| Perpendicular Rolling | | | | better. |
| Perpendicular rolling is a process that rolls a softball | | | | Parallel Rolling |
| or baseball bat through two nylon or hard rubber | | | | Parallel rolling is a process that rolls the traditional |
| rollers (although one bat rolling manufacturer has | | | | sweet spot of the bat. As you could guess the |
| come out with a roller with a new superior type | | | | bat is placed parallel with the bat rollers. The |
| of material). This rolling process will roll the entire | | | | theory behind this is that the entire sweet spot of |
| length of the bat as it passes through the rollers | | | | the bat would be rolled with out missing any areas |
| on approximately a quarter inch line on both the | | | | within the sweet spot. Some bat rolling machine |
| top and bottom of the bat. The bat is rolled on | | | | builders have taken the idea a little too far by |
| 8-12 points around the bat which breaks in almost | | | | expanding the length of their rollers to encompass |
| the entire bat as it passes through the rolling | | | | almost the entire barrel. This type of bat roller is |
| machine. The bat will make a slight crunching | | | | destined to cause problems. The area that is |
| sound to an all out crackle and pop when going | | | | rolled is too large and will cause a decrease and an |
| through the rollers. The sound depends on the | | | | increase in pressure along the barrel. What do I |
| type of bat and the bat's thickness. If the bat has | | | | mean, you ask? The mechanics of a bat roller |
| a thinner wall the bat will tend to pop or crackle | | | | with longer rollers will not allow for consistent |
| sooner than a thicker walled bat. Certain bats can | | | | pressure points along the barrel. Depending where |
| take more pressure than others during rolling. The | | | | the mechanism is placed to tighten the rollers |
| key is to know how much pressure to place on | | | | down is where the most pressure will be on the |
| the bat or the thinner walled bats will break during | | | | bat and then diminish as it goes down the length |
| the bat rolling process. A Miken Freak, slowpitch | | | | of the bat. This means the composite will be |
| softball bat, is able to with stand a lot of pressure | | | | broken in more in certain spots and not in others. |
| and also needs that extra pressure to be fully | | | | Trying to break the bat in fully with a longer bat |
| broken in during rolling. TPS bats have a thinner | | | | rolling machine could compromise the integrity of |
| wall and need less pressure when rolling, too much | | | | the bat in certain areas. The rollers that surround |
| pressure will definitely break a bat in one pass | | | | the sweet spot only are shorter and have a small |
| going through perpendicularly. Only rolling | | | | disproportioned distribution of pressure which |
| perpendicular had been good enough in the past | | | | breaks in a bat more consistent. |
| and was the industry standard in the infancy of | | | | The parallel rolling machine should be used after it |
| rolling bats. That is until this past idea was | | | | is run through a perpendicular rolling machine. This |
| improved upon. Bat rolling perpendicular followed | | | | will allow the parallel rolling machine to break in any |
| by parallel creates Optimal Distance Results. | | | | spots the perpendicular rolling machine has missed. |
| | | | The peaks and valleys that were discussed earlier |
| The structure and design of composite bats | | | | will be flattened out by breaking up the resin and |
| facilitate this style of rolling to accomplish your | | | | glue in those areas. This is the most consistent |
| Optimal Distance Results. A Perpendicular roll | | | | and even rolling you can accomplish. As a stand |
| breaks laminate up in longways sections down the | | | | alone the parallel roller will work, as long as it has |
| length of the bat. And a perpendicular roll stresses | | | | the shorter rollers (5-6 inches, which is the length |
| the barrel about 1 1/2 inches length wise but | | | | of a sweet spot any longer causes undo stress). |
| width wise that number drops to just ¼ of | | | | The longer rollers will not roll a bat consistently |
| an inch. A softball bat is 7 inches around; to | | | | and there is the danger of breaking a bat with an |
| properly roll a any bat you would have to | | | | over zealous operator trying desperately to break |
| perpendicular roll on 26-28 spots around the bat. | | | | in the entire barrel the same. |
| Most would say that parallel rolling machines were | | | | With all that said, I would suggest getting your bat |
| created to hurry the rolling process and this could | | | | rolled with a parallel rolling machine with shorter |
| be true. I am positive the inventor of the first | | | | rollers which also does a perpendicular roll first. |
| parallel rolling machine did not realize perpendicular | | | | One company has 3 different types of rollers that |
| rolling should take that long for a proper roll but | | | | do this: the 200PCCR and the brand new |
| none the less they needed a faster rolling | | | | 300PCCR and 400PCCR. Go ahead and ask who |
| machine. This eagerness has vaulted the bat rolling | | | | ever does the rolling if this is the way they roll to |
| market onto a new and improved path for bat | | | | get a better sense of security. And if you are |
| rolling. The technology of the rolling machines now | | | | buying a rolling machine make sure to get the |
| do not allow for a precise 26-28 point | | | | parallel one with the shorter rollers. Who does Bat |
| perpendicular roll. Properly rolling perpendicular only | | | | Rolling like this? There is only one bat roller in the |
| would be a tiresome and mind-numbing labor. | | | | industry that rolls both perpendicular and parallel |
| Then along came the parallel rolling machine and | | | | and has led the way in innovations in bat rolling |
| the bat rolling procedure was changed for the | | | | techniques, Big Dawg Bat Rolling. |