Easton "wobbles"
 

There have been a lot of reports of the Easton Stealths having a "wobble" or "click" as they break in. Anyone else heard about this? What are your thoughts? Normal? Not normal? Allow the bat?

The bat be broken! The way I see it, the manufacture did not build it like that, therefore it is broken. At an ASA National I attended serveral of those bats were broken and quarantined as per rule.

If the Eastons with the black band between the handle and the barrel wiggle, the bat is broken. Normally you have to actually hold both ends to test them for looseness, but I have picked up a few that the barrel would actually flop around a little under its own weight.

I've heard repeated reports (though nothing directly from Easton) that this is part of the design of the bat. I disagree, but if these bats are breaking down this quickly, it makes one wonder whose advantage it is to have this design: the player for getting a faster-hitting bat, or the manufacturer when we have to toss these bats.

when stealths do start to fail, the barrel will usually start cracking or splinter at or near the connection point, the point of most stress in those two piece bats. I have heard of worth mutant bats telescoping when the glue failed.

when checking those stealths, the clear indication it's failing is the barrel taper adjoining the rubber. if there are any cracks along the edge near the rubber, it's time to set that bat aside.