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Details for Foothills

Real name:
John Barrow
Location:
Sonora CA
Division:
Men's 55

Messages posted by Foothills

June 4, 2021
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Which Ball travels further: ASA or SSUSA

Bottom line is :

Ju is correct .

Microcell balls are made to not suffer in the heat .

The ball used did suffer from heat .

Does help teams who do not have as much power .

It is a $ dollar thing .

If teams were told it cost 50 dollars more for guarantee of good ball in heat they would pay .

If there is no choice have to put up with it or not play and this is realized .


Aug. 12, 2017
Foothills
Topic: Website comments
Discussion: MONEY

Stote is no fun in Sacramento summers .

Fortunately not a problem if you live in NorCal .

NCSSA uses the "Fire" ball . Which is better than the Stote and not as good as the Rock . A good compromise .

Only 3 tournaments in this area for SSUSA . Rock-In-Reno and the Westerns and the State .

The elevation in Reno compensates for the Stote . So good to go there .

Then don`t play the Westerns and the State .Still have NCSSA tournament`s almost every weekend as an option . I think a lot of teams are doing this . Noted by the small amount of teams in the above mentioned tournaments .

The "Worlds" use the Rock . So no problem there . You know you are not traveling to Vegas and putting in your dollars to hit a sock .

Works for me .

June 14, 2017
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Trump ball used in Reno - 40 Major plus

Marv , I stand corrected if the 1 degree vs, 5 degree is the formula . But I still believe that a better ball should be used in heat . If the reg. is 375 , then we should use something that is 375 . Goes for both ways . If the ISSA rock is 500 .
June 9, 2017
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Trump ball used in Reno - 40 Major plus

I read on a board awhile back this explanation of temps and ball performance . It stated , that all balls except the Rock lose approximately 5 lbs of compression for every degree over 72 . So do the math and you know why you are hitting a sock at higher temps . Saftey is not the reason the Stote is used . You all can probably figure out the reason why . Also , I do not see why everyone acts like hitting the Rock is an unnatural advantage . It just stays at the rated compression level no matter the temp. So why is hitting the SSUSA designated compression an advantage ?
May 9, 2016
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: NOR-CAL State championships

Great . Foskett , warm weather and Trump balls . Worst tournament of the year . I cannot understand why we signed up for this again .
May 2, 2016
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Combat Rocket Launcher

I back Mark up on this . Gets hotter and hotter . I play in Modesto and have a balanced and end loaded version . If anyone wants to hit the balanced one let me know . I keeping the end load for myself :)
April 18, 2016
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Rocket Launcher

Update . I have been hitting a proto type balanced 27 version since early March and a " finished " EL version since first of April .

Both bats fairly hot out of wrapper . Newer version more so . But , as with any senior bat , you need to put some hits on them to get the performance you are looking for .

I have over 700 hits on proto bat . No signs of wear . Bat started really performing around 150 hits . It is now very hot . Distance wise I getting more consistent distance than the Big Cat or the Dudley . On your best swing. Right on the other two bats` sweet spots .You will get pretty close to the same distance .Launch maybe 10 feet more . But the Launcher achieved max distance a lot more consistently . Bat continued to get hotter and hotter past the 150 hit target "ala" the old original grey Combat .

The EL "finished product is at 300 hits and is outperforming the balanced version for max distance . By about another 10 feet . This is due to the huge end load . I would recommend dropping down an oz. from normal EL swing weights .

All in accordance to my experience and swing style . But, in my opinion , this bat is as advertised .
March 29, 2016
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Combat Rocket Launcher

Swings heavier than Big Cat . Would go down .
March 29, 2016
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Combat Rocket Launcher

My findings exactly Steve , so far . I have 200 hits on the finished version . It is really hitting for distance now and I have also noticed the movement on line drives . It is about 10 feet better in distance from broken in 2016 Big Cat . You are right . Big end load . I would also recommend 1 oz. less than you normally swing . Really looking forward to this bat when it gets another 100 on it .
March 24, 2016
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Bats

kreugs --Will do . Going to put 100 on the new EL today . I will update around 300 . I want to make sure it is well broken in before reporting . Also , am told , that new composites , for the last couple of years hit a "flatline" in performance . This was done to allow them to heat up quicker and to have more durability . Unlike the ones from 6 , 7 years ago . Which kept getting better til they cracked . Supposedly the Rocket will have durability plus continue to get better until failure . I will follow up .
March 22, 2016
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Your opinion on best Senior Bat

