Location of Ball Marks on Bats

[flota89]

Just curious, where should most of the ball marks be on a bat. In particular, a right handed batter to a left handed batter. Will the ball marks be in a different spot. Thanks!

[gameused]

Just curious, where should most of the ball marks be on a bat. In particular, a right handed batter to a left handed batter. Will the ball marks be in a different spot. Thanks!

It all depends on the batter. Some hit with the center brand facing up and other with the center brand down. Some batters don't face the center brand a certain way and those bats should have use around the entire barrel.

Bobby

[Birdbats]

And don't forget that maple bats in 2009 had the center brands applied 90 degrees from where they used to be in an effort to trick players into hitting the balls with the flat side of the grain vs. the edge (the theory being balls would travel just as far but bats wouldn't break as much). Of course, many players just turned the bat 90 degrees, so guys who used to have ball marks on the top (RH hitter's side) now have them on the back, opposite the center brand.

That aside, I've noticed many pitchers' bats have marks on the back of the bat (on ash bats) because they like to bunt and bunting with that part of the bat deadens the ball more. Either that or pitchers just don't know how to hold a bat.

[kylehess10]

A smart thing to do is to simply watch a game or two and pay attention to the angle the player (whoever you're looking for) hold their bat during each at-bat. I've seen plenty of players act OCD at the plate and they make sure their bat is held at the same exact angle before every pitch.

[rjdgonebats]

The general Rule of Thumb isfor a left handed batter the ball marks should fall mainly under the name on the barrel and for a right handed batter on the top of the name on the barrel. Again just a rule of thumb. Hope this helps.