Interesting grip...

[NCASAUmp]

Some guy on another forum posted these pictures. Apparently, he took his bat to his friend's truck shop and had them spray Rhino-Liner on the handle.

[IRISHMAFIA]

My initial view on this. Don't know if it would stand up under scrutiny of OKC, but first impression was:

The Safety Grip is defined as:

Covers the handle region of the bat. The Safety Grip shall not be less than 10 inches and not more than 15 inches. There shall be no exposed metal in the 10-15 inch area. The Safety Grip may be a molded finger formed grip as long as it is permanently attached to the bat or attached with safety tape. Resin, pine tar or other spray substances are permissible on the Safety Grip only. Any tape applied to the Safety Grip must be of a continuous spiral. A bat having a flare or cone shaped grip attached is legal.

I guess the highlighted portion is what would make using the Rhinoliner legal as additional to a grip, but not as a replacement.

It should also be noted that it can ONLY cover the handle and NOT be used in the knob. Since the Safety Knob is now addressed separately and the rule above only applies to the handle, the book say that the adhesives can be added to the safety grip which is only located on the handle.

Technicality, yes. But it is what it is and the book specifically states the knob can be taped, but nothing about sprays. Would I go looking for this booger myself? Probably not, but if brought to me......

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

It should also be noted that it can ONLY cover the handle and NOT be used in the knob. Since the Safety Knob is now addressed separately and the rule above only applies to the handle, the book say that the adhesives can be added to the safety grip which is only located on the handle.

Technicality, yes. But it is what it is and the book specifically states the knob can be taped, but nothing about sprays. Would I go looking for this booger myself? Probably not, but if brought to me......

Mike, do you think this was an oversight in the editing process?

By the way the rule is presented, this would mean that pine tar would be illegal on the safety knob. I can't imagine any real reason why this would be prohibited, as I can't imagine any advantage this would give anyone. Especially since ASA now allows tapers.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Mike, do you think this was an oversight in the editing process?

By the way the rule is presented, this would mean that pine tar would be illegal on the safety knob. I can't imagine any real reason why this would be prohibited, as I can't imagine any advantage this would give anyone. Especially since ASA now allows tapers.

Not the editing process, but someone like me bringing it up when someone like this softball player thinks about using a spray-on liner as a "safety grip".

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Some guy on another forum posted these pictures. Apparently, he took his bat to his friend's truck shop and had them spray Rhino-Liner on the handle.

I don't know for sure since my truck ain't rhino-lined, but that stuff looks pretty slick to be a "safety" grip. Or perhaps it's just the Armor-all they put on it to make it pretty.

On a side note, how long has ASA allowed the taperred knob? Is it also allowed in youth ball? (I thought NSA was the only ones that allowed it.)

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

I don't know for sure since my truck ain't rhino-lined, but that stuff looks pretty slick to be a "safety" grip. Or perhaps it's just the Armor-all they put on it to make it pretty.

On a side note, how long has ASA allowed the taperred knob? Is it also allowed in youth ball? (I thought NSA was the only ones that allowed it.)

Since, oh... January 1.

The grip looks like it has some pretty decent texture to it. Doesn't really look dangerous to me.