Baseball bats anyone?

[rocinante]

I know this is a gun forum but last Friday my seven year old son got by accident hit in the mouth with a baseball bat and it did a lot of damage. I just watched a movie Diasteria (sic?) where a baseball bat was used offensively and used to break down a door. Seem to remember in the movie the apostle where robert duvall took out his wife's boyfriend with a bat. I have accidently been hit with a bat in a game and damn it hurt and left a pretty bruise.

Sorry for the ramble but does a bat have a place in self defense especially since it is considered legal? Everyone can own one. Is there any place that illustrates the effective use of a bat in self defense? All the leaping lizard martial arts stuff concentrates on staffs. Not the best choice against a gun but against a knife a bat in the right hands could be useful.

 

[Deanimator]

I prefer wooden kendo swords (bokken). They have much higher velocity and are much more versatile. If Miyamoto Musashi could prevail over opponents using steel swords, using a bokken, I think it at least is worth consideration.

 

[ravencon]

As an improvised weapon? Sure! But, I don't see myself conducting my daily activities with a bat in hand.

 

[2RCO]

If a bat is your only option I would rather have it than nothing. I would rather have a bat than a boot knife in most situations. A bat has more range.

 

[Noxx]

I would rather have a bat than a boot knife in most situations

+1 to that.

In fact, I'd rather have a bat than just about any knife, a bat carries a lot "stop right now" power. You can stab someone until they wander off to die, but a slugger to the bean says "Sit Ubu, sit", in a more immediate fashion.

That being said, I can put a knife in my pocket, a bat, not so much. The basic club is a great weapon and has been for thousands of years, but highly toteable it's not.

 

[Timthinker]

The baseball bat is one item that always appears in discussions of improvised weapons. This is not surprising when we look at the availability of bats and the brute force they can generate. Yes, baseball bats can be used effectively as home defense weapons, but you need to adjust your tactics accordingly. What does this mean? Remember, a baseball bat needs space to be swung effectively, so make sure you have sufficient room in which to use it. Many modern homes/apartments are congested places in which some areas make using a bat very difficult. This is why I suggest that people think carefully about their environment when selecting a home defense weapon. I hope this opinion is useful.


Timthinker

 

[hso]

A baseball bat can be a good weapon, but it becomes a much better weapon with some adaptation of Escrima training to allow you to use in more efficiently/effectively as well as within the confines of a normal house.

Having been knocked out by a light "tap" with a bat to the back of the head I can attest to how effective it can be when "better" weapons are not at hand.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

a baseball bat can be very effective , especially if used more like pugil stick !

 

[rocinante]

any links on how to use a baseball bat like pugil stick or escrima or whatever. Jabbing, blocking, weird ass twirling to impart lack of fear and sanity???? It seems somebody has to have thought out and documented the finer points of wounding with the woodie.

 

[Browning]

rocinante : any links on how to use a baseball bat like pugil stick or escrima or whatever. Jabbing, blocking, weird ass twirling to impart lack of fear and sanity???? It seems somebody has to have thought out and documented the finer points of wounding with the woodie.

Most people who pick up a bat usually seem to do one of two things, either they....

1) Fly into a rage, grab the bat and go after their opponent like a Viking Berserker Wood Chopper.

Or.

2) They pick it up, they posture a bit with it and then they expect that it'll scare the person they're having a conflict with and then they stand there in hesitation waiting for them to run away in terror.

Group #1 usually just go on pure rage and they usually do okay in the altercation and the people from Group #2 usually get their bat taken from them by a guy who then turns into a Viking Berserker Wood Chooper who then proceeds to use their bat against them in a very violent manner.

My advice in an altercation where all you have is a bat against someone with a weapon or several someones: Turn into a Viking Berseker Wood Chopper immediately and avoid being the guy from group #2 if all you have is a bat to defend yourself with.

Most people that end up using them don't seem to train much with bats, they just grab them when they're there and since they're readily available. So I don't think that you're going to find much in the way of an actual self defense technique with them. Maybe there's some Asian martial art that has a technique using clubs that could be adapted, but that's about it.

 

[2RCO]

I suggest the slightly modified Double Handed Rational Viking Berserker Wood Chopper. Although foam coming out of your mouth might be a good touch to intimidate the opponent. Also make sure the assailant stays at Bat Range if they get close in or on top of you the bat is not going to be as much help.

