In this blog, I would provide you the pros and cons of using the BBCOR bats in winters. As you would know, best bbcor bat on the market are baseball bats that have been confirmed by NFHS & NCAA to be used in high school and collegiate baseball games.
These bats can be made of composite, aluminium or wood and have passed rigorous standards for trampoline effect and adhere to the BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) standards.
While playing with a BBCOR bat in cold weather, you should consider the following important factors:
• During winters, there is problem in hitting the ball with composite or aluminium bats. And the problem isn't entirely due to the bat's construction but, instead, the problem is with the density of a cold baseball or softball. As the temperatures drop, a baseball or softball becomes denser and less flexible.
• In low temperatures, the air inside the bat expands and become more pressurized, which increases the springiness of the bat. It is similar to how a car tyre expands in the summer and compresses more in the winter.
• Using BBCOR bats whether composite or aluminium at temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit might lead to problems. For example, your bat may just crack up, splinter, or shatter into pieces while coming in contact with the ball.
• The stiffness of the bat is almost 1% higher at zero degrees than at room temperatures, which increases the chances of damage to the bat.
• Warm air is less dense than cold air, so the ball is carried much farther in warm weather. The ball is harder and less springy in cold weather just like our muscles may become tighter and less flexible in the cold. So, in a cold weather, you might find it difficult to hit over the fence.
• Varying temperatures have an effect on the baseballs also As it gets colder, the ball becomes denser, and, thus increases the risk of dents and other damage to the aluminium alloy bats over time In that case, you might have to wait until the temperature gets over 60 degrees.
Therefore, you may prefer to use a wood bat when it is cold as it seems to get less stiff than metal ones at cold temperatures. Though someone has rightly said that if you can hit it out, it really does not make any difference which weather you are playing in.
But you can definitely refer to the guidelines listed in this blog while planning to organize a match with your team in the cold weather and avoid getting your BBCOR bat getting damaged due to the drop in temperatures. All the best!
