Best Baseball Bat For Your Budget: Top 7 Reviewed

On June 17, 1890 patented Emile Kinsto the baseball bat. Thus the modern baseball bat was born.

Since Kinst's invention, the baseball bat has undergone many significant design changes and is subject to a handful of rules.

But, as with a good bottle of wine, the baseball bat has gotten better with age. Last year has brought a number of technological changes and design features.

We look at the best baseball bats for this year:

Before we dive into a comprehensive review for each of these models, here's some info on what to look for when buying one.

The baseball bat buying guide

A bat is an indispensable piece of equipment for baseball players. But with different lengths, weights and materials, it can be difficult to find the right one for your skill level and unique swing.

There are really only a few things to look for when choosing a baseball bat:

1. Your competition requirements (i.e. what level you are playing),
2. some dimensions that are fairly standard
3. and your personal taste or play style

These can all help you find the perfect baseball bat for your swing.

Baseball Bat Anatomy

Before delving into which baseball bat to choose, familiarize yourself with the different parts of the wood (whether aluminum or composite).

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Each bat can be broken down into five essential regions:

1. the button
2. grip
3. handle
4. barrel
5. and end cap

(photo: sportmomsurvivalguide.com)

From the bottom, the knob helps keep your hands in place as they hold the handle of the bat.

Then the diameter of your bat narrows from the narrower handle to the wider barrel. The barrel is where you want to make contact with the ball.

Finally, an end cap can help improve control of your bat and limit the added weight.

Age and competition level

When choosing a baseball bat for your upcoming season, one of the first things to look at is your league rules.

Please check with a coach or league official prior to purchase to ensure your bat meets league requirements and here on the website of the KNBSB you can read the rules.

Length of the bat

With your bat selection already somewhat narrowed down, your next determinant should be your size. The length of the bat can affect your swing mechanics and plate coverage.

• Too long, and you could risk compromising swing speed or swing mechanics.
• If he's too short, you can limit your plate coverage and give up some of your strike zone.
• If you have the right bat length, you can find a middle ground between these two scenarios.

There are three ways to measure whether a bat is the right length:

1. Place the bottom of the baseball 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 correct length.
2. Place the bottom of the bat in the center of your chest, facing out. If your arm can reach and grab the barrel of the bat, then it's the right length.
3. Place the bat against the side of your leg. If the end of the bat reaches the center of your palm when you reach down, it is the correct length.

(photo: spiderselite.com)

Weight of the baseball bat

The best weight is based heavily on feel. If you're trying multiple swings and the bat feels heavy or starts to drop, it's probably too heavy for your needs.

Hold the handle of the bat and extend your arm toward you. If you can't extend the bat for 30 to 45 seconds, the bat may be too heavy for you.

(photo: ilovetowatchyouplay.com)

Be sure to look at the “falling weight” as well. The drop of a bat is the measure determined by subtracting the weight of the bat from its length.

For example, a baseball bat that weighs 20 ounces (500 grams) and is 30 inches (75 centimeters) long has a drop of -10.

The greater the drop weight, the lighter the bat.

Bigger, stronger players prefer less drop weight, which can lead to more power. Smaller players can benefit from a larger drop weight, which can help with stroke rate.

Material of the bat

There are two main materials and three choices that you will see when choosing a baseball bat:

1. wood
2. metal
3. hybrid

Wooden bats can be made from a variety of trees, such as ash, maple, or birch. Different types of wood can produce different qualities.

To standardize the purchase, most wooden bats have a drop of -3.

Alloy bats or aluminum baseball bats are ready to use right out of the box. This means that no training time is required.

They have a smaller sweet spot but are suitable for any temperature and last even longer due to their durability.

Metal baseball bats can be cheaper than their composite counterparts. Composite bats tend to have a larger sweet spot and less vibration to the hands.

They are more expensive and require a break-in period of about 150 to 200 hits.

Hybrid options are also available. These bats are usually made with composite handles, which minimize vibration, and metal barrels, which require no break-in time.

One Piece vs Two Piece Billets

One final note to consider when choosing the right billet is choosing a one-piece or two-piece design.

