Gone are the days of choosing between two brands of baseball bats
. There are now eight main brands of baseball bats and several others too.
I think the economy thrives when there are competing brands. Its very good for the company and for the consumer.
The more there is to choose from the better now too because there are all different types of players who have different needs.
What I mean by that is that a leadoff hitter might not want the same type of bat that a cleanup hitter does.
Easton has really taken the bull by the horns by creating bats designed for power and for speed. Ive never seen a bat company do this before but they are cutting edge and considered the leader in bats.
After Easton you have top bats like DeMarini and Marucci. There are classic brands like Louisville Slugger and Worth. The top eight is rounded off with Miken and Combat.
With all these brands to choose from and so many different types how do you decide which bat is right for you?
First decide which bat is legal for your league or age group.
There are adult bats which can be considered high school and college. These are also referred to as BBCOR bats.
There are coach pitch and t-ball bats for the youngsters.
Junior big barrel bats for any league which recognizes USSSA baseball.
Wood bats for any league which allows it or Ive also seen players use wood bats for batting practice.
Finally, there are youth bats for Little League and youth big barrel bats for Senior League baseball.
The next thing I would do is have a budget in mind for how much you can spend. After that there are some very important factors such as:
What are your height, weight, skill, and strength levels?
Which bat length, weight and barrel diameter is best for you?
Which bat feels the most comfortable in your hands and when you swing?
Do you want wood, composite or aluminum?
There are weight and height charts available but Ill give you a few recommendations. A player 41 to 44 weighing 100-110 pounds is recommended to have a 30 bat.
Usually a player between the ages of 11 and 12 choose a 30-31 bat.
Once you have all these factors chosen for your personal needs its all about style after that. There are different colors, different graphics, one piece bats and two piece bats just to name a few.
Once you have all these factors decided on your choice of bat will most likely be narrowed down to two or three.
If you are patient you might find one of those bats on sale. Keep your eyes open for those sales online. Ive been to the stores. You wont find much selection and you will rarely find a sale. Look for free shipping too.
This process is a fun one and once you follow the tips from above you will find the perfect bat for your baseball season.