What It Means To Me
The Phi Bat is a unique design of baseball/softball bat. These bats feel different and will have a different sound when striking the ball than any other one-piece wood bat, aluminum, or composite bat. My name is Tim Poe, a multi-media artist living in Alabama and I have thought of bringing this design of baseball bat to the world for some time now. The premise for Phi Bats was from an experience a long time ago when aluminum bats were only a conception and where ash & maple bats were primarily the only choice. At this time during the early 70’s I was having trouble with end-loaded wood bats, my wrist would break during the launch phase of the swing and the small diameter handle of the ash or maple bats were creating an imbalance in my swing, most of the balls I made contact with were grounders. Just before the 1971 Pony League season, I discovered a 31” light, fat-handled one-piece wood bat made from Spruce turned by Louisville Slugger, the Nellie Fox! With a handle diameter almost as large as the barrel & a -5, this was the bat I was looking for and my batting average jumped from the mid 200s’ to over 500 practically overnight! This light fat-handled bat offered control & confidence through my swing allowing me greater focus toward the path of the ball! I owned two of these bats for two seasons and grieved over their loss after consequently breaking after many times at the plate. Afterward, I discovered LS had discontinued the Nellie Fox although my swing had improved while using this bat, and where the heavier, thin handled Ash & Maple bats seemed less of a challenge, I never batted close to 500 again. Alaskan Yellow Cedar is a stronger species of wood than Spruce and so far, after almost 11 months of testing, no Phi Bat has broken when striking a baseball. One might adopt a Phi Bat as their primary bat, the design may offer positive correction for a batter’s swing, or you may just like the way it feels in your hand! I personally love the Phi Bat and hope you will try it!