How to Compare Wood Bats

Wood bats come in different styles and are made of different types of wood. As they can be easily broken, it's important to pick a quality bat. There are several key factors to evaluating a wood bat.

  1. Type of Wood

    • The type of wood a bat is made of is a good start for evaluation. White ash is a common type that is less expensive than others and durable. Hard maple is stronger than ash but also more expensive. You should be wary of soft types of maple; they are weak and prone to breaking. Hickory is the strongest option, but it has the downside of being heavier.

    Slope of Grain

    • The slope of the grain is important to the quality of a wood bat. Look for a bat that has a grain running as straight as possible down the length of the bat. Wooden bats generally break along the grain, so the straighter the grain of the wood is the stronger your bat will be.

    Shape

    • The shape of a bat is important to its strength and quality. Bats with narrow handles are weaker and more prone to breaking, especially when this is paired with a wide barrel.