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Similar to
baseball gloves,
choosing a baseball or softball bat is primarily dependent on your personal
preferences. Below we will explain bat materials, sizes, technology and
regulations that will help you determine the bat that will fit you best. We
offer baseball and softball bats to fit everyone's preferences from
Rawlings,
Louisville Slugger,
Wilson and ComBat.
Bat
Materials
-
Wood
Baseball Bats - Used primarily by professional players, wood
baseball bats are heavier and have less hitting power than metal bats.
These are the only bats permitted in Major League Baseball so if you
have professional aspirations you should practice with a wooden bat.
Maple and ash wood are the most popular because of their strength,
hardness and density.
-
Aluminum
Baseball Bats /
Softball Bats - Aluminum bats are lighter and more
durable with increased hitting power. The lighter weight allows batters
to generate more speed on the wall, permitting the batter to hit the
ball harder and farther. Lighter baseball and softball bats also
increase the "sweet spot", the hitting zone on the bat's barrel that
provides the maximum area for bat to ball contact.
-
There a
variety of aluminum alloys, mostly combinations of Zinc, Copper,
Magnesium and Aluminum, some being a little bit more durable and
stronger than others. Here is a general breakdown of the some of
standard alloys:
-
7046:
Standard aluminum alloy used in most baseball and softball bats.
The
Rawlings FP31AF Amanda Freed Fast Pitch Softball
Bat features standard 7046
aluminum as well as a
Sure-Lock™ end plug to help guard against miss-hits off the end
and is used by Amanda Freed, member of the U.S. Olympic team and
the Texas Thunder of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
-
CU31 /
7050: More durable than 7046 with traces of zirconium, magnesium
and copper. The
Louisville CB76W TPX Warrior Baseball Bat
features CU31 alloy and meets all college and high school
regulations.
-
C405 /
7055: Increased zirconium content, giving these bats more
strength than 7050. Check out the
Louisville YB750 TPX Omaha Youth Baseball Bat
for a glance at C405 alloy. It also features
Sims Sting Stop to reduce
vibrations.
-
C555:
Contains traces of scandium, making it the strongest of the
alloys listed here.
-
Graphite/Titanium Lined Baseball Bats / Softball Bats - Graphite and
titanium can be added to thinner-wall aluminum bats to decrease weight
and therefore increase the batter's hitting speed. These materials also
reduce vibration and the sting you feel upon contact with the ball. The
Louisville FB71C TPS Catalyst Fastpitch Softball Bat
and
Louisville CB71X TPX Exogrid Baseball Bat
are two bats featuring a composite design.
Bat Sizes
-
Length and Weight:
Baseball bats and softball bats come in different lengths and weights.
The weight drop is a figure you will often see given to describe a bat.
It refers to the difference between the length of the bat (in inches)
and the weight of the bat (in ounces). It is always shown as a minus
number and the higher the weight drop, the lighter the bat. For example,
a baseball bat with a -10 weight drop would be lighter than a bat with a
-3 weight drop.
Determine Your Bat Length by Weight and Height
| |
Your height (inches) |
|
Your weight (pounds) |
36-40 |
41-44 |
45-48 |
49-52 |
53-56 |
57-60 |
61-64 |
65-68 |
69-72 |
73+ |
|
Bat length |
| less
than 60 |
26" |
27" |
28" |
29" |
29" |
|
|
|
|
|
| 61-70 |
27" |
27" |
28" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
|
|
|
|
| 71-80 |
|
28" |
28" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
|
|
|
| 81-90 |
|
28" |
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 91-100 |
|
28" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 101-110 |
|
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 111-120 |
|
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 121-130 |
|
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 131-140 |
|
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 141-150 |
|
|
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 151-160 |
|
|
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
33" |
| 161-170 |
|
|
|
31" |
31" |
32" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
34" |
| 171-180 |
|
|
|
|
|
32" |
33" |
33" |
34" |
34" |
| 180+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33" |
33" |
34" |
34" |
Note: In general, bigger,
stronger players usually prefer a heavier bat since they reap benefits from
both the heft and swing power. Smaller and younger players should use a
lighter bat to generate a quicker swing and provide better control.
- Barrel Size: The bat's barrel size is the diameter of the
larger part of the bat. The larger and longer the barrel, generally, the
larger the sweet spot of hitting the ball. Smaller barrel sizes are
lighter and allow for more bat speed. A standard barrel size is 2 1/2
inches.
- Bat Taper: The bat's taper is the diameter of the bat's
handle. A bigger bat taper can reduce the sting that occurs when the
ball isn't hit on the sweet spot but it also increases the overall
weight of the bat. Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of a inch.
Bat
Technology
Baseball bat and
softball bat technology has advanced significantly over the years, enabling
manufacturers to build lighter and more durable bats. Each manufacturer has
their own terminology for their designs but we have highlighted a few of the
newest technologies currently on the market.
Louisville Slugger -
-
Exogrid Stiff-Handle Technology - Developed to increase handle
strength and stiffness without increasing weight. This is achieved by
trimming some of the handle's metal in a grid pattern and replacing it
with lighter, stiffer carbon inserts. A carbon sleeve is also inserted
with unidirectional fibers that run the length of the handle. Finally,
using heat and pressure, the sleeve, inserts and metal wall are bonded
together to function as a single, solid unit. Featured on the
Louisville CB71X TPX Exogrid Baseball Bat.
-
X-1 Composite Technology -
Features multiple layers of 100% aerospace grade graphite which are
embedded in a specially designed toughened epoxy resin. Each layer is
precisely positioned at an angle determined by Louisville Slugger's
exclusive computer-designed pattern. The result is a bat with the
optimum combination of performance and durability. Featured on the
Louisville FB71C TPS Catalyst Fastpitch Softball Bat.
Wilson -
-
Half
& Half Technology - The original "Bat That Bends", Half & Half
technology combines a Flex-Tuned Evolution Composite handle with an SC-3
Alloy barrel for optimal balance and a monstrous sweet spot.
Virtually indestructible, the Half & Half™
system redistributes weight for optimal balance, allowing players to
swing faster with less effort. Check out this
mainstay of top college programs, the
Wilson DEMARINI Vexxum DXVNB Baseball Bat.
-
Positack Grip - Moisture-absorbing composite material provides a
secure grip while also reducing vibration and hand fatigue for better
feel and control, with or without a glove. The
Wilson DEMARINI Medusa DXMFP Fast Pitch Softball Bat
features this grip as well as the Half & Half technology.
Combat -
Bat
Regulations
-
Bat Performance
Factor (BPF) - Defined as the increase in the liveliness of a ball
hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall. For example,
a baseball bat with a BPF of 1.20 would rebound a ball 20% faster than a
solid wall would).
-
Ball Exit Speed
Requirement (BESR) - The ball cannot rebound off the the barrel of the
bat at a speed higher than 97 MPH.
-
College / High
School Regulations
-
Every league has
their own regulations so be sure to check your league's rule book before
purchasing a new bat.
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