Welcome to the Rush Blog

Happy Holidays from the Rush!

2008-01-04T08:29:00.000-06:00

Watch as the Rush tests its strength against some popular holiday decorations! Let us know what you want to see crushed next!

Rush vs. a Santa toy

Rush vs. a yard reindeer

Rush vs. a nutcracker

Improving the Rush

2007-11-15T08:23:00.000-06:00

My title is Product Field Test Coordinator, which basically means that any of our products from Rawlings, Worth, and Miken have the potential of being put in my hands for field testing. I have to make contact with players of all levels as well as baseball and softball coaches. I go through them to set up tests with our prototype equipment. Some of the tests are live tests in which I set up our innovative SCI-FLY system that tracks batted ball speed, distance, and various other factors of performance. We also conduct durability testing which seems simple but is quite helpful in deciding whether or not to go into production with a certain bat or type of ball. For this testing I usually have a coach or instructor take possession of the prototype and control the test on their own over a period of typically 1-3 weeks. When enough testers have put enough hits on the bat to have it pass as durable and provided us with feedback, we get it back and run some final tests before making decisions on what still needs improved or what is ready for production. I compile all of the feedback that I receive (both GOOD AND BAD) and report it in a more organized manner to our test group that's made up of a bunch of engineers. From here, they really dig into the issues of the bat that need improvement and do their best to modify and fix any problems that may exist so that the future of our bats have a better outlook every year!

Specifically with the Rush line of bats, I hear plenty of good feedback overall but there always seems to be the debate of which is better, the Rush Gold or the Rush Composite. I tell players that it really depends on their size, swing speed, and swing type, and the best way to figure out if you hit better with the 2-piece Rush Gold or the 1-piece Rush Composite is to try them out. You can't go wrong with either, but there is always a "best choice" for each individual player.

Actually, some people may have already heard that the next generation Rush is coming out in the spring of 2008, and let me tell you, these bats look nice! I've had a few of these bats in the field and after testing, the reviews have been stellar! Our test groups feel that the future of the Rawlings bats is a very positive one! I think its safe to say these new Rush bats will be even bigger on the market than our past Rush line because once players start hitting bombs in the games with them, everyone will want their own! Keep your eyes open this coming spring!

Chad Caldwell
Product Field Test Coordinator

Happy Halloween from the Rush bat!!

2007-10-30T08:14:00.000-06:00

Check out the cool video below of our Rush bat slicing right through a pumpkin!!

Crush with the Rush

2007-08-27T09:26:00.000-06:00

So over the last few weeks, we've been testing out the Rush's crushing ability. So far, we've hit a a grapefruit, a bag of flour, a head of lettuce, and a gallon of milk among other things. The gallon of milk had to be my favorite; it was awesome to see the milk spray towards the cameras, but it actually soaked the whole right side of my body! Check out the video below of the Rush hitting a frozen chicken. It's pretty cool. What do you want to see the Rush and I crush next??

Dennis Turner
Rawlings National Promotions Manager
"The guy in the Rush videos"

Do not attempt this at home!! This was done in a controlled environment with a trained professional.

Here's some more cool videos of the Rush crushing other items:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvopleKlVrQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2HO4hDET6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTio2E9V1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81pKsgj--Lo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2DNRJ9gOmU

Review the Rush

2007-08-13T07:04:00.000-06:00

We want to hear what you think of the new Rush....Does it perform? Do you like the looks? Let us know your opinion of the Rush Comp or Rush Gold and we'll get it posted.

Lindsey Naber
Asst. Marketing Manager
Rawlings Sporting Goods

The Science of Seeding

2007-07-09T15:12:00.000-06:00

Seeding (allowing players to try out our product before it hits the stores) provides an opportunity to create genuine excitement and momentum for our bats. It also gives us an early gauge of our bats performance and reception among our athletes. The Rawlings sales force is primarily responsible for who gets seeded with bats. The relationships they have formed within their territories provide us with the greatest accessibility to our athletes; it's a tremendous asset.

We try not to complicate the process. Basically, each Rawlings sales rep is allocated about 18 bats - they list the styles and sizes they want, and we ship them out. After that, it's up to the rep. Some hold bat demo days at schools; others pass them along to coaches or dealers where they try them out for a week or so. We gauge feedback by giving short surveys, maybe a quick interview, but my favorite is when the batting practices are video taped. Our goal is to have bats in stock within two months after our seeds have hit the fields.

We are always looking for ways to improve the performance of our products; in fact some of the feedback is being incorporated in our next generation of bats. Let’s just say, it’s not something we take litely.

I look forward to hearing what you think of the Rush.

