by Lynette Alice

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 28, 2009

Learning how to tape a wooden bat is as easy as pie. It's so easy in fact that after reading this manual you will be ready to jump right in and get the job done. There are as many styles employed to taping wooden bats as there are coaches and players but they all employ the same basic principle. This manual will walk you step by step through the proper process to tape a wooden baseball or softball bat and get you game ready.

The first thing you need to do is select the tape. Not all tapes are made equally and not all types of tape will work for this process. There are plenty of "specialty" tapes available in sporting goods stores made specifically for taping wooden bats but I'll let you in on a little secret, you don't need them. What these tapes basically are is nothing more than cloth backed medical tape in a sports themed package at double the price. Save yourself some money and pick up this style of tape at your local pharmacy, grocery store or outlet like Wal-Mart. It is always an item you can easily find there. Anything with a slick backing like electrical tape, masking, tape, or anything of that genre as well as duct tape is a no-mo. These are going to totally defeat your purpose.

Now that you have the proper tape you are ready to begin. If you are using an older bat clean the area of the handle you will cover of dirt so the tape adheres securely. it doesn't do any good to apply tape and it starts moving around the first time you take a few cuts. Place one finger above the nob of the bat and make two passes around the handle which overlap each other just above where your finger was. If necessary male a line there using a marker. Now twist the tape so that it becomes skinny while still attached to the roll. Do not cut the tape!

Once you have twisted the tape begin working your way up the handle of the bat at a 45 degree angle. Continue doing this until you get to about 14 inches up the bat for a 32 inch bat. Adjust downward at a similar ratio for smaller bats. Once you have reached that top marker you will want to stop twisting the tape so it is flat as it was at the bottom when you began. Again just as at the bottom make two passes around the top which overlap each other.

Keep the tape in a flattened state and begin working your way down the bat now. Each pass should overlap half the width of the previous one. Continue this until you reach the bottom. Once you reach the bottom where the area you placed your finger at to mark your starting point is reached twist the tape again and make two separate passes over that previously untapped area. Flatten the tape out one last time and tape over those final twists as snuggly as possible. Cut the tape and your taping job is done!

By now you are likely wondering why the tape is twisted below flattened areas. The simple answer is it creates ridges which provide additional grip. The flat tape job over them keeps them securely in place. A couple things to remember are to keep the tape taut during the entire job and to avoid the temptation to over-tape the bat. You don't want to do too thick a taping job or you will wind up changing your grip slightly, even un-noticeably and the feeling of the bat which is an undesired effect.

Once this is done depending on your preference you may want to apply resin or pine tar to the taped area to further improve your grip. Otherwise you are ready for action! Grab your bat and go get hits!

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