Photomatching Lizard Skin Taped Bats
 

Hey guys, I was just curious if anyone knew if the colors on lizard skin tape (used to wrap bat handles) fades, or is eliminated all together with game use? Obviously that would make it very difficult to photo-match modern bats based solely on this method. However, it would allow for some percentage of variability of the colors between the selected photo and the desired game used bat. If that isn't the case, and colors do not fade, it would greatly enhance the ability to photo-match bats to specific games. If anyone knows if this is the case and would provide their expertise on the topic I would appreciate it, thanks!

I have a several gamer bats with lizard skin and other brands of wraps. I noticed it doesnt take long before they are flaking badly, six months or a year later they start to deteriorate noticeably. I am strongly considering removing wraps from my bats in the future because they are impossible to preserve and look awful when they disintegrate.

I have two bats from 2018 that have Lizard skin handle wraps. They both have handle cracks that go right through the skin, showing its not a very durable material. Within six months the tape was peeling and falling off. Today after a closer inspection, it seems the skin tape had adhesive that stayed on the bat, or to me, adhesive was applied to the bat then the non sticky skin tape was wrapped around. The peeling tape had no stickiness whatsoever. Either way it does not compare in durability or adhesion to good old fashion Athletic tape

As for photomatching, I didn't see a color fade at all, and I think with deteriorating and loss of tape it would be very hard to confirm it in a game photo with an intact handle

I have a 2017 Trout Bat that says Photomatched on PSA cert. I downloaded a couple pictures from the day referenced on the cert. So far the tape has held up very well.