 

[IA_farmboy]

After reading a few horror stories on THR I've had the habit of keeping a 8 pound sledgehammer with a 36" handle behind the front door. I figure that and a few choice words should cause most people to back off. If not then I have the means to keep an attacker at a distance. It's probably a bit unwieldy but certainly better than throwing my TV remote, or whatever else I can find in the living room, at an intruder.

I've been doing some renovation in my house lately so the sledgehammer shouldn't look out of place for a while. If any one asks about it I'll just say I was a bit absent minded while getting the mail one day and that's just where it ended up.

 

[Warren]

So which are better; the heavier, fatter softball bats, or the thinner, lighter and probably faster baseball bats?








.

 

[Biker]

I'll take a bat over a knife anyday in a space larger than a closet. I have used Louisville Sluggers on more than one occasion to save my bacon.
My bat has been tested. It is effective.

Additionally, a simple bat is easier on a jury's eyes than an impact weapon designed for SD only.

Biker

Biker

 

[Jim March]

You know why they call it a Bokken?

Because if you get hit with it, something's gonna get bokken.

Seriously, they're much faster and nastier than baseball bats.

You know what else is wicked? A cricket bat.

 

[Warren]

What about using a Jai lai glove to chuck a hard rubber ball at someone at 130 MPH?

Of curse if he has a bat and some fast reflexes that could go against you.

 

[W.E.G.]

A 20" breaker-bar will do a heap 'o breakin'.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

Check out the aluminum T-Ball bats. Get 'em at Wally World at the end of the season for under $10.

They got a nice feel to 'em, and they can be swung pretty effectively indoors.

 

[rocinante]

Check out the aluminum T-Ball bats. Get 'em at Wally World at the end of the season for under $10.

They got a nice feel to 'em, and they can be swung pretty effectively indoors.

Yep that is what nailed my little man in the mouth. Put five little idiots in a garage and they decide to play a game of lets hit the beach ball with a bat. Thing one swings and thing two walks right into it. Dumb and dumber. This is between them the fourth trip to the emergency room this year. I have been preaching situational awareness all week to them. Sigh. I guess they come by it honest though. As rednecks it is usually 'hey man watch this!' followed shortly after by 'who would of thought that would happen'.

 

[camslam]

I used to go with a bat in my truck, but I switched to a smaller lighter hollow metal bar, that I call my "beater" bar. It sits at the bottom of my driver side seat in between the frame and my seat.

I've only had to bring it out once and that was just to calm things down. It is much lighter and can swing more effectively than a bat.

A bat is good for some serious thumping, but you need to be able to swing it quick. Choke up on it son.


I still think the best option is a concealed weapon, I would rather be able to take care of business from a few yards rather than a few inches.

 

[strat81]

Much of the discussion has centered around home defense. Don't forget, bats can make excellent choices for vehicle weapons. In lieu of a "trunk rifle" a bat is certainly a viable alternative. However, be aware of local laws: I have heard some places have laws about "improvised weapons" such as a 20" length of pipe, a sock full of pennies, or even a baseball bat. An officer or jury might reasons that "He only had a bat, so he must've been looking for trouble."

So, if you keep a bat in the trunk, throw an old mitt back there too.

Whatever you get, make sure it's appropriate for your size. I'm a small guy, so full size wooden bats are PITA for me to handle; I do better with youth-size bats (and long guns, for that matter).

Just another tool in the toolbox. Stay safe.

 

[2RCO]

If your gonna carry a bat Throw a glove in the trunk too. "It's for Church League softball yeah that's right!" Or if you carry a youth bat--"I had to pick up my Nephew from T-Ball."

 

[Doggy Daddy]

rocinante

Check out the aluminum T-Ball bats.

Yep that is what nailed my little man in the mouth. Put five little idiots in a garage and they decide to play a game of lets hit the beach ball with a bat.

My sympathies to the little guy.

At least it was "beach ball in the garage", instead of "lamp in the living room".

 

[Cannonball888]

just watched a movie Diasteria (sic?) where a baseball bat was used offensively and used to break down a door. Seem to remember in the movie the apostle where robert duvall took out his wife's boyfriend with a bat.

Don't forget it's effective against aliens too.
Swing away!

 

[brerrabbit]

As has already been posted, they make good vehicle weapons also.

I used to keep an aluminum bat in the bed of my truck. I also carried a glove and ball in the cab in case I ever got questioned about it.