Baseball Bat Buying Guide

Baseball Bat Buying Guide

 

A guide to baseball bats, and how to buy the right one for the upcoming season.

Baseball Bat Buying Guide

Success at the plate often comes down to this: making consistent hard contact against live pitching. To do this, it’s important to swing the right bat for you. That means a bat that’s long enough to cover the strike zone, light enough to swing with ease and heavy enough to generate power.

The table below is a general guide for determining your bat size based on your height and weight.  Please remember when choosing your bat that this is just a general guide.  Your personal preference should play a role in the size of bat you choose as you may be more comfortable with a lighter bat for a quicker swing or a heavier bat for more pop.

Weight
Height
3ft - 3ft 4"
3ft 5" - 3ft 8"
3ft 9" - 4ft 4ft 1" - 4ft 4"
4ft 5" - 4ft 8"
4ft 9" - 5ft 5ft 1" - 5ft 4"
5ft 5" - 5ft 8"
5ft 9" - 6ft 6ft 1" +
Under 60lbs 26" 27" 28" 29" 29"          
61 - 70 lbs 27" 27" 28" 29" 30" 30"        
71 - 80 lbs   28" 28" 29" 30" 30" 31"      
81 - 90 lbs   28" 29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 32"    
91 - 100 lbs   28" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32"    
101 - 110 lbs   29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32"    
111 -120 lbs   29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 31" 32"    
121 - 130 lbs   29" 29" 30" 30" 31" 32" 33" 33"  
131 - 140 lbs   29" 29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33"  
141 - 150 lbs     29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33"  
151 - 160 lbs     29" 30" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33" 33"
161 - 170 lbs       31" 31" 31" 32" 33" 33" 34"
171 - 180 lbs           32" 33" 33" 34" 34"
180 + lbs             33" 33" 34" 34"

 

MATERIALS

At Baseball Outlet we have a variety of different baseball bat materials available, these are Ash, Maple, Birch and Wood Composite.

Ash: Ash is still very popular among the big leaguers as it provides great flexibility due to the unique grain structure. You will see less fractured breakages with ash bats because of this flexibility and the visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality.

Maple: This is the species that most pro players prefer as it features the best surface hardness and provides an unmatched sound and feel at contact. Maple is naturally harder than other bats and offers added strength at impact. The closed grains eliminate flaking which is more commonly seen with ash and this allow superior durability.

Birch: This is the fastest growing species in professional baseball. It features the ideal combination of surface hardness and flexibility for increased durability. Birch has a hardness that is similar to maple and provides a great sound and feel at contact. This is balanced with a flexibility closer to ash that allows for more forgiveness on any non-barrel contact and helps to decrease the chance of fractured breakage. Pound for pound birch bats are lighter than maple giving you a lighter swing weights again comparable turning models. Birch bats require a small break in period of around 30 - 50 contacts to compress the wood and optimise it's performance by reaching the maximum hardness.

Wood Composite: Made up of different wood blends. This means that composite wood bats are more durable and last longer than traditional wood bats.

CUPPING

Cupping a bat is the process in which the end of the barrel is hollowed out to remove weight while maintaining length. This process creates a slightly more balanced feel to your swing and is especially effective on larger-barrel bats for increased swing speed. Cupping a bat allows it to be made of denser wood meaning that the cupping process won't weaken the bat or increase the chance of breaks.

Fielding Gloves

Softball Bats

Wooden Bats Information Sheet

SELECTING YOUR IDEAL BAT SIZE AND WEIGHT

  1. Place the bottom of the bat in the center of your chest, pointing it to the side, parallel to your outstretched arm. If you can comfortably reach the top of the bat with your fingertips, the bat is the right length.
  2. Position the bottom of the bat in the center of your chest, facing outward. If your arm can reach out and grab the barrel of the bat, then it is the correct length.
  3. Stand the bat up against the side of your leg. If the end of the bat reaches the center of your palm when you reach down, it's the appropriate length.

BUYER’S TRICK: To determine if a bat is too heavy, here's a simple trick. Hold the bat handle and extend your arm away from your side. If you can't hold the bat extended for 30-45 seconds, the bat might be too heavy for you.

 

STRUCTURE OF A BASEBALL BAT

 

 

Helps keep the bat from slipping out of a batter's hand; Also helpful for hanging on a bat rack for storage. 

 

Sometimes covered by tape or a bat gripping aid, this is where a batter will place his or her hands when swinging.

 

This section is where the thinnest part of the bat's handle transitions into the wider barrel. Much like the grip, the taper is not an ideal area of the bat to make contact with the ball.

 

The thickest area of the bat where a batter should look to make contact with a baseball or softball. 

 

The end, essentially, finishes off the barrel. Some wood bats have "cupped," or concave, ends to reduce overall swing weight. This creates a faster, more balanced swing speed, which makes them ideal for younger players. Non-cupped ends may be better for stronger players.

KNOB TYPES

In addition to the barrel, taper and handle, a bat's knob can also vary by design. These differences can lend themselves more to different hitting styles:

STANDARD

Standard wood bat knobs closely resemble the knobs found on metal baseball bats. This can be a good option for newcomers to wood bat leagues.

Standard Baseball Bat Knob

TAPERED

Tapered knobs are a popular, common option when choosing wood bats. This style features a smooth, flared transition from knob to handle.

Tapered Baseball Bat Knob

BELL

Bell knobs are slightly larger and have more mass than other knobs. They serve as a counterweight for batters. They create more whip and swing speed through the zone.

Cone Baseball Bat Knob

CONE

Cone knobs feature a slow, gradual transition from handle to knob-allowing for an ergonomic, comfortable feel. It is a popular choice for players coming off of injury.

