Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

DeMarini-Bat-Story

Full Text:

Exploring The DeMarini Phenomenon

By Tom Wyatt

In today's rapidly-progressing technological age, companies are continuously

coming up with tools and ideas to make the average Joe able to do above

average things. Such technology is prevalent not only in the business world,

but in the sports arena as well.

In the sport of golf, weekend hackers are able to purchase super-duper nitro

golf balls that promise to travel further. They hit them with oversized

drivers specially weighted to add distance and keep the shot straight. Of

course, such gambits are not allowed on the pro circuit.

In the game of softball, where everybody wants to be a home-run hero, two new

types of bats have come on the market, making a pseudo home run hitter of

anyone. The first of the bats, the $600 titanium, has been banned by

softball's governing bodies (ASA and USSSA) from use in any leagues or

tournaments. The second bat, though, the double wall DeMARINI ($300), was ASA

approved for 1995, has been USSSA approved for 1996, and is currently in use

all over the country.

The DeMARINI double wall is the newest phenomenon in slo-pitch softball, but

while it has been the secret to success for some, it has been a hot topic of

controversy for many.

This bat is built with double-wall construction. Its barrel within a barrel

gives the bat increased liveliness and a sweet spot which is vastly larger

than any single-wall bat.

" On any bat, " explains Ray DeMarini, the bat's inventor, " you have a sweet

spot of maybe a half an inch. You have to hit it perfectly on that tiny sweet

spot to get your maximum performance. On the double wall, the sweet spot is

maybe four or five inches. It doesn't hit the ball an further than the single

wall, it just lets you hit it right more often. "

DeMarini, who raced motorcycles professionally before becoming involved in

softball in the mid eighties, started his multi-million dollar company in

1989. " In motorcycle racing, I found that if two people were of equal

ability, the one with the better equipment would win, " he said. " I used that

when I started making softball bats. "

But DeMarini's double wall bat is being challenged by many leagues who deem

the bat to be too dangerous. The ball appears to fly off the bat with more

force, get through the infield quicker, and consequently get to the infielders

- especially pitchers who are 45 feet away - before they can react.

DeMarini, though, refutes these claims. " This bat is like King Kong, " he

said. " It's reputation precedes it. My background is in science, so I don't

go by what people think they're seeing. There have been so many tests done on

this bat. Studies at NYU have proven that the bat is no more lively than any

bat. The ball doesn't come off the bat any faster than with a single wall.

Nobody understands it. "

Connecticut ASA Commissioner Ed Austin disagrees.

" We feel that the bat increases performance to the point where it becomes a

safety factor, " Austin said. " It yields higher performance, decreasing the

time that an infielder has to react. "

DeMarini, who plays championship caliber USSSA softball himself, insists that

his bat is completely safe to use. " I know what's acceptable, because I play,

" he says. " I don't want people to get hurt, and I'd never want to contribute

to their getting hurt. I could make a double-wall titanium bat that would hit

the ball 600 feet. But I'd never do that because that would be insanity. I

applaud the safety standards. We're out there to have fun and play ball. "

But despite DeMarini's claims, the ASA has banned the use of his double wall

bats in its tournaments. " I can't interfere with what local leagues want to

do, but the bat isn't allowed in any ASA tournament in the state of

Connecticut, " Austin said. " In my opinion, nobody should be allowed to use

it. It's too dangerous. "

The DeMARINI single wall bat is widely used and accepted. The double wall

model, while it isn't permitted in ASA or USSSA tournament play, is still in

use in many local town leagues, including Newtown.

Austin said that if the better athletes who compete at the tournament level

can't react in time, then the less talented home-town players haven't got a

prayer.

" I'd rather be sued by some company because I didn't use its product, than by

the widow of some guy who couldn't react in time to a batted ball, " Austin

said. " The bat is dangerous. That's strictly my opinion. "