Replacement Ghost

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Dec 18, 2016
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Just got my DD's replacement Ghost. Pretty good CS, although getting a day before we went to a tournament in Huntington Beach would have been better. (lol) Anyway....we went from a 32 (-10) to a 33 (-10). She hit off the Tee today and didn't say anything about it, but when I picked it up I noticed that it definitely seems a bit more end loaded than balanced. I'm not saying anything to DD if she doesn't mention it, but curious if Core or any other bat experts can speak to this?

Thanks
Dave
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
Not a Ghost expert or even a bat expert ... but as an umpire I’m supposed to be an expert on broken bats. (A conversation taking place in other threads.)

I’m curious what did the bat do that warranted a replacement?
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
You did go up an ounce so it is going to be heavier, and it prob weighs 23.8 or 23.9. So depends what the last one
weighed.
Bats don't all weigh the same, if you look in the database, they all have ranges
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
Another odd question ... any chance you have any photos of the cracks?

I had a Ghost in a pre-game equipment check at a State Tournament last year that I tossed because it appeared cracked to me. Of course the coach tried arguing that it wasn’t cracked. The girl said it wasn’t cracked and had looked like that since early spring (which indicates to me it was cracked in the cold weather). The UIC looked at it and agreed it was cracked and said it was a hell of a catch on my part.

Since we get no formal training, I’ve been trying to find examples to use for training other umpires. Wish I had taken pictures of that one I had.
 
Dec 18, 2016
163
28
Another odd question ... any chance you have any photos of the cracks?

I had a Ghost in a pre-game equipment check at a State Tournament last year that I tossed because it appeared cracked to me. Of course the coach tried arguing that it wasn’t cracked. The girl said it wasn’t cracked and had looked like that since early spring (which indicates to me it was cracked in the cold weather). The UIC looked at it and agreed it was cracked and said it was a hell of a catch on my part.

Since we get no formal training, I’ve been trying to find examples to use for training other umpires. Wish I had taken pictures of that one I had.

Here you go.
 

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Dec 18, 2016
163
28
You did go up an ounce so it is going to be heavier, and it prob weighs 23.8 or 23.9. So depends what the last one
weighed.
Bats don't all weigh the same, if you look in the database, they all have ranges

Yeah I saw the bat weight database. I guess I was more surprised that it seemed like the weight was more towards the end than balanced.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Not a Ghost expert or even a bat expert ... but as an umpire I’m supposed to be an expert on broken bats. (A conversation taking place in other threads.)

I’m curious what did the bat do that warranted a replacement?

You know what umps need to learn quickly, with new bats, they rattle. Most bats aren't hollow anymore.
So when you tap them on the ground or smack on your hand, or when they hit, many will make a rattle/clack/noise of
some sort. Its the inside barrel/discs/chambers/fib...yada yada. Too many umps hear anything and all of a sudden,
its omg, bats broken...I have to toss it...haha.
Also, if you don't feel fibers...it prob isn't a crack. Many bats get paint cracks and such. Just learn how composites
crack and look like. Horizontal it usually paint, vertical is what you look at more closely.

Composites are a weave, they don't just break apart and go flying. The weave has to break apart for the bat
to come apart.
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
You know what umps need to learn quickly, with new bats, they rattle. Most bats aren't hollow anymore.
So when you tap them on the ground or smack on your hand, or when they hit, many will make a rattle/clack/noise of
some sort. Its the inside barrel/discs/chambers/fib...yada yada. Too many umps hear anything and all of a sudden,
its omg, bats broken...I have to toss it...haha.
Also, if you don't feel fibers...it prob isn't a crack. Many bats get paint cracks and such. Just learn how composites
crack and look like. Horizontal it usually paint, vertical is what you look at more closely.

Composites are a weave, they don't just break apart and go flying. The weave has to break apart for the bat
to come apart.

Cracks are rare ... that’s why I appreciate the picture for reference.

As I said, I am no expert, but I have been trained otherwise on rattles. Bats should not rattle and if it is rattling brand new, you have an issue.

USA Softball
Rule 3 - Equipment
Section 1 - Official Bat
A. Certified/Approved
1.) The official bat, made up of the knob, handle, grip, taper, barrel and end cap shall be free of burs, dents, cracks, sharp edges, rattles, and show no signs of excessive wear.


USSSA Softball
Rule 2 - Equipment
Section 10 - The Official Bat
L. Worn/Abused/Damaged/Foreign Substance Bats Not Allowed In USSSA Sanctioned Play
1.) No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if it is damaged in any way. Damaged bats include those with damage to the knob or end cap, those which have loose knobs or end caps, and those with cracks or dents in the bat material. The bat shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough, or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard. Bats shall be free of rattles and burrs.

NFHS Sofball
Rule 1 Field and Equipment
SECTION 5 BATS
ART. 1 . . . The bat shall:
c. Be free of rattles, dents, burrs, cracks and sharp edges. Bats that are broken, altered or that deface the ball are illegal. Materials inside the bat or treatments/ devices used to alter the bat specifications and/ or enhance performance (e.g., shaving, rolling or artificially warming the bat barrel) are prohibited and render the bat illegal.


Now, what you are defining as a rattle may not be what I call a rattle ... you mention smacking it and hearing the “clack” (like when a player smacks it on home plate). That is not a rattle. As you said, that is a factor of the two-part construction. A rattle is just that: a rattle. When I free shake the bat, it should not rattle. That is something inside that has broken loose.

I would gladly take any resources you can point me to though. As I have criticized, we are expected to check bats but we have no formal training to do so. If anybody out there knows somebody who works for a bat manufacturer, I’d love to hear from them!
 
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