Choosing a good baseball bat according to your needs may be a daunting task for you as there are so many factors to take into consideration. One of them being the type of wood used.
We have compiled a complete guide for you to find out the best wood for a baseball bat.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Baseball Bat
Like any other item, there are certain factors you need to consider before you choose a baseball bat; the key factor is the type of wood, which we’ll explain later. Other factors include
Length of the Bat
Choosing the baseball bat that suits your length is essential as a baseball bat’s length affects your swinging mechanism and plate coverage. You can follow certain ways to know whether the length of a baseball bat is okay for you.
One of these ways is positioning the bat on your chest in a parallel position, then outstretched your arms, and 2see if your fingertips can reach the top of the bat. If you can comfortably do that, then the length of the bat is okay for you.
Weight of the Bat
We can’t have you playing with a heavy bat, you will easily get tired, and you might not be able to swing properly because of the weight. To prevent this, you need to look for a bat that will not be too heavy for you.
If you observe that your bat has begun to drop after you have swung multiple times, then that bat is too many for you. A bat that is not too heavy can be held by the top and extended for 35 to 40 seconds by a player without getting tired.
Age and Leagues
Other factors to consider when choosing a base bat include; age and league: there are specific types of bats that suit different age groups and leagues; ask for one of your age group when buying.
Price
The price of a baseball should also be considered, buy a boat that is neither too expensive nor too cheap, but make sure it is made from good wood and it is highly durable, else it might break in no time.
Before we mention the best types of woods for baseball bats, take a look at our previous articles below:
What are some top baseball exercises
Top best Baseball Throwing Drills
Best Wood For Baseball Bats
The type of bat you used had a lot of impact on your performance and lifespan, so you need to buy a bat made from high-quality and durable wood. The best woods for baseball bats are the Ashwoods and the Marple woods. Let’s take a look at each.
Ash
Ashwoods are porous, lightweight, and very flexible. These would create a trampoline effect upon impact. It also exhibits a springboard effect that makes a ball jump up with more force when you hit it with the bat.
Ashwoods are the perfect option for those transitioning from metal to wood bats as they have a large sweet spot and a more positive surface area. Usually, Ashwood bats are made from Northern white ash and have proven to be one of the best baseball bat woods. Give ash woods baseball bats a trial, and you’ll be convinced.
Maple
Unlike Ashwoods, Maple is made from dense wood with a tight grain structure. These woods are very stiff and possess a high energy transfer. Maple woods are less prone to flaking because of their tight grain structure.
Their tight grain structure, durability, and quality make them among the best choices of baseball bats among players. Among other types of maple woods, rock maple is considered the best and strongest available.
Bamboo
Another popular and well-accepted type of baseball bat is the bamboo bat. These are unique bats made from tight tubes of bamboo. The chutes are first pressed together to form a billet, which is then cut and carved into the required shape and model. Baseball players love bamboo wood bats because of their high density and toughness.
These bats are light weighted, feature a nice pop-up, and hit the ball with full energy. Different types of bamboo wood baseball bats are made to suit different ages and leagues. So when you go to buy, ask for the one that best suits your age and league.
Conclusion
The woods mentioned above are known as some of the best baseball bat woods. They are lightweight, flexible, have a low density, and hit the ball with a great energy amount. While the ash woods were the best for those transitioning from metal to wood bats because of their large sweet spot and positive surface area, the maple woods are known to be very stiff and possess high energy transfer.
Birch bats are also good, especially for players transitioning from aluminum bats to wood bats. Birch bats are also less prone to flaking when compared to maple and ash bats. When searching for a birch wood bat, the yellow birch is the most common and the best you can find.
