When you’re playing baseball, there are a few pieces of equipment you must have. The first few items that might come to mind are a bat, a ball, a helmet and a glove. Did you know that there are a few other pieces of equipment you need as well to make your batting experience much more pleasant? Add a pair of batting gloves as bat grips. You probably know about batting gloves, but have you heard of bat grips?
Bat grips are almost like tape. They have one adhesive side and the other side feels more padded. You can wrap the handle of your bat with bat tape to increase your grip strength. It isn’t as easy as just buying grips, though. You need to choose a thickness. Here at Lizard Skins, we offer three thicknesses, including 0.5mm, 1.1mm and 1.8mm. Each thickness has its benefits. You might be wondering, though, which bat grip is the best one? There’s not really an easy answer. So, let’s talk more about how to pick the best bat grip thickness for you.
This is the baseball bat grip tape we see most used by pros. This is because it’s great on wood bats and allows the player to be more connected to the bat and what’s going on in the game. It still offers added gripping ability without too much padding.
This is also a great size of bat grip tape because it balances the thickness and cushioning. It can fit any type of bat and can be a great grip tape for players to use as they take it to the next level of ball play.
This thickness level’s biggest pro is that it really deafens the energy transfer that happens when the ball hits the bat. Your hands will be far more comfortable this way. It’s also great for experienced players as well as brand new players as they learn to grip the bat.
So, is there some magical formula to help you pick the best batting grip tape thickness? Unfortunately not; however, there are a few things to consider as you get ready to make your purchase.
The biggest factor to think about when buying bat grips is that it’s all about personal preference. One thickness isn’t necessarily better than the others. It’s more about which one will give you the best grip and the best performance possible. So, if you haven’t tried bat grips before, consider buying one in each thickness and give each of them a try. It can’t hurt to try them out, and you can also use bat grips to patch batting gloves and fix other minor issues with your baseball equipment. So, even if you don’t end up using a certain thickness of bat grip tape on the bat, you can still put it to good use by carrying the excess around in your baseball bag.
Hand size can also be a factor when you’re picking bat grip tape. For example, oftentimes bigger hands will need thicker tape. This will give the player better control of the bat as well as a more comfortable grip. The tape will also help distribute the energy that is transferred to your hands when the ball hits your bat. So, it won’t sting quite as much. However, you may have big hands, but prefer the feel of the thinner tape. It’s totally up to you.
The level of ball player who is using the bat grip tape can also play a role. When you’re starting out as a brand new baseball player, you’ll probably want more padded batting tape. This is because, as we mentioned above, when the ball hits the bat, the energy transferred through the bat can easily sting your hands. You don’t want a new player to get scared of playing and have the bat slip when they feel the vibrations. It will also teach the player better technique because they’ll be able to play ball for longer stretches of time.
You’ll also need to consider the type of bat you’ll be playing baseball with. For example, if you play with a metal bat, when the ball hits the bat it can sting more. So, thicker grips can deafen this a bit. If you’re playing ball with a wooden bat (most pros do), the bat can sometimes unexpectedly break. When they break, it can really sting. So, a thicker grip might be better in this instance, too. However, pros mainly use wooden bats, and they seem to prefer the 0.5 bat grip with the least thickness. So, it's about what you like best.
While not related to bat grip thickness, you can also choose the color and design to create custom bat grips. Most of our bat grip thicknesses come in all different colors and patterns. So, you don’t need to fret about not getting the design you want. The style is also based on personal preference, and it can play a big role in whether the player likes how the bat looks with the grips.
So, is one thickness better than the other? No, it’s up to you to decide which thickness feels best when you hit the ball. If you want a little more information about each thickness, be sure to check out the Lizard Skins Sizing Chart for the pros and cons of each thickness.
