How to Make a Fungo out of a Wood Bat

A fungo bat is a training bat that can be made of either wood or metal. The purpose of a fungo bat is to allow a coach or trainer to hit a ball further with less force due to the unique form and properties of a fungo bat. A fungo bat is longer and more slender than a bat used in a game, and when made of wood, has a hollow core. In this demonstration, we will be creating a wood fungo bat out of a game-ready wooden baseball bat.

Things You'll Need

  • 38-inch unfinished ash adult game-ready baseball bat
  • Drawing compass
  • Pencil for drawing compass
  • Vice grip anchored to a stable work bench
  • Protective work goggles
  • Power drill
  • 1-inch drill bit with 1-foot extension
  • Power sander
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Bat

    • 1

      Center the anchor of your drawing compass (the end that does not write) at the center of the head of the bat (flat "bottom" side opposite handle end). Use your compass to draw a circle that is 1 inch in diameter.

    • 2

      Center the anchor of your drawing compass at the center of the head of the bat again, and draw a circle that is 2 inches in diameter.

    • 3

      Mark the center of the head of the bat with your pencil for reference.

    Drilling the Core

    • 4

      Secure the bat in a vice grip. It is important that the bat does not move during the drilling process for performance and safety purposes.

    • 5

      Put on your safety goggles. It is imperative to protect your eyes, as small scraps of wood may fly when drilling.

    • 6

      Center the 1-inch drill bit at the exact same point that you centered your compass at the head of the bat.

    • 7

      Drill carefully and slowly into the bat using your 1-inch diameter circle as a guide. Continue drilling until the end of the drill bit is even with the head of the bat. Since you are using a 1-foot extension on the drill bit, this will ensure a core that is exactly 1 foot in length and 1 inch in diameter.

    Sanding the Bat

    • 8

      Ensure that the bat is still secure in the vice grip for sanding. Again, it is imperative that the bat does not move while being shaped.

    • 9

      Sand the head of the bat in a circular motion down to the 2-inch diameter circle, rotating the bat in the vice grip as you go. Most adult baseball bats have either a 2 5/8-inch or 2 3/4-inch diameter head, so this must be sanded down to 2 inches for an accurate fungo bat.

    • 10

      Remove the bat from the vice and sand any small imperfections by hand.