Wooden bats are required in professional baseball, at the college-level and in many recreation-level leagues. They are heavier than aluminum bats, taking more force to swing. This means you must have a strong grip on your bat to make powerful contact with the ball and to keep the bat from flying out of your hands on the field. Although you can use tape specifically designed to wrap bats, athletic tape is effective while being easier to find and less expensive.

Step 1

Remove existing tape if necessary. Peel it back from the end, keeping your hand close to the bat as you pull the tape to help remove as much adhesive as possible. Discard the old tape.

Step 2

Sand the bat handle with a fine-grit sandpaper to remove remaining adhesive. Remove as little wood as possible by focusing on the areas that have flecks of adhesive. The point is to prepare the handle for the tape, not to make it smaller. Once the adhesive is gone, sand all sides of the handle with one or two strokes of the sandpaper to even out any low spots.

Step 3

Hold the bat between your knees to keep both hands free for taping -- this is easiest if you sit down. Alternatively, have a friend hold the bat for you with the handle facing you at an angle.

Step 4

Cut the end of the tape at an angle so it will lie flush with the knob. Place the end on the handle against the base of the knob, angling the tape to about 45 degrees.

Step 5

Wrap the tape around the handle at an angle, leaving gaps between the rows of tape that are about equal to the size of the tape. For example, if the tape is 1-inch wide, leave a 1-inch gap where the wood shows through. Continue wrapping at least 8 inches down the handle; some people prefer 12 inches or more. Cut the end at an angle with scissors and press it firmly to the wood.

Step 6

Wrap a second piece of tape around the bat handle, starting on the opposite side of the knob. Use the same angle to wrap the handle. Because you started in a different place, the tape will overlap in a crisscross pattern. Wood still shows through the gaps, but some players prefer this as the different levels of tape, crossed tape and wood help their fingers grip the handle. Cut the end of the tape and press it firmly to the handle.


  • If you prefer a more even, cushioned feel to help you squeeze the handle tighter, use a spiral wrap. Start it with the tape at a shallower angle so the first row stays closer to the knob and wrap the rows next to each other so no wood shows through. Repeat with a second layer of tape, starting on the other side of the handle.

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