Fans of Major League Baseball have seen an influx of broken bats in recent years. A new bat made of bamboo wood may significantly reduce the numbers of broken sticks, if only MLB rules would allow it.

  
Bamboo bats are not “new” per se. Bamboo has been used to make bats before, many years ago, but the science was never perfected. Now, bamboo bats are getting commercial success thanks to several brands, including BamBooBat. Marketed by Pinnacle Sports Equipment Inc, BamBooBat offers a wide variety of bamboo wood bats for adult leagues, college and high school, Little League and softball.

  
BamBooBat’s Quadcore Technology compresses bamboo stalks together using extreme pressure and heat to produce a bat which is balanced and durable. White ash and maple bats, the traditional woods used to make bats, can easily break and shatter, sometimes becoming missiles which endanger fans, players, umpires, coaches, bat boys and others on or near the field of play. However, BamBooBat claims their version of the wood bat is much more durable thanks to the multi-piece assembly. Buying a new wood bat after one breaks and so on can become very expensive.

  
Also, aluminum bats have become very controversial of late. High school and college players are getting bigger and stronger and a ball hit off an aluminum bat typically has more speed than one hit off a wood bat. The velocity of the ball can pose a threat to pitchers and infielders. High school leagues in New York have recently outlawed aluminum bats. The durability of bamboo bats can help cut costs for teams using wood bats instead of aluminum. All of BamBooBat’s 32 inch, 33 inch and 34 inch bats are BESR-certified for high school and college play.

  
Major League ballplayers get all of their equipment for free and thus do not need to worry about cost, but shattered bat pieces still pose a threat to those on or around the field. So why does MLB not look into the possible safety provided by more durable bamboo bats? It all goes back to the rule book.

MLB Rule 1.10 (A) states: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2 ¾ inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be made from one piece of solid wood.” That poses an issue for any new technology provided by bamboo bats. Because all MLB bats must be composed of one solid piece of wood, bamboo bats are not allowed on Major League ball fields. Bamboo bats are composed of several bamboo stalks compressed together and thus do not conform to Rule 1.10 (A). A note to the rule states that “No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture.” Due to this rule, bamboo bats cannot even be used in spring training as an experiment until a manufacturer delves into the bureaucracy of MLB’s Rules Committee. Any player who attempts to use a bamboo wood bat without the League’s approval faces being called out, ejected from the game, and any other penalties, suspensions or fines his League President sees fit.

  
The rules of Major League Baseball are strictly enforced for the most part and are not easily changed. All fans and other concerned parties can hope for is that BamBooBat or another bamboo bat manufacturer is able to sway the Rules Committee and get an amendment allowing the use of bamboo wood in MLB bats for a safer, more enjoyable baseball experience.     

[Back to top]