Often you must have seen baseball players getting a big swing and losing the grip of their bat. This is certainly not an uncommon thing to happen, and this is why many professional MLB players are also opting for baseball bat grips.
Bat grips have become extremely popular in the past few years, and it not only gives your baseball bat a new look but also adds comfort and safety which you need during the game.
This guide will cover all the information you need and we'll recommend the best baseball bat grip tape options available today.
Why Do You Need Baseball Grip Tape?
You might be wondering why you even need one more accessory for baseball anyways? The most crucial reason for using bat tape is that it provides you with better control of your swing.
Not only this, but bat tape ensures a better grip on your bat, and your batting speed is also going to get quicker. Bat grip will also provide more comfort to your entire body as your hands will be more relaxed during the game.
If you are facing a high-speed ball without a bat grip, the bat is likely to slow down as you swing and, as a result, the contact will be much weaker. Also, and most obviously, without grip tape the bat can easily fall out of your hand.
Whenever you treat yourself to a new baseball bat, it comes with a thick wrap grip already, but most players prefer the thin grip. The thinner the grip, the quicker it is going to be at striking.
Whereas some players even today prefer thick grips, as it is more shock absorbent during the contact.
Regardless of your preference for thick or thin grips, it is evident that bat grips are essential during your game. They will prevent any disturbance or harm to your hands while playing. When it's a hot day, bat tape will provide you tack; on a rainy day, it will hold up well without getting too wet. Since most of the bat tapes are made from Polymer, they are water-resistant.
What are Baseball Bat Grips Made Of?
So, what's the best baseball bat grip tape? Well, that depends on many factors, such as whether you play baseball and softball or both? Along with the player's age, how much money you are willing to spend, the thickness of the grip, and of course, the material.
The best bat grip tape is made from a polymer material, and all companies like Easton, Lizard Skin, and Rawlings tend to use them. The polymer material provides the tackiness needed during the game, and with this bat grip, the bat can be used without batting gloves.
Vulcan Bat Grip
Vulcan baseball bat grip tends to last very well in humid and rainy conditions. Despite not lasting very long, if you play in rainy conditions and don't mind replacing the bat tape a bit more frequently, then this should be your choice.
Vulcan bat grip is made from a mixture of Polymer and other materials. Along with three thickness options, 1.75mm, 1.00mm, and 0.55mm.
Lizard Skin
On the other hand, lizard skin baseball bat grip tends to last very well in repeated usage. Some lizard skin bat tapes also tend to last more than two years. Hence they are certainly very durable and long-lasting.
Lizard skin is made from Durasoft Polymer and available in a wide variety of colors and thicknesses. They vary from 1.8mm, 1.1mm, and even 0.5 mm thickness.
Athletic Tape
If you want a very affordable option for your baseball bat grip, then hockey or athletic tape can be a good option. This tape allows you to control the thickness as there are many options available. These bat grip tapes don't cost more than 3 dollars and will likely last a long while.
Bat Grip Tape Sizing Guide
What Size Bat Grip Should I Use?
Bat grip tape comes in 3 different sizes. Whether it is Lizard Skin or a Vulcan Grip, you will find them in varying levels of thickness, including 0.55mm, 1.1mm, and 1.8mm.
0.5mm
0.5 mm thickness in bat grip tape is preferred by those who use wood bats. This is the thinnest bat grip tape, and if you are not looking for any cushioning around your bat handle, this might be the best choice for you.
This 0.5 mm is likely going to give your bat the natural feel along with a solid grip. This grip tape is highly popular in baseball as well.
1.1mm
Second, comes 1.1mm thickness in grip tape. This is the most popular choice as this provides mid-level thickness, and it is the standard choice in most of the new bats you will buy.
This level of thickness in grip tape is preferred by professional players and provides just the right level of cushioning while maintaining the natural feel of the bat.
1.8mm
This is the thickest size in grip tape, and it is mainly aimed at young baseball players who require it as it provides added cushioning and makes the grip soft and comfortable to use.
