Bat regulations (for aluminum bats)

[tallguy]

I was wondering if we should agree on some regulations for bat, since there is a wide variety available, some supposed improving performance significantly.
While it is probably not important to look at length, or those super-duper construction features that can add $50-100 to the cost, we might want to specify a minimum weight. Otherwise someone could use an ultralight, little-league type bat, get really high bat speed and possibly injure the pitcher, not to mention artificially improve their chances of an extra-base hit.
We mostly seem to use -3, maybe we should follow the college leagues' lead and adopt that as our minimum weight ratio. If you want to keep the weight down, you have to get a shorter bat, so the bat speed advantage you gain is probably made up for by reduced reach and turning moment (that's torque to you Yanks).
Wood bats I think we can keep unregulated, even those weird composite
ones.
Thoughts?

[TheLegend]

I think -3 is a perfectly good standard for aluminum bats. I think that's what all our bats are anyway... so it shouldn't be an issue... but it would make sense to add it to the rules page.

I don't know enough about wood bats to say anything of importance on that point.

[retep]

Don't tell Scott. He may still use that little green bat!

Personaly, i'm not that worried. A strong hitter uses a heavier bat anyway

[Dave L]

Otherwise someone could use an ultralight, little-league type bat, get really high bat speed and possibly injure the pitcher, not to mention artificially improve their chances of an extra-base hit.

Or some particularly inscrupulous person could use a thin, light fungo type bat?!

[Rob C]

Lets remember these are pick-up games, not leagues. I'd say let guys play with whatever bat they want to play with. Keep it simple. The fewer the rules, the better.

[retep]

I agree.

[Southpaw Slim]

As far as wooden bats are concerned, I use a $20 Rawlings bat. I've only broken one in 2 years. I even hit sharp golf-ball-and-smaller-sized rocks with one for 2-3 hours with no splintering or cracking. Those are cool to hit, cuz they whir as they fly.