Wood Baseball Bat Guide
There are multiple factors to consider when selecting the perfect bat. This guide will help breakdown these components, to help provide a foundation of understanding.
A bat is more than just a hunk of metal or wood. It is a carefully-engineered tool that allows players to get the most out of every swing. Every component of the bat, from the knob to the end cap, is designed to maximize every ounce of performance. There are four main tech components you need to know for your bat: material, barrel diameter, construction and weight balance.
Knob
Taper
Barrel Length
Length of Bat (in inches)
Weight of Bat (in inches)
Traditional vs. Flared
Knob
End Cap (Traditional)
End Cap (Cupped)
Materials/ Wood Species
One of the biggest influences on bat performance is its material. Bats are made of metal, composites, or wood. Metal and composite bats are traditionally used for youth baseball through college baseball. Wood is used throughout the professional levels, as well as for specific amateur and travel ball leagues/organizations.
MAPLE
The species preferred by most pro players, Maple features the ultimate surface hardness and provides an unmatched sound and feel at contact. Naturally harder, Maple offers added strength at impact. Closed grains eliminate flaking commonly seen with Ash, allowing for superior durability.
- Most dense - Very durable - Rigid (more energy transfer to the ball)
BIRCH
The fastest growing species in professional baseball, Birch features the ideal combination of surface hardness and flexibility for increased durability. Its hardness (similar to Maple) provides great sound and feel at contact. Flexibility similar to Ash allows for forgiveness on non-barrel contact, decreasing the chance of multi-piece fractured breakage. Birch is less dense than maple, giving it a lighter feel on comparable turning models.
- Dense and strong. - Extremely durable. - Slight flex - Good for novice wood bat users
ASH
Still widely popular among big leaguers, Ash provides the ultimate in flexibility due to its unique grain structure. More forgiving than Maple, Ash rarely sees multi-piece fractures when the bat breaks. Visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality, giving you the confidence you need when you step up to the plate.
- Less dense, lightweight. - Less durable than Maple. - Porous and Forgiving (trampoline effect)
Our Finish
Our finish is a a two part poly that is the hardest you can get without using a polyester poly (used on the bottoms of boats). It is a very expensive product with a very quick "pot" life, meaning after it is mixed it will dry very fast in the spray gun if you aren't careful. What this means to you? You are getting the very best performing finish on the market. In addition to the top coat, we use top of the line paints and dye stains.
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Ink Dot
An ink dot on a bat certifies that the wood is MLB grade. Often MLB-quality wood bats are bone-rubbed, which is the process of making a bat denser by compressing the wood. The ink dot is the stamp of the highest quality wood bat
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Cupped vs. Non-Cupped
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.
Swing Weight
A factor you may not see, but will definitely feel is the swing weight* of your bat. Bats are often segmented by their given length and weight. The Swing weight is a determination of how a bat’s particular weight is distributed along the bat’s length. For example, you can have two bats that are 30 ounces, but that have different swing weights because the 30 ounces are distributed differently in the bat. Bats can fall along the swing weight spectrum, from light to balanced to end-loaded.
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End-loaded bats shift extra weight toward the end of the barrel, creating more whip-like action on a player’s swing and generating more power.
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Balanced bats have a more even weight distribution, allowing for potentially greater swing speed for many hitters. This is preferred by contact hitters who want more control of their swing.
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*Note - there are a variety of swing weights offered to meet player needs.
Knob Style - Round Knob vs. Flare Knob
Not all knobs are the same. Some bats have a more rounded knob while others feature a more gradual flare. The choice between the two simply comes down to personal preference.
Standard
Knob Taper
Maximum
Knob Taper
Turning Model
The turning model refers to the specific shape of the bat. Different turning models have different specifications. Here are the areas where turning models differ:
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Barrel Measurement: is the diameter in the largest part of the barrel.
(Small 2.3 or less, Medium 2.3-2.47, Large 2.5+)
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Barrel taper: indicates whether the bat has a short dramatic transition or a long transition through the taper.
(short, medium, long or max taper)
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Handle thickness: measures the diameter of the handle.
(Thin .9-.93, Standard .94-.96, Thick .96+)
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Knob taper: identifies what kind of taper exists for that turning model. Here are the three types.
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No taper: handle comes straight into the knob with no flare.
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Traditional taper: a gradual flare to the handle as it reaches the knob.
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Tapered: Rather than a straight transition, this style features a smooth transition from knob to handle
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Max taper: an aggressive flare to the handle as it joins the knob for a wider feel in your bottom hand.
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Some Turning Model Examples Include:
Model: AP5
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Flared
Thick .96
Short
Medium 2.47
Model: 271
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Flared
Standard .94
Long
Medium 2.47
Model: CU26
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Traditional
Standard .94
Short
Medium 2.47
Model: CUT22
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Max Taper
Thick .97
Short
Large 2.5
Model: 243
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Flared
Thin .92
Short
Large 2.55
Model: 141
Knob Taper
Handle Thickness
Barrel Taper
Barrel Diameter
Traditional
Standard .95
Long
Medium 2.46