How to Create a Custom Rope Grip on a Baseball Bat

A new grip or tape for a baseball bat can be applied by many different methods. Straight-tape and cross-hatched patterns can be taken up the bat handle. Cushioned grips can be applied, as well. You can customize your bat with colored tape to match your team colors or custom grips with flames or other artwork. But to enhance the feel and stability between your hands and the bat, create a "rope grip" along the handle.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball bat
  • Bat tape
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Instructions

  1. Create a custom rope grip

    • 1

      Unroll a short piece of bat tape and place it under one shoe. Hold the tape down firmly while unrolling another 3 feet of tape. The end of the tape will be under your foot, and the roll now should be at about chest level.

    • 2

      Slowly spin the roll of tape in circles with both hands. Be sure to keep the tape taut and maintain pressure with your foot holding the end of the tape. Continue to slowly twist the tape roll. You will start to see the length of tape twist into about a 4-foot length of ribbon. Keep twisting the roll until this ribbon is curled very tightly.

    • 3

      Cut this "rope" of tape at the roll end. Tape one end of the rope at the knob of the bat to anchor your rope. Starting at the bat handle, circle the rope at a diagonal up the bat handle toward the barrel. Be sure to keep at least 1 inch of space between each round as it circles the handle. When you reach the end of the rope, tape this end to the bat with a separate piece of bat tape. This will anchor the other end of the rope.

    • 4
      Choose a color that fits your team.

      Starting at the handle end, take the tape roll and carefully put flat tape down on top of the rope as it circles around the bat. Once the rope is covered, use the roll to tape once more to cover the bat between the rope gaps. Finally, anchor both ends of the new tape grip with separate circles of tape from the roll. This will complete your new custom rope grip and will provide ridges underneath the new tape to prevent slipping.