How Do You Put a Bat Grip On a Bat?
Well, this isn't a difficult process. To install a bat grip tape, you will need to follow these simple steps.
Step 1
Remove any old grip tape from your bat. You can do this with the help of scissors or a blade to cut the old tape from your bat. After removal, your bat might feel a bit sticky and make sure to clean it properly with sandpaper before installing a new grip tape.
Step 2
Sit in a still position with the bat between your legs and remain firm while installing your new bat grip tape, as the proper fitting will enhance your performance.
Step 3
Begin wrapping your grip tape around the knob of the handle and continue till the end of the handle near the barrel. If there are any empty spaces on the hold, make sure to do a double wrap of the grip tape.
Step 4
Sometimes, you can also wrap your bat twice, where the second time around, you can begin wrapping the grip tape near the barrel and moving upwards towards the knob.
Step 5
Lastly, use electrical tape to secure the grip tape on your handle, and if you want, you can also put on a finishing sticker for a complete finished look.
Once the bat grip tape is installed, you can swing the bat around to see if the grip is comfortable, and there you have it. You are ready for the field!
The 5 Best Bat Grip Tape Products
Below, we will discuss our top picks for the best baseball bat grip tape available for both baseball and softball.
1. Lizard Skins 1.1mm Bat Grip
Lizard Skins grip tape is a very popular choice for many players. This is one of the best bat grip tapes as it has an inner felt cushion which provides extra comfort and support. Along with a textured design, and being lightweight this makes Lizard Skins 1.1mm truly one of the best.
It also has DSP polymer on the grip, which resists the bat from slipping even in wet conditions.
Installing this Lizard Skins 1.1mm grip is effortless as it comes with pre-cut and wrapping instructions.
The Lizard Skins bat grip is available in various colors ranging from black to lime green, red and neon Camo, etc. No doubt, you are bound to find a design that you prefer in these Lizard Skins grip.
Lastly, due to the ideal thickness, players are likely to opt for Lizard Skins 1.1mm as it provides the comfort and best grip without losing the natural feel of the bat.
Pros
Cons
Another top contender for the best bat grip has to be the Champro extreme tack. The bat tape comes in 1.88mm thickness so this is ideal for young baseball players.
As the name suggests, this bat tape has extreme tackiness, which is aimed at providing the highest comfort and best grip over the bat. This will most likely increase your performance on the field.
Coming with tapered edges, this bat grip tape ensures that baseball players have a professional style contour fit on their bat.
Installation of this bat grip is a pretty straightforward process, and it can be installed on any baseball bat.
Pros
Cons
Our third pick for the best bat grip you can find in the market has to be the Vulcan bat grip tape in 1.75mm size.
This is one of the best bat tape options as it can be used on alloy and wooden bats.
Another great feature of this bat tape is that it is made from advanced polymer material hence can be used in varying weather conditions, including dry and wet.
These Vulcan grips tend to be very popular as they have exceptional designs and are in high demand amongst youth and adults.
Pros
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When it comes to best bat grips, Rawlings is another famous brand out there.
This bat tape comes in 2.75mm thickness which is ideal for both baseball and softball bats. The cushioned tape indicates a high amount of comfort and durability during the game.
These Rawling grips provide ideal support and water resistance for players during rainy games.
Pros
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Last but not least, on our list for the best bat grip tape has to be the Alien Pros tape.
What makes it one of the best grips? Well, it comes in pre-cut design, which makes it very easy to install within a matter of minutes.
It has a 1.1mm thickness which is ideal for many baseball players. With the right amount of tackiness, it makes it suitable to use in wet conditions as well.
We call it our contender for best bat grip tape because the company provides you with a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the tape.
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Conclusion
So which, according to us, is the best baseball bat grip tape? That is a no-brainer; it has to be Lizard Skins 1.1mm Bat Grip Tape. It is very durable and long-lasting and can be used in varying conditions. Also, the price is a steal. You cannot go wrong with it.