Adam Shupe
Asst. Product Manager: Bats/Balls
Rawlings Sporting Goods

Testing out the Rush

2007-05-16T07:41:00.000-06:00

In the design process we do a lot of testing with players of all different ages and skill levels. It is important for us to get feedback from a variety of players to figure out what flex will be preferred by the majority of players. For example, many high school and college players felt that the Fusion handle was “too flexible” which led to the design of this year’s Rush Gold handle – 50% stiffer than the Fusion handle. We do a lot of what is called “blind testing” – this means that we make bats that look the same but use different components (for example different handles) and ask players to hit with them and tell us which one they like best. We ask the players to rank the bats in several different categories including hit distance, feel & balance, and least amount of sting. We will travel all around the country to make sure we get feedback from all types of players – from 10 year old kids to elite college players. This year we used more than 200 players in our testing including some of the best high school and college players. The results led to the design of the 2 different bats in the Rush series. Both bats have excellent performance in terms of hit distance but they each have a different feel to the player. We found that some players really like the added whip they get with the more flexible Rush Gold handle and some players prefer the much stiffer handle on the Rush Comp. The only question left is which bat do you prefer?

Becky Shaw
Rawlings Project Engineer, Bats

Breaking down RPM™ Composite Technology

2007-05-01T09:17:00.000-06:00

What is RPM Composite Tech. and how does it work?
RPM is an acronym for Rapid Performance Matching. RPM Composite technology refers to how we are using advanced composite materials to tailor our bats to a wide range of players. For example, the Rush Gold and Rush Comp are both very good bats that perform right up to the allowable limits set forth by the NCAA but we expect each bat to appeal to a different style of player. The Rush Comp is best suited for the player who prefers a slightly less balanced bat and a stiff handle, while the Rush Gold is best suited for the player who prefers a slightly more flexible handle and a more balanced feel.

What are it's advantages?
The unique material properties of our composites allows us to be more creative with designs because now we can adjust characteristics of the bat independent of each other. In other words, if we want a stiff handle, we can achieve this without sacrificing the liveliness of the barrel portion of the bat. Such design freedom benefits all players because we can tailor our bats to meet the needs of specific types of players.

How was it developed?
The concept of customizing equipment for specific player types has been around for a long time, in fact it is a very mature technology in the golf industry. As the result of improved material processes, we are now finding it much more feasible to incorporate RPM into our bats.

How will it evolve?
Look for our future bats to include even more RPM technology. We are actively researching many of the factors that affect bat performance and hope to tweak many more of them to help players achieve the full potential at the plate.

I hope that helps to explain the concept of Rapid Performance Matching Technology. I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks! Feel free to post your questions or comments...

Curtis Cruz
Project Engineer
Rawlings Sporting Goods

What's the difference?

2007-04-12T12:01:00.000-06:00

You may be wondering how the Rush bats differ from the Plasma Fusion...or which Rush bat works for you. Here I will try to explain...

The Rush Gold represents the next generation in Rawlings hybrid bat development. The basic hybrid design concept is the same: a) focus handle performance on delivering the bat to the ball with maximum speed and consistency; b) focus barrel performance on maximizing the energy transfer at impact; and c) create the proper combination of handle and barrel design to optimize balance and feel.

The Plasma Fusion was our first hybrid design; Rush Gold takes this concept to the next level of performance. The handle has been completely redesigned to be 50% stiffer in flex compared to the original Fusion. Our testing shows that this stiffer flex appeals to the largest range of players while also providing increased strength and durability. This stronger handle was designed to optimize balance and feel when combined with the new Rush Gold barrel; this barrel features 15% more Liquidmetal plasma than the Fusion for increased power at impact. While everyone should experience improved results, the Rush Gold will especially appeal to those who want a stiffer, stronger feel compared to the original Fusion.

We are even more excited over the introduction of the Rush Comp. This bat represents the latest in composites materials (carbon fiber) technology; the extra long barrel features the largest sweetspot in our line while the one-piece design results in a strong flex and consistent feel. The Rush Comp adult bat is a more end-loaded bat; this weighting and flex will appeal more to the strongest hitters.

So basically, with our new Rush family we have taken our hybrid performance to the next level while adding a powerful new all-composite design. As always, seeing is believing - the best way to choose your Rush is to try them out for yourself!

Art Chou
VP Research, Development, Design, Engineering
Rawlings Sporting Goods

Creating the Rush

2007-04-02T12:46:00.000-06:00

The Rush bat family concept was really born from 2 key insights.......The first was when players made it clear that no single bat design fits every player. Our testing showed that players on the same team can at times, prefer totally different bats. As a result of this finding, we focused on what we had to do to put the best bats in these player's hands. That brings us to the second big factor driving the Rush........our expertise in composite materials. Composites opened doors for our engineers; now they could change the performance of different bat components including the handle or barrel. We went from being somewhat limited with all-metal bat designs to being able to custom-fit or match a particular part of the bat with more or less flex as needed. My role as the product director was to outline the expectations of each bat in the family and then let our talented engineers go to work.

The name "Rush" came from the speed, power and performance the bats deliver on-field.......an "adrenaline rush" for hitters. Even when our artists developed the logo, it was with this in mind. We are absolutely confident that you will see this in action when you swing a Rush.
We hope you enjoy this site. Feel free to share your comments, good or bad, and ask questions. Look for additional posts on the creation of the all-new Rush bats from other key members of the Rawlings team.

Scott Siebers
Product Director, Balls/Bats
Rawlings Sporting Goods