Ink Dot Test
The ink dot test was implemented to show how straight the grains are on maple and birch wood bats. The straighter the grains, the stronger the bat.
To test the grains of a maple or birch wood baseball bat, a single, black drop of ink is dropped onto the plain wood of the bat about 12 inches up the handle, from the knob. It is then measured with a protractor. This allows us to test how straight the wood grains are. According to MLB regulations, the grain in a maple or birch wood bat cannot exceed an angle of more than 2.86 degrees.Â
All wood maple and birch wood bats produced by Old Hickory will have the ink dot and will pass the ink dot test for MLB regulations. (Trophy Bats excluded)
