Choosing A Baseball Bat

 

There are not many decisions that will affect your game as much as choosing to buy the perfect baseball bat. You are going to want to focus on the right size, the proper length and the correct weight for your body type and size. Whether you are an elite baseball player looking for a top-of-the-line composite bat, or simply a casual player searching for something that the whole team on a budget can use, there are many options to choose from. Let's break down some of the most basic elements that define a modern baseball bat.

Bat Length:

Probably the most basic and important detail is the length of your baseball bat. If your baseball that is too long, it can be too heavy for you and very difficult to control. If your bat is too short, you will be at a disadvantage by not being able to reach and hit pitches that are in or near the strike zone.

Bat Weight:

Almost as important as the length, is the weight of your bat. Heavier bats can help add power and distance when being used by strong batters, while smaller hitters can take advantage of lighter bats by swinging them faster, and with a higher MOI (moment of inertia), to help get the ball out of the park. The bat weight is more a personal preference, it is all about what feels good to you. Check out our bat sizing guide to help with choosing the right size bat.

Baseball Bat Size Chart

Player Height (In inches)

Weight (lbs.) 36-40 41-44 45-48 49-52 53-56 57-60 61-64 65-68 69-72 73+
<60 26" 27" 28" 29" 29" 29" 29" 30" 31" 31"
61-70 27" 27" 28" 29" 30" 30" 30" 31" 31" 31"
71-80 27" 28" 28" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 31" 32"
81-90 27" 28" 29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 32" 32" 32"
91-100 27" 28" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 32"
101-110 28" 29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 32"
111-120 28" 29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 33"
121-130 28" 29" 29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 32" 33"
131-140 28" 29" 30" 31" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33" 33"
141-150 28" 29" 30" 31" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33" 33"
151-160 29" 29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 33" 33" 33"
161-170 29" 29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 33" 34" 34"
171-180 29" 29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33" 34" 34"
180+ 30" 30" 31" 31" 32" 32" 33" 33" 34" 34"

 

Association and League Requirements:

Another important factor in choosing a new baseball bat is what "Stamp" or "Mark" does your League and Association require you to have on your bat in order to be legal for play. The most common baseball bat stamps are BBCOR, USSSA, and Little League.

Adult Baseball Bats must adhere to the BBCOR Bat Certification, which governs College, High School baseball play. 

Senior League and Youth Big Barrel Bats come in either a 2 5/8" or 2 3/4" diameter barrel.

Youth Baseball Bats are bats that have a 2 1/4" barrel diameter. This is the size most notably used by Little League.

Bat Material:

Modern baseball bats are made from either Wood, Aluminum, Composite, or a combination of these materials.

Composite Bats

In the early 2000s Easton helped make the composite bat popular. Ever since then the percentage of players using carbon fiber composite bats has increased every year. Composite is extremely strong, stronger than aluminum. Composite bats can be engineered to be lighter and stronger than metal bats, and with larger sweet spots.

Aluminum Bats

Aluminum bats are less expensive than composite and can produce just as much pop and performance as composite bats. The key difference is durability, and size of the sweet spot is generally a little greater with composite.

Wood Bats

  • Maple is a very dense wood. Stronger than Ash, Maple has more grains and is an extremely hard species
  • Ash is the original wood bat material. Ash is not as hard as Maple, but it is still hugely popular in Major League Baseball
  • Birch is a strong new wood species and is now approved for play in MLB.
  • Bamboo bats are especially durable, however, the performance is limited, and they are better for batting practice rather than game play.
  • Guayabi wood bats are made exclusively by SouthBat. Stronger and more dense than Maple, they are hoping for MLB approval soon.

One-Piece vs Two-Piece:

Modern Aluminum and Composite bats come in 1 piece and 2 piece designs. Single piece bats offer a traditional feel when the ball is hit. There may be more feedback or vibration felt in your hands with a single piece baseball bat. Two piece bats are are made when a handle and a barrel are manufactured independent of each other and joined together to make a bat. They can be connected with glue, taper design to hold them together, or a rubber piece in the middle that hold the two pieces together and dampens vibration.

Bat Warranty:

Most baseball bats come with a warranty from the manufacturer for a period of 1 year from the purchase date. A receipt is required as proof of purchase when making a baseball bat warranty claim.



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