Perf -- The first bat was a proto-type . The EL I just received is the finished product . It is the same construction , that will be sold .
March 21, 2016
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Your opinion on best Senior Bat

Been trying out a balanced version of the new Rocket Launcher bat from Kelly`s . Have put 500 hits so far in temperatures all between 55 and 70 degrees . Have used it with wet balls early etc. etc. Have purposely used bat in these situations to see how it will hold up . So far no problem . Bat is as hot as anything I have used to date . If it gets at least 1000 hits and continues to get better with additional hits , as it has , it will be a player . I have noticed , that composite bats from 8 years or so ago seemed to get better and better until they broke .The original grey combat was a perfect example . Not good at all when new . Then , as it got towards the end of its life , it was amazing . Over the last couple of years , they have seemed to reach a point and then flat line . Might just be my imagination . But , this has been my experience . This one so far has not . It will be interesting to see if Rocket continues to get better and lasts . I have just received a EL version . 150 hits . Very impressed so far . Will be interesting to compare , as time goes on .
March 12, 2016
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Bats

kreug--My experience also . Last years Big Cat is out hitting the new Mikens .The new ones are more durable . But are not as good as last years for distance .

But , on another note . I have been hitting a balanced Rocket Launcher from Kelly . It is hitting right there with the Big Cat and it is a balanced vs. endload . I am getting the "finished " product next week . An EL version with a 1 and 1/2 oz. endload . If the balanced is hitting this well , then the EL should be better . I will update .
March 4, 2016
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Your opinion on best Senior Bat

Been swinging a balanced Rocket Launcher for the last two weeks . At a 100 hits it got good . Now with 300 plus it is very good . My opinion it is somewhat better than my Miken Big Cat . Looking forward to the endloaded version .
Oct. 12, 2015
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Winter World`s

That is unfortunate . The Stote does not hit well in temperatures above 80 . Which it will be in Phoenix .Fortunately the ball in Norcal hits well and we have the all temperature "Rock" in the Worlds . Some will still go to Westerns and the Winters with this ball . But , I know of more and more , that say they will not spend the money to go to a plus 80 degree tournament with the Stote . Me included .
Oct. 11, 2015
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Winter World`s

What ball is being used at the Winter Worlds ? Thanks
Sept. 12, 2015
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Ultra II Black

I talked to Kelly also . You are right . He said the main advantage was the longevity . Performance pretty much the same as existing Ultra`s .
June 14, 2015
Foothills
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Best ball in Hot Weather

If the Baden is actually a 47 - 525 ,(i would like to see testing saying it is ), then that is why we should use it in plus 90 degree temperatures . Most balls , ( except the Xrock ) , lose approximately 5 lbs. of compression for every degree over 72 . So at 95 degrees a 525 ball would be still at around 400 lb. . Which is a lot closer to the 375 lb , that we are supposed to be hitting , than the 260 lb. or so that a Stote is at that temperature . I do not see anything wrong with that . If SSUSA does not want to pay for a Xrock , then the Baden Fire would be a good remedy . You act like we are whining or trying to have an unfair advantage by wanting a ball , that holds up in temperature . No . We just want a ball , that is still 375 like rules spec .
April 21, 2015
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: Hot Bats and Hrs

I have found , that during my senior ball playing time , it is usually the guys , that cannot hit a home run even with a senior bat , that complain about hot bats making it to easy to hit home runs . Also , I agree , that the younger the bracket and the higher the level , there are more home runs . That is obvious . But I disagree , that they hit them at will . The pitching at that level somewhat compensates for the higher hitting ability . Most pitchers also realize , that a lot of guys will swing at a marginal pitch before walking . Which, also somewhat holds this down . Also , the drop off after 60 is just common sense . It happens gradually . So it goes somewhat unnoticed by the player . Swing speed , overall strength and stamina all tend to lower the power numbers . A good player will still have his moments . But he will have trouble doing it on a consistent basis on the second and third days of a tournament . IMHO
Feb. 9, 2014
Foothills
Topic: Bats
Discussion: What's the best bat for open tournaments?

If you want reviews on bats from someone ,who has no profit motive, other than getting free bats to test . Go to seniorsoftballbatreviews on utube .
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