I sometimes get asked if it's okay to use my own bat when going to a batting cage.
I think the question is essentially asking whether the bat will get damaged or not.
Whenever I'm asked this question, I always"There's no problem with a hardball bat, and while a softball bat might get a little damaged, the benefits of using it outweigh the drawbacks."That is their response.
This time, I will explain the reason for that.
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What are batting balls used in batting cages?
Many people have probably touched the balls used in batting cages; they are smooth and have a hard feel.
Unlike the M-type balls you normally use, this one is designed with durability in mind.
Since it will be used by many different customers repeatedly, if it's not made of something with sufficient durability, the store's costs will increase significantly.
Furthermore, the presence of seams can cause slight wobble when the machine launches the ball, disrupting control.
Furthermore, it seems that it can sometimes exhibit movement similar to a cut fastball or a two-seam fastball.
I looked up the weight of batting cage balls online, and it was 136 ± 1.8g (Naigai Rubber).
This ball has the same weight as the A ball, and is slightly lighter than the M ball (138g ± 1.8g).
However, regarding the materials, many places use urethane to increase durability.
It's a harder ball than a softball.
In other words, the balls used in batting cages are not as hard as baseballs, but they are harder than softballs.
How much damage will the bat sustain?
As mentioned earlier, since it's not as hard as a baseball, a baseball bat can be used without any problems.
If the bat is originally made for hitting hardballs, then the impact will be weaker than that of a hardball, so the bat shouldn't get particularly damaged.
However, with a bat designed for softballs, you'll be hitting a ball that's slightly harder than the intended hardness, so it's likely to wear out faster.
A soft baseball bat designed for M-balls would be somewhat better, as it's made to hit harder balls than A-balls.
Disadvantages of using a personal baseball bat
Although the rate at which it starts to hurt may vary, the more you hit with a bat, the more it gets damaged.
That's absolutely correct.
A brand new bat will likely hit the ball less far than a bat that has been used to hit 10,000 balls.
However, I don't think I could continue using the same bat long enough to clearly recognize that difference.
I think that usually, other parts of the bat, such as the grip, tend to deteriorate before the hitting surface.
Unless you're a professional, it's unlikely that you'd actually hit a bat hard enough to cause it to deteriorate, unlike wooden or bamboo bats.
Reasons why I still recommend using MyBat
I think a soft baseball bat will wear out quickly.
However, even so, it's very important to practice hitting with the same bat you use in a game.
Practice is more effective when conducted in an environment as similar as possible to the actual performance.
The bat, in particular, is the central tool for performing the delicate action of hitting.
You should use the same bat you use in games as much as possible to develop that feel.
If the bat is truly damaged, you can simply buy a new one; there's no need to compromise the quality of your practice.
The ideal bat to use at the batting cages
Ideally, you should have two identical bats: one for games and one for the batting cages.
However, realistically, I don't think there are many people who can invest that much.
If you're going to do that, you'll probably want to buy a different type of bat and try that instead.
Realistically speaking, it would be best to prepare another bat with similar specifications to your game bat and use them interchangeably for practice and games.
It would be financially difficult to acquire multiple bats with similar specifications, especially those made from materials that allow for greater distance, such as the so-called "Beyond Max" bats.
However, in my experience, I've never felt that my bats got that worn out at the batting cages, so I think you should just use them as much as you want without worrying too much.
バッティングセンターは「意味ない」のか
「ボールが違うから意味がない」「実戦の感覚と違う」という声を聞くことがあります。
確かに、ここまで書いてきた通り、ボールの重さ・硬さは実際のＭ球・Ａ球とは微妙に違うので、寸分違わぬ実戦の感覚を得られるわけではありません。
しかし、だからといって意味がないとは思いません。
球をしっかり「見る」「振る」「芯で捉える」という基本動作を反復できる環境として、バッティングセンターは十分に価値があると思います。
実戦で打席に立てる回数には限りがありますが、バッティングセンターならその何倍もの球数を、短時間で反復できます。
細かい感覚のズレを気にしすぎるよりも、まずは量をこなして基本動作を体に染み込ませる場所として活用するのが、現実的な向き合い方だと思います。