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How to Perform Bat Rolling
Perpendicular Roll
You will need to run your bat perpendicular through a parallel bat rolling machine. I suggest rollers that are of a harder material than the regular nylon rollers, these rollers will not deform. Pick one of 8-12 points around the bat and also decide what your maximum pressure will be. The first perpendicular run through the bat rolling machine will be 25% of the maximum pressure and you will run the bat along the entire length of the barrel 4 times up and back on one of the 8-12 points. Next, increase the pressure 25%, which will be 50% of the maximum pressure; then you will need to repeat above process, keeping on the same point. You will then need to increase the pressure to 75% and this time only perpendicular roll the sweet spot of the bat (2 inches above the taper and 2 inches below the endcap). Repeat sweet spot only perpendicular roll at max pressure. Repeat the entire above process on each of the 8-12 points around the barrel of the bat.
Parallel Roll
Next, you will need to parallel roll your bat to break in any spots the perpendicular roll has missed because even the most thorough perpendicular roll will miss areas along the barrel. The parallel roll will also help if your bat was slightly deformed by the perpendicular roll. Sometimes a bat will have long flat spots along the length of the bat from perpendicular rolling. Parallel bat rolling will aid in the removal of these areas of flatness. Place your bat in the bat rolling machine parallel and centered on the sweet spot. Just as with the perpendicular roll, you will start at 25% of maximum pressure. Turn the bat in the rollers 5 full revolutions, then increase the pressure to 50%, and turn for five full revolutions again. Increase the pressure to 75% and repeat and then again at 100%. Your bat is now effectively rolled and will yield optimal distance results.
Problems that may occur
Some common problems are laminate creasing, roller slipping, and flat spots; I will talk about all three. Laminate creasing happens with certain manufacturers of bats (Miken mostly). This does not occur on every model but a select few. The main thing is to catch this before it happens. If you are rolling a bat that you have never rolled before just take it slow and even cut your pressures in half increments. Every time you increase to a new pressure take the bat out and check it. Normally a crease in the laminate starts small and increases with pressures. If you see one of these starting, back of a eighth turn and that will be your maximum pressure.
Roller slipping happens a lot with nylon rollers but one bat rolling machine company has come out with new rollers and bearings that have reduced slipping some bats will still slip. Athletic tape or pine tar can help slipping rollers but I have found the best way is to grip the bat while rolling and help it along. The only other advice is to upgrade to a new a roller with upgraded material.
Flat spots happen when the composite does not break down evenly along the bat. Sometimes a simple parallel roll will get these out. If these spots do not come out with a parallel roll then here is what I suggest. Run your hand along the barrel of the bat until you feel the spot. Put your finger on the high point of the flat spot (this will be on either side of the flat spot) and put the bat back into the bat roller perpendicular with that spot you have fingered exactly on the bottom roller. Next, roll the bat through at 75% and 100% maximum pressures. Repeat this process until all spots are gone.
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