embi said:
Similar to what Adarsh said, a face cover might be a good idea. It strengthens the face of the bat and prevents cracks from appearing. Its sorta like bat tape, but the right size for the face of the blade.
a face cover is a good idea in terms of protection however many have found that it actually takes some of the force off the ball. i would generally recommend a face cover for juniors who are looking to have the bat last for an extended period of time, rather than optimise peformance.
edge tabe is a great idea in terms of both prevention and treatment of a bat. it creates an extra layer of strength on the edges and prevents cracking. the tape is generally made of a fibreglass material so it will not add any extra weight.
embi said:
Speaking of bat-tape, MWaugh you got any tips on applying this?
when applying the edge tape the best idea is to run the tape from just above the bottom of the bat and run it all the way to at least the beginning of the sticker on the front of the bat. it is probably preferential to apply a couple of strips to each edge, and maybe some just above the toe to reinforce it that little bit more