Wood Bats

[BoSox_Fanatic]

Anyone care to share their personnel favorite bats?

My favorite bats, which I've only been using this year because we where forced to switch over by Baseball Canada, in Midget AAA and up I believe.

Anyways, they're:
Brett Bat - Maple "Master" Model.
The Old Bat Co. - Maple Magic/Marimachi Masher (Tribute to Ted Williams)

The Old Bat Co. is a place located in the Prov. where I'm from. He used to make bats for the majors awhile ago and now he has slowed down, but I've been using those bats and they feel great too me, you might want to check them out if your ever looking for a good bat. Another bat that I've heard is good are called Sam Bats, also a Bamboo bat made by Brett Bros. aswell.

Now, tell me your favorite.s

[HitchedtoaSpark]

Heinie Groh's 46-oz. bottle bat. http://www.vintagecardtraders.org/virtual/21exhibit/21exhibit-23.jpg

Seriously speaking, it is good for a developing player to swing wood bats. Swinging nothing but featherweight aluminum bats leads to mechanical inefficiency, and therefore mechanical inaccuracy. The aluminum bat swinger who develops this mechanaical inefficiency often cannot make the conversion to wood bats upon reaching the pros. Rob Ellis has a good article on how swinging heavier wood bats develops mechanical efficiency and accuracy.

http://www.baseballtips.com/lostsecrets.html (http://www.baseballtips.com/lostsecrets.html)

[BoSox_Fanatic]

I use a fairly heavy wooden bat, either between 31-33oz which for my age is considered heavy, I've also switched a lighter bat earlier in the year when I wasn't hitting to a 29oz bat, but switched back because it had no effect, and if I can swing a 33oz bat fine, I would rather use that. Usually, if someone is throwing the heater around 85+ I will switch to the 29oz bat though.

[HitchedtoaSpark]

I'm interested in these new maple bats that have become popular since ML players like Barry Bonds have sworn by them. My brother's "retired" from his baseball days now, but if he were still swinging I'm sure he'd have liked to get his hands on a maple bat.

How do you find they "handle," as compared to ash?

[Ravenlord]

Louisville Slugger #6

[BoSox_Fanatic]

Handle? Perfect, and because the Maple wood is ALOT more durable than ASH you can make the handles smaller, which alot of people find comfortable. (Like me)

Also, you can get them laminated, which gives it a smooth feel to it, you can get a brett bat that feels just like glass almost.

[DeadlyDemon]

The wood bats I liked the most while I played were made by a company called Glomar, which is located in Southern California. They used to send sales reps out to my team and you could have bats custom made for yourself. Great bats.

I think it's best that a young player who has a future in baseball, to learn how to use a wood bat as soon as possible. It'll help them develop proper techniques and show them how to hit with the sweet part of the bat sooner.

[Iron Jaw]

I still have the last H&B that I used in high school (I graduated in 1973). A 35 with a fairly thick handle (I always hit better with a thick handled bat) and a Brooks Robinson company engraved autograph on the barrell.

I loved the character of the wooden bats. Light ash, darker ash, black bats - everyone had their own preference.

I wish they would dump the aluminum bats at every level. They distort the game. On the little league team that I coach, my kids, of course, use the aluminum, but I make them swing some wood in practice. However, it's not that easy to get good quality wooden bats at local retailers anymore. One company here orders bats when requested though. One of the summer leagues here for HS age kids allows only wooden bats.

[BoSox Rule]

X-Bat model 73

Cherry barrell, black handle

[Allie Fox]

:o I may sound like an idiot but. . .

Can anyone tell me why it is that college players don't swing a wooden bat?

I was once told that NCAA rules do not allow wooden bats, but after reviewing the Official (NCAA) Rules it seems that is not the case.

I would assume that a kid that might be looking to make it to the BIGS would be interested in showing off their stuff by using a wood bat and maybe even getting used to it (since that's what's used in all pro level leagues). The same might even apply to little leaguers out there.

Other than immediate the performance enhancement, what benefit would an aluminum bat have over a wood bat to someone seriously considering a pro career?

[Captain Cold Nose]

:o I may sound like an idiot but. . .

Can anyone tell me why it is that college players don't swing a wooden bat?

I was once told that NCAA rules do not allow wooden bats, but after reviewing the Official (NCAA) Rules it seems that is not the case.

I would assume that a kid that might be looking to make it to the BIGS would be interested in showing off their stuff by using a wood bat and maybe even getting used to it (since that's what's used in all pro level leagues). The same might even apply to little leaguers out there.

Other than immediate the performance enhancement, what benefit would an aluminum bat have over a wood bat to someone seriously considering a pro career?
The cost of replacing wooden bats is far greater than aluminum bats. It's easier on the budget.