The main difference between these two options is how much flex and energy transfer your bat will have.

(photo: justbats.com)

As the name suggests, one-piece baseball bats are a continuous piece of metal. On contact, there is little flex or yield in the bat, resulting in little or no loss of energy.

This can be great for a balanced, powerful swing, but wrong shots can cause annoying stinging in the hands.

Two-piece billets are constructed by fusing a barrel and handle together. This split design can create more flex and "whip" in the swing, resulting in faster bat speeds.

Two-piece batons are also resistant to vibration, making them a good option for players who want to limit that stinging sensation.

How to buy a baseball bat online

Those are good tips, but what about all this if I want to buy one online?

That's a good question because many of these things like height and how the weight feels you can't try remotely. I have two tips about this:

1. you may already know some of these features about your current bat, and can factor this into your purchase.
2. you can order a bat online that is closest to your needs, feel it at home and check the exact measurements for your height, and if it is not correct return it and buy another model (don't hit a test round with the ball Try it if you still want to send it back!)

7 Best Baseball Bats Reviewed

Best Aluminum Baseball Bat: Louisville Vapor

By far the most popular American baseball bat (so far).

The new change to the USABat rule coupled with Louisville Slugger's dedication to making a one-piece aluminum baseball bat has made this a bat in demand.

(view more images)

Bat digest is having fun hitting it in a cage while going through the main points:

Many customers have declared this the best US bat! And it's not surprising given the characteristics of this bat. The main features of the Louisville Slugger are:

• New USA Baseball (USABat) certified stamp.
• (-11) length-to-weight ratio, 2 5/8 barrel diameter.
• Anti-vibration handle construction helps reduce sharpness on mishits.
• Balanced swing weight score (1.1).
• Speed ​​Ballistic Composite end cap increases barrel length and improves balance

The Louisville Slugger is available here at bol.com

Best High Performance Polypropylene: Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher 87″ Plastic Bat

The Cold Steel remains one of the best bat series since its inception. This Smasher is for younger players who need a 10 senior baseball bat.

(view more images)

A one-piece, molded high performance polypropylene helps balance this model while providing a traditional, rigid feel to contact with superior strength and response.

Their whole idea around the bat is to make one that is virtually indestructible, and they test that in videos like this one:

The main features of the Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher are:

• Approved for play in USA.
• (-10) length-to-weight ratio, 2 3/4 inch barrel diameter.
• Optimized barrel design creates a sweet spot twice the size of previous models.
• Provides first-class precision and control on every turn.
• Balanced swing weight

The Brooklyn Smasher is available here

Best for Power Hitters: Easton Beast X Speed ​​BBCOR Baseball Bat

Noisy. Powerful. Brute force. The Beast X is the successor to Easton's Z-CORE baseball bats and (so far) customers believe it to be one of the best alloy designs of all time.

The Advanced Thermal Alloy Construction (ATAC alloy) is the backbone of this model, giving the billet explosion content, premium power and invincible power.

Key features of the Easton Beast X Speed ​​bat are:

• BBCOR certified and approved for amateur use.
• (-3) length to weight ratio, 2 5/8 inch barrel diameter.
• Balanced swing weight provides more speed behind the ball on contact.
• Recommended for both contact hitters and power hitters.
• Longest aluminum 2 5/8 inch BBCOR barrel in baseball

The Easton Beast is available here

Best Wooden Baseball Bat: Louisville Slugger C271

Built exclusively with the top 3% of Louisville Slugger wood to ensure the utmost in quality and excellence.

This wooden bat has the revolutionary EXOARMOR premium hard layer applied to it so that it delivers a multi-layer top layer for double surface hardness, superior contact ability and an extraordinary overall feel.

The main features of the Louisville Slugger Armor bat are:

• Pro ink dot stamp for slope or grain requirement and MLB approval.
• (-3) length-to-weight ratio, 2 1/2 inch barrel diameter (both approximate).
• Standard handle offers better control.
• Bone rubbed to compress and compact wood.
• MLB Grade Wood Offers Unmatched Durability

The Louisville Slugger Armor baseball bat is for sale here at Amazon

Best Hybrid Bat: DeMarini Voodoo

Want to cast a spell this season? While the Solo 618 is a one-piece USA baseball bat, the DeMarini Voodoo is a two-piece, hybrid bat.