Cone Baseball Bat Knob

CHOOSE YOUR GRIP

There are a variety of gripping aids available to help you maintain an optimal hold on your wood bat:

Although messy, it is a great choice for players who want to enhance their grip while still maintaining a "feel" of the wood.

  1. Grip Boost Clutch Hold Baseball Grip Spray 2oz. Bottle
    Rating:
    0%
    £14.99
    Availability: 22 in stock

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Less Dense and More Lightweight Than Maple.
  • DURABILITY: Less Durable Than Maple.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable, Creates a “Trampoline Effect”.
We can't find products matching the selection.
  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Dense and Strong; Ideal for Novice Wood Bat Users.
  • DURABILITY: Superbly Durable.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable.
  1. Lizard Skins DSP Ultra Bat Wrap 1.8mm - Camo
    Rating:
    0%
    £16.99
    Availability: ONLY 1 LEFT
  2. Lizard Skins DSP Ultra Bat Wrap 1.1mm - Speciality
    Rating:
    0%
    £19.99
    Availability: ONLY 4 LEFT
  3. Lizard Skins Padded Inner Glove V2
    Rating:
    0%
    £16.99
    Availability: 30 in stock

Think of Batting Gloves in baseball as similar to those who use a glove for golfing, but they're frequently used by both hands. Widely used across baseball and softball, batting gloves are ideal for hitters who take lots of batting practice. If you want to avoid calluses and blisters, batting gloves allow you to practice and perfect your swing. They're also perfect for those warmer or even rainier days when the bat can get a little slick and hard to handle.

  1. Nike Hyperdiamond 3.0 Women's Batting Gloves
    Rating:
    0%
    £24.99
    Availability: 19 in stock
  2. Nike Energy Alpha Varsity Batting Gloves
    Rating:
    0%
    £44.99
    Availability: ONLY 2 LEFT
  3. Nike Ronald Acuña Jr Alpha Varsity Batting Gloves
    Rating:
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    £44.99
    Availability: ONLY 4 LEFT

Wood Bat Materials Comparison Chart

 

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Most Dense Wood.
  • DURABILITY: Very Durable.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Rigid, More Energy Transfer to Ball.
  1. Rawlings Fungo Maple Wood Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £89.99
    Availability: ONLY 1 LEFT
  2. Marucci AP5 Pro Maple Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £169.99
    Availability: ONLY 1 LEFT
  3. Marucci Professional Cut V2 Maple Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £119.99
    Availability: ONLY 2 LEFT

 

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Less Dense and More Lightweight Than Maple.
  • DURABILITY: Less Durable Than Maple.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable, Creates a “Trampoline Effect”.
  1. Rawlings Player Preferred 271 Ash Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £74.99
    Availability: ONLY 3 LEFT
  2. Rawlings Player Preferred 318 Ash Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £74.99
    Availability: ONLY 7 LEFT

 

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Dense and Strong; Ideal for Novice Wood Bat Users.
  • DURABILITY: Superbly Durable.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable.
  1. Rawlings Big Stick Elite 110 Birch Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £114.99
    Availability: ONLY 3 LEFT
  2. B45 B271 Pro Select Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £149.99
    Availability: ONLY 2 LEFT
  3. Rawlings Big Stick Elite I13 Birch Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £114.99
    Availability: ONLY 1 LEFT

 

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Very Dense, Very Strong.
  • DURABILITY: Superbly Durable; Often Used for Batting Practice.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable.

 

  • DENSITY & STRENGTH: Strong; Similar Performance to Standard Bats.
  • DURABILITY: Superbly Durable; Ideal for Novice Wood Bat Users.
  • FLEX LEVEL: Superbly Durable.
  1. Rawlings Big Stick Elite 243 Composite Wood Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £149.99
    Availability: 22 in stock
  2. Rawlings Big Stick Elite 110 Composite Baseball Bat
    Rating:
    0%
    £149.99
    Availability: 21 in stock
Comparison chart of the materials in wooden baseball batsComparison chart of the materials in wooden baseball bats
Wooden Baseball Bats information sheetWooden Baseball Bats information sheet

Some Facts About Buying a Baseball Bat

MATERIALS

At Baseball Outlet we have a variety of different baseball bat materials available, these are Ash, Maple, Birch and Wood Composite.

Ash: Ash is still very popular among the big leaguers as it provides great flexibility due to the unique grain structure. You will see less fractured breakages with ash bats because of this flexibility and the visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality.

Maple: This is the species that most pro players prefer as it features the best surface hardness and provides an unmatched sound and feel at contact. Maple is naturally harder than other bats and offers added strength at impact. The closed grains eliminate flaking which is more commonly seen with ash and this allow superior durability.

Birch: This is the fastest growing species in professional baseball. It features the ideal combination of surface hardness and flexibility for increased durability. Birch has a hardness that is similar to maple and provides a great sound and feel at contact. This is balanced with a flexibility closer to ash that allows for more forgiveness on any non-barrel contact and helps to decrease the chance of fractured breakage. Pound for pound birch bats are lighter than maple giving you a lighter swing weights again comparable turning models. Birch bats require a small break in period of around 30 - 50 contacts to compress the wood and optimise it's performance by reaching the maximum hardness.

Wood Composite: Made up of different wood blends. This means that composite wood bats are more durable and last longer than traditional wood bats.

CUPPING

Cupping a bat is the process in which the end of the barrel is hollowed out to remove weight while maintaining length. This process creates a slightly more balanced feel to your swing and is especially effective on larger-barrel bats for increased swing speed. Cupping a bat allows it to be made of denser wood meaning that the cupping process won't weaken the bat or increase the chance of breaks.

Bat Approval

The bats that we stock carry the ISF Certified stamp approving them for league play.