[Imapotato]

Handle? Perfect, and because the Maple wood is ALOT more durable than ASH you can make the handles smaller, which alot of people find comfortable. (Like me)

Also, you can get them laminated, which gives it a smooth feel to it, you can get a brett bat that feels just like glass almost.


Plus you can tap those bats and get Maple Syrup for your pancakes...mmmmm

[YankeesCatcher]

That's pretty gross, un filtered maple syrup as well....

[Gmax]

I think we'll be seeing less and less ash bats in baseball. There has been a lot of logging of ash trees.
These days, a good ash is hard to find. :D

[mobile eggroll]

i currently use a brett bat called the bamboo dragon, made of bamboo. currently it is my personal favorite wood bat as it has a lot of pop for a woodie. and it just feels great in my hands :crazy

[Iron Jaw]

Handle? Perfect, and because the Maple wood is ALOT more durable than ASH you can make the handles smaller, which alot of people find comfortable. (Like me)

Also, you can get them laminated, which gives it a smooth feel to it, you can get a brett bat that feels just like glass almost.

I don't know why, but I always hit tons better with a thick handled bat. As a HS kid, many moons ago, we had a wide variety of bats on the team. And I probably tried them all. But with the thick handle, I was very consistent. I guess it was the hand size.

I coach little league baseball, and of course, all the kids use the aluminum bats. But I like to throw the woods into practice sessions. My boy has become a terrific hitter, practicing with wood and playing with aluminum.

When I was in HS, only wooden bats were allowed. Aluminum bats were around then, but they were not very good. I think the coaches used them to pound in the home plate spikes.

My younger brother set our HS record for home runs with a wooden bat (7). Years later, some kid broke the record with an aluminum. But one thing I liked was the old HS placed both records on the record plaque in the tropy case, indicating wooden and aluminum records independently. So, because none of the kids in HS use the wooden bats anymore, I guess his record has been immortalized.

[Batty]

Ash is still a great wood to mold a bat out of....the grade of ash becomes the question when you want something that will perform well under pressure. While the youth of today learn to actually swing the new tool (and I say that because using a wood bat is fast becoming the 'newest craze in baseball',) the lesson should include items like honing the bat and the care of natural wood substances. Maple bats having been growing in popularity for a lot of reasons, one being the overall 'look' of the bat. It is true, they can look just like a piece of fine furniture...

By-the-way my favorite wood bat is a.... DINGER

[wogdoggy]

I would assume that a kid that might be looking to make it to the BIGS would be interested in showing off their stuff by using a wood bat and maybe even getting used to it (since that's what's used in all pro level leagues). The same might even apply to little leaguers out there.

Other than immediate the performance enhancement, what benefit would an aluminum bat have over a wood bat to someone seriously considering a pro career


WHY? everyone is using metal and scouts are looking at stats,why cheat yourself ? play with the best equipment that the league allows you...if he gets notuiced he will have plenty of time to hit with wood.

[YankeesCatcher]

That's a good thought wogdoggy.

Except I've always used wood over metal because for me it's an issue of pride....The only reason I'm any kind of a hitter today is because my dear dad forced me to use wood.....So now swinging aluminum is meat...

[MPAAshortstop23]

i always use metal because my dad doesnt like the costs of replacing it every few months, maybe years, but he went through them fast and seems to think i'll do the same. but using a -3 aluminum bat is also a way to make that jump all the closer, i mean from metal to wood. i have a -3 DeMarini and it works great, 33 in, 30 oz.

[wogdoggy]

Except I've always used wood over metal because for me it's an issue of pride....The only reason I'm any kind of a hitter today is because my dear dad forced me to use wood.....So now swinging aluminum is meat...



Agree 100 percent,we train with wood bats but when its time to compete we use the best equipment possibly allowed on that level.LIVE for the moment.

[Batty]

I am just getting back in here to read some of your posts. To those of you who say you can't find good wood in the retail stores, you're right. I have seen the negotiating side of that between vendor and supplier and most of the larger vendors require a bat that fits into the range of the general public's pocket book rather than item quality. (RE: Wal-Mart, sports conglomerates, etc.) So you end up with lower grades of wood to radar in under the sales dollar amount they wish to offer to consumers. Hard to pick a 'cherry' bat that way. That is why manufacturers like DINGER BATS (www.dingerbats.com) are rising to stardom....they want the quality of wood for their users at all levels and they are being able to acheive it.

Another thing in regards to college, school aged and such players using metal....it has thrown a curve into the manufacturing of said wood bats because when they reach the pros they expect the negative values to stay consistent to those they are used to swinging with the metals....thus you end up only have select areas on a wood bat that you can shave ounces to obtain the weights they want.....unlike metal where you can just simply cast them thinner, thicker, etc. GO BACK TO WOOD and play the game to show talent not metal tolerances....
:atthepc

[baseball_in_hel*]

I am looking for a 32 or 31 inch, pretty light wooden bat! Would be interested in gettign one!

