How to Alter Aluminum Bats

Aluminum bats are used for softball and youth baseball leagues. These metal bats are made to withstand the hard hits from balls, without shattering or splintering like their wood counterparts. An aluminum bat is a bit more difficult to alter and cut down. That said, there are a couple of methods that let you alter the weight of the bat to make your swing more efficient, and generate more power.

Things You'll Need

  • Bench vice
  • Narrow tappit
  • Rag
  • Rubber mallet
  • Metal sandpaper
  • Metal file
  • Small circular bat weights
  • Clear liquid adhesive
  • Bat tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the bat into a bench vice and close the jaws, so the bat rests lengthwise. Place the narrow Tappit at the edge of the bat, near the top, where the seam is formed between the main bat and the top bat end-plug. Wrap the rag around the end of the Tappit and hit it with the rubber mallet to pop the end plug off the bat.

    • 2

      Run the sandpaper around the inside edge of the end of the bat. Apply a layer of clear adhesive glue to the inside of the bat at the sanded area.

    • 3

      Slide the circular bat weight onto the glued inside edge of the bat. Let the glue dry the weight into position and then tap the end of the bat back on. The added weight allows for extra torque during the swing, thus hitting the ball harder and more firmly.

    • 4

      Cut the bat handle tape off the handle. Wrap the handle with thicker or thinner tape, as per your needs. Check with your league regarding rules for tape height, width and the use of sticky tape or bat tar -- before altering your tape.