. ...
The GMs in the 45 and 55 Divisions voted to allow bamboo. As stated in the CDMSBL rules, no metal, fiberglass, plastic or man-made products are allowed. Tape and gripping materials are allowed. Bamboo and other non-tree sourced plant materials are allowed. Bamboo is merely a non-tree sourced plant material (basically a type of grass).
In our rule where it says "ALL DIVISIONS WOOD BATS ONLY,'' we basically are saying no materials that are man-made, i.e., metal ...
Hope this doesn't make it more confusing. Thnx. JimK