~~Tyler~~
~~Peace~~

[BUBBYJAXX]

Batty I Just Want To Get Some More Info About The Dinger Bats And Where You Used Them And All That. If You Could Thanks

[BUBBYJAXX]

Call 1-866-9-dinger

[hellborn]

Louisville Slugger M159 and S44 in ash were my favorite wooden bats when I played baseball. Both are medium barrel, M159 has a thin handle and the S44 was a little thicker with more flare, kind of like a C271 handle. I liked them pretty light, too, and as a result I went through bats pretty quickly. I remember an S44 just exploding in my hands during a pickup game in Northfield, IL...I wasn't too upset because I had a long 2B with it in the previous at-bat, plus that gave me an excuse to go buy another bat. I was very particular about grain...I preferred wide grain even though it tended to be heavier, but it had to be straight no matter what. I once went through 150 bats at Morrie Mages in Chicago (now a Sportmart...sigh...) and didn't find one that I liked. Usually, though, I could find one or two bats that I would
buy in a trip to that fine store.
M159 was Musial's personal bat model, saw that he was selling a bunch of autographed ones from ML stock about 10 years ago. I know the players for a few other common models, like C271=Jose Cardenal, C243=Rod Carew, M110=Eddie Malone, S2=Vern Stephens, and R43=Babe Ruth. I'm not absolutely positive on all of these, and I don't know how Stephens got such a low number, unless he just used that model and it wasn't his original specification. I wish that I could look up the player that specified each of the LS model numbers, that would be great info. I know that Musial, Williams, Killebrew, and many others liked bats very similar to the ones I did...I never liked bats like the C243, the oversized barrels made them feel more like axes than bats to me.
I have a few maple bats now, including a LS M159, but haven't really tried them out. There's a 38+ wooden bat league in my area that I'd love to play in, but I can't spare the weekend family time. Baseball is great, but my 6 year old little girl is so much better. Maybe when she gets older and I'm just way too embarrassing for her to spend time with, I'll play baseball again. For now, softball will have to do.
Anybody in Southern NH want to start a weeknight wooden bat league with me? We could probably fit in 2-4 innings, right?

[sschirmer]

:o I may sound like an idiot but. . .

Can anyone tell me why it is that college players don't swing a wooden bat?

I was once told that NCAA rules do not allow wooden bats, but after reviewing the Official (NCAA) Rules it seems that is not the case.

I would assume that a kid that might be looking to make it to the BIGS would be interested in showing off their stuff by using a wood bat and maybe even getting used to it (since that's what's used in all pro level leagues). The same might even apply to little leaguers out there.

Other than immediate the performance enhancement, what benefit would an aluminum bat have over a wood bat to someone seriously considering a pro career?

Hitting with aluminum is an advantage. College baseball is competetive. You wouldn't want to give up an advantage in a situation like that, would you?

[chipster]

Hoosier Bat Co. 800-228-3781

Used by many major leaguers including Maglieo Ordonez, Joe Crede, D'angelio Jimenez and Sammy Sosa.

You have to add the cork yourself

[lumberking]

Found a good site with good bats. Ash, maple, bamboo. www.MLBdirect.com Check it.

[apbaseball12]

I like a pretty new company called Pearson Bat Company ( www.pearsonbats.com ) great durability and quality. Talked to them at a tournament in Southern California. Good bats.

[BMH]

Hitting with aluminum is an advantage. College baseball is competetive. You wouldn't want to give up an advantage in a situation like that, would you?

Isn't that the truth, I would love to roll back the clock on aluminum and the "bat wars" that have developed out of it. I know that sounds strange coming from a bat manufacturer but it's a lot easier to make an aluminum bat than it is to work with composites, plus it's a lot cheaper.

Anyway, back to favorite bats....that's a hard one. Since I've been at Louisville Slugger I've designed/copied over 200 new models. It's a toss up between the G178 (R161 with a large flare knob similar to a C331) for Marquis Grissom, the P320 (modified M356) for Jorge Posada, or the B380 for Barry Bonds.

Oh, and if you're talking Sosa and corking...that would have been X-bat. I remember that at bat praying it wasn't our bat :)

[mikeymas]

This is Mike, from Arizona. I have been reading these post for awhile on wood bats. I play JC ball here in Az, and we are one of the few college leagues that use wood during the season. So I had little or no experience with wood. So ofcourse I started from the top. Louisville, good bat. But just ok. I tried max bat, sam bat, and hoosier. Then I tried Brett, what a joke. But I have finally settled on in my opinion the best wood bat. Mattingly bat, yes Don MAttingly's company. These bats are awesome. They are way better priced then all the other companies. I have had 4 for a 50 game season and broke 1. These bats are solid, and they have a great weight, and plenty of pop for a woodrow. They have this new grip which is awesome, because I have small hands. It is like an axe handle and the things just really fits in my grip.

