| If you've ever been in the market for a bat rolling | | | | across a site that claims their new higher priced |
| machine I'm sure you've found that there are | | | | rollers have special bearings. They use big names |
| several sites out there that other similar products. | | | | like "Thrust Bearings" and "Radial Bearings". It |
| Each one of them trying to sell you their product | | | | doesn't matter. These big names just give them |
| and of course they all point out features of their | | | | a reason to be able to charge you more money |
| roller that are different (and better) than the | | | | for something that you don't really need. |
| competitor. I'll try to clear the air of some of the | | | | Roller Materials - What's the deal? |
| important features you need to be concerned | | | | Again you'll see some different material claims |
| with and those that really don't matter. | | | | being offered by different manufacturers. Most |
| Perpendicular or Parallel Rolling Machine? | | | | manufactures will use a high impact Polyethylene |
| I've been rolling bats for over 5 years now. The | | | | material or nylon which has a hardness of Shore |
| first bat rolling machines (in their current design) | | | | D 68. These are roughly the hardness of a golf |
| were developed about 5-6 years ago. All of the | | | | ball. This material provides great wear resistance |
| first bat rollers were of the Perpendicular style | | | | which equates to little need to ever replace them |
| and roll the bat length wise up and down the | | | | because of wear and tear. Some claim their rollers |
| barrel. A couple years ago the Parallel roller was | | | | are precision machined for more consistency. |
| developed and now everyone has followed suit. | | | | Again this is just a sales pitch and gives them |
| Listen clearly here.. The parallel roller was ONLY | | | | another reason to charge you more money. If |
| designed to speed up the rolling process. It DOES | | | | you can find a reputable company that offers you |
| NOT do a better job rolling. You'll read that parallel | | | | a lifetime warranty and is willing to work with you |
| rolling is needed in conjunction with perpendicular | | | | then there is absolutely no need to worry about |
| rolling because it hits spots that the where missed | | | | what type of roller material is being used. |
| by the perpendicular roller. Simply put, it is NOT | | | | Bat Roller Patents - What's the truth? |
| TRUE. I've been rolling bats for 5+ years and | | | | I'm only including this information because it's being |
| we've rolled bats every possible way and | | | | used by some as a deterrent to convince you to |
| Perpendicular rolling gives you the same results | | | | purchase their unit vs. others on the market. The |
| that Parallel rolling or a combination of Parallel | | | | truth to this is that most likely a patent will never |
| Perpendicular does. There is really no need to | | | | be issued on this type of product. There are a |
| spend the extra money on an already overpriced | | | | couple reasons it will be rejected. The main |
| parallel roller. I recently communicated to a new | | | | reason is that the company that applied for the |
| bat rolling company and asked them why they | | | | patent is not the first to market a bat rolling |
| preferred Perpendicular followed by Parallel and | | | | machine (or the control compression method). |
| what they told was VERY surprising. They told | | | | This has been around for many years in many |
| me they used this method because they DIDN'T | | | | different forms. Their patent application was |
| know how to roll a bat Perpendicular correctly to | | | | submitted in early 2008 and one of the biggest |
| ensure complete coverage so they used the | | | | reasons for rejections is that you CAN NOT have |
| Parallel method to basically clean up what they | | | | a patent for things that have already been on the |
| missed. My point is, if you find a company that | | | | market prior to the patent being submitted. Since |
| knows what they are doing and is willing to take | | | | this patent was submitted in 2008 and there are |
| their time and not just make a quick buck. They | | | | photos of "controlled compression" devices dating |
| can give you the BEST roll via the Perpendicular | | | | back to 2005 available for view on the internet. It |
| method. | | | | would reason that these devices have been |
| Roller Sizes - What is the optimal size? | | | | around long before any patent application was |
| This paragraph only applies if you've made the | | | | submitted. This will make it an easy decision to |
| choice to go with a parallel roller. From what I've | | | | the US Patent Office. In fact I believe the |
| seen there are 3 different designs of Parallel | | | | company that submitted the patent request has |
| Rollers on the market. The roller sizes range from | | | | already received the initial rejection to their |
| 6-7 inches in length. Most slowpitch and fastpitch | | | | request. If you want to take the time you can do |
| softball bats will have at least a 10" barrel. With | | | | some research yourself and find the status of the |
| this being said, it DOES NOT matter whether you | | | | patent and see the reasons for the rejection. You |
| use a roller with a 6 or 7 inch roller. Either way | | | | have no reason to worry about support or |
| you will still be able to adequately roll your bat. | | | | warranties from other companies offering similar |
| You'll read that the 6" rollers are better because | | | | products as they WILL NOT be effected by |
| then allow the composite to flex more than the 7' | | | | these claims. Again it's simply a sales pitch to |
| rollers. Again this is NOT TRUE and should not be | | | | steer you into buying their units. |
| factored in when making your decision on which | | | | In summary, we recommend you purchase your |
| roller to purchase. | | | | next bat rolling machine from a company that |
| Bearings - What type is the correct type? | | | | gives you REAL information and not a sales pitch. |
| This information may be more than most people | | | | If a company is charging you extra for this |
| will understand but I'll include it anyway. You'll see | | | | upgrade and that upgrade when in fact there |
| many different terms thrown around when it | | | | reason is no measurable difference in product you |
| comes to the type of bearings that each machine | | | | have to ask yourself is this an honest company? |
| uses and how their type is better than the next. | | | | If they aren't willing to give you honest |
| The truth is that you should be looking for a unit | | | | information (regardless of what they offer) then |
| that uses good quality sealed bearing that is | | | | what makes you think they'll be around when you |
| lubricated. The last thing you want to get is a unit | | | | have problems or questions. Most reputable |
| that requires you to lubricate your bearings in | | | | companies will respond to your email questions in |
| order for smooth operation. I recently came | | | | a timely manner and give you honest information. |