This allows the Voodoo to deliver a traditional alloy baseball bat sound, but with the light, smooth feel of composite bats.

The alloy X14 barrel uses an improved variable wall thickness throughout for more powerful performance. Key features of the DeMarini Voodoo USA baseball bat include:

• New USA Baseball (USABat) certified stamp.
• (-10) length-to-weight ratio, 2 5/8 inch barrel diameter.
• 3Fusion end cap optimizes weight, control and overall durability.
• Two-piece hybrid baseball bat.
• 100% composite handle helps reduce hand shock

Buy the Demarini Voodoo here at Amazon

Best Composite Construction: Rawlings Velo

All talk of USABat Standard has taken away the big barrels being manufactured for USSSA, including this Rawlings Velo.

3C technology delivers consistent composite compaction for unbeatable durability and performance. And the two-piece composite construction helps generate faster swing speeds and reduces hand strength on mis-hits.

Key features of the Rawlings Velo Senior League bat include:

• USSSA 1.15 BPF certified stamp.
• (-12) length to weight ratio, 2 3/4 inch barrel diameter.
• Balanced swing weight.
• Chained synthetic bat grip delivers greater control.
• Two-Piece Composite Baseball Bat

Buy this topper here at bol.com

Best Three-Piece Baseball Bat: Louisville Slugger Prime

wowzas! The Prime 9189 is the most complete baseball bat in the game because Louisville Slugger designed this model to perfection.

As a three-piece, 100% composite design, the Microform barrel is crafted to provide maximum pop with a lighter weight than ever before.

This is combined with the proven TRU3 technology that eliminates the sting in the hands for an incredibly soft feel on contact.

The main features of the Louisville Slugger Prime 918 bat are:

• BBCOR certified for amateur endorsement.
• (-3) length to weight ratio, 2 5/8 inch barrel diameter.
• Balanced swing weight score (1.7).
• New RTX end cap provides a longer barrel shape with improved durability.
• Three-Piece Composite Baseball Bat

Buy the Louisville 919 Prime here at Amazon

Baseball Bats FAQ

Which bats hit a baseball furthest?

The aluminum baseball bat would hit an average of 1,71 meters further than the wooden bat. Wooden baseball bat results: shortest distance hit = 3,67 meters. The longest distance stroke is 6,98 meters. Average distance stroke = 4,84 meters.

Allamericansports.nl wrote an entire article about materials used for the bats.

What kind of baseball bats do major league baseball players use?

Maple is the wood of choice for the Nationals. Last season, about 70 percent of Major League Baseball players used maple bats, with 25 percent using ash and 5 percent yellow birch.

Are Ash Wood Bat Better Than Maple?

The harder the surface, the faster the ball will bounce off the bat. This is one of the reasons maple has become so popular - that and the fact that Barry Bonds and other big-sluggers use maple. Maple is a more densely primed hardwood than ash.

Do wooden baseball bats have to be broken into?

There is no exception when it comes to breaking into wooden baseball bats. Whether you use maple, ash, birch, bamboo or even composite woods, your bat will eventually break in with enough use.

Do aluminum billets have to be broken into?

The first thing to address after purchasing a new baseball or softball bat is whether you really need to break it in. If you bought a composite billet, the answer is yes. However, most aluminum billets do not require a break-in period and are ready to use.

What's the sweet spot on a baseball bat?

For most bats, all of these "sweet spots" are in different locations on the bat, so one is often forced to define the sweet spot as an area, about 12 to 18 cm from the end of the barrel, where the speed of the batted ball is the highest and the feeling in the hands is the least.

Conclusion

These were all our tips and top picks. I hope you now know a little more about choosing the right baseball bat and that you will hit a home run with your new bat in your next game!

Also read: This is how an umpire works at a baseball game

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.