I know a few teams that use them in our league, and the salesman gave us a smokin deal. $70 for maple and $45 for ash. I purchased two of both and I found that the ash was awesome. Great weight and balance. The hype right now is maple but their ash is better than anyones maple.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in. Oh by the way if you want to order here is his number I think his name is Matt. 602-448-4834

[Oriolesfan1810]

Hey that's a good deal. I bought a Louisville Slugger Black for just $26.99 at Dicks. It's a 34"

I need a big bat because I'm so tall (6' 4")

But what is the best wooden bat available?

[apbaseball12]

Hey that's a good deal. I bought a Louisville Slugger Black for just $26.99 at Dicks. It's a 34"

I need a big bat because I'm so tall (6' 4")

But what is the best wooden bat available?

The best bat available is the bat you feel most comfortable with.

[Oriolesfan1810]

that'll do. I like wood better than Aluminum because Aluminum is too short and some of the bats have razor thin aluminum.

I bought a maple bat to help me with my swings, boy is that thing heavy.

[onbaseball]

Personally I'm not a big fan of the maple ... I don't know if anyone would have used maple if not for Barry Bonds. Those things splinter and crack too much, it seems. Sure they're harder, but they're more prone to shattering.

I prefer good old ash, and I think the fact it is a bit softer is a good thing, because it can give a little and then react back to provide some spring. I might be all wrong, but I compare it to playing basketball on an outdoor, cement court and playing on hardwood: generally you can jump just a teeny bit higher off of the hardwood because it gives a little spring.

In addition to dinger, another place for legitimately good wood bats is Akadema (www.akademapro.com). They have bats made by the Amish or something ... in any case, I have a few and they are pretty solid, and good grade of wood. Certainly better than anything I could get at Mo's or Sports Authority. I've also played with some of the composite bats made by Baum (www.baumbat.com). They felt a little heavier than regular wood but you can't break them. Some years back the UCONN baseball team used Baum exclusively---practice and competition--- during their fall seasons.

[apbaseball12]

I personally like maple it just feels harder, but thats just my preference. Check out Pearson Bats... www.pearsonbats.com . They make some pretty good bats.

[Billybob622]

For me i definately prefer a wood bat over a metal bat. To me since i swing without gloves, may seem stupid, but the aluminum bat makes my finger joints sore after a while, because of the vibration the metal bat gives. Anyone else get this problem?:confused:

[hellborn]

For me i definately prefer a wood bat over a metal bat. To me since i swing without gloves, may seem stupid, but the aluminum bat makes my finger joints sore after a while, because of the vibration the metal bat gives. Anyone else get this problem?:confused:

Wow...wood always caused more issues with hand pain than metal for me. Maybe your metal bat has some kind of problem? Is this just with one particular metal bat?
You must be really at putting the ball on the sweet spot of a wood bat if you find wood to be that comfortable! I'm impressed!!

[hellborn]

Personally I'm not a big fan of the maple ... I don't know if anyone would have used maple if not for Barry Bonds. Those things splinter and crack too much, it seems. Sure they're harder, but they're more prone to shattering.

I prefer good old ash, and I think the fact it is a bit softer is a good thing, because it can give a little and then react back to provide some spring...
I only tried maple once last fall (coupla LS M159s), and the bats really felt like rocks to me. I didn't care for the feel and didn't think that I was hitting the ball all that well, so I switched back to ash S44s and was very pleased with how I did with those.
The weather here in NH has been too wet to get out and hit some baseballs around this spring, but I will get out soon and try out the SAM Bat I picked up, as well as give the LS maples another shot. If I still don't like them, I'll have some maple bats for sale or trade!!

[Billybob622]

by hellborn: Wow...wood always caused more issues with hand pain than metal for me. Maybe your metal bat has some kind of problem? Is this just with one particular metal bat?
You must be really at putting the ball on the sweet spot of a wood bat if you find wood to be that comfortable! I'm impressed!!


well hellborn, my swing is very odd. I hit almost on a perfectly straight 30-40degree angle and keep my feet spread apart very wide, because it always seems to make me hit more often and a lot farther. Usually i hit the sweet spot.:D

[CanadianKid]

right now I'm using Easton Pro Stix 72 Maple 33inch and Rawlings 212B Adirondack model Maple 33inch. But I love this bat my team bought Brett GOBON #5 (http://shopsite.brettbats.com/shopbats.html) bat with bamboo core, and it has a 3 month warranty so they'll replace it free of charge:D