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Bats Buying Guide

Whether you're picking up a new bat  for the little league  season or just want something to use on family outings, you should know a thing or two about baseball bat anatomy and the different types of bats out there.  Once you get familiar with the basics, you can make an informed buying decision that will have you happily swinging on the field in no time.

Baseball Bat Types

Tee-Ball Bats 

  • Tee-Ball bats are for kids ages 5 to 7. The bat barrel and length are smaller than adult-size bats.

Little League Bats 

  • Little League bats are for kids ages 7 to 12. They are used in leagues including Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie Youth, PONY, and AABC. The bat barrel is the same size as the barrel on a tee ball bat, but the length is a little longer.

Senior League Bats 

  • Senior League bats are for kids ages 10 to 13. They are used in travel and tournament leagues and usually have lengths and barrel sizes that meet certain high school regulations.

High School / College Bats 

  • High School and College bats are for ages 13 and up. They are the largest of the bats, both in length and weight, and they're typically used in university leagues.

Bat Materials

Composite bats  are pretty new to the baseball scene, though they've been used in softball for many years.  Some features include:

  • They have a long break-in period.
  • They are not durable in cold weather--anything less than 21º C may cause it to crack.
  • They are more expensive than other options, but they last much longer.
  • The sound they produce may at first sound like a wooden bat, but with increased practice and care they can sound more like a rifle than wood.
  • They have a lot more forgiveness if you have an imperfect swing.

Aluminium Bats 

  • Aluminium is lightweight, which increases control and bat speed.
  • Balls travel farther with aluminium over other metals.
  • Aluminium is durable and not prone to crack or break in cold weather.
  • Aluminium bats come in single-layer or double-layer varieties. Extra layers add more durability and power.keyword

Graphite/Titanium-lined Bats 

  • Graphite and titanium are strong and lightweight, and they are usually added to thinner-wall aluminium bats to increase speed swing.
  • These materials also increase the durability of any bat and give the batter a larger sweet spot.
  • Graphite and titanium also help reduce vibration and ball shockkeyword--the tingling feeling you get when you miss the bat's sweet spot while hitting.

Wood Bats 

  • Wood bats offer a more classic feel and sound than the metal models.
  • Wood bats offer more choices in shape and taper, which allows you to get a bat more tailored to your individual style.
  • Wood bats have three disadvantages:
    • They crack and break easily.
    • They don't have as many sweet spots on the barrel.
    • They don't give you as much power behind your swing as metal can.

Other Considerations

Make sure your baseball bat is the right size for your height and weight.  Check out some useful sizing charts at DicksSportingGoods.com.

Major Manufacturers

Related Guides

Baseball Gloves 

Baseball Cleats 

Baseball Cards 

Baseballs 

External Links