Better Wood Makes Better Bats

By Chris Terrazas

If you're looking to get your first wooden baseball bat, the most important aspect of the bat is the quality of wood used to build it. If you watch much baseball on tv, you will undoubtedly notice that most players use Louisville Sluggers or Marucci bats. That may lead you to believe that those two companies make the best bats available, but that is not necessarily the case.

Not to sell Louisville Slugger and Marucci short, but the fact that their bats are so prevalent is a testament to their marketing teams. There is no doubt that they make great bats, but they're no different than any other bats you can buy. All bat companies make the same models e.g. the 271, and offer essentially the same color and stain options. They also using the same species of wood for the bats (wood is graded by quality, we'll touch on that later). Virtually, the only difference in the bats that you see the Major Leaguers using is the label.

As previously mentioned, the wood used to make bats is graded by a number of criteria such as the number of grains, straightness of grains, slope of grain, etc. The highest grade wood is reserved for Major League hitters, the next best is used in the Minor Leagues, and they work their way down from there. The everyday consumer is at the bottom of the rung, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting bad lumber, it's just not the best they have to offer. Generally the lower quality of the wood, the more susceptible the bat is to break. So if you want to use the bat you see Josh Hamilton swinging, you will not be getting the same quality of wood that he does, and you'll be paying a premium for the label.

The biggest factor in making a great wood bat is the quality of wood used to make it. It is of my opinion that buying bats from the biggest companies may not be the best idea, because their best wood is reserved for professional players. The better route is to purchase a brand that has comparative pricing to the large companies but isn't in the Major Leagues yet. This would indicate that they are getting high quality wood, but since they don't have professional clients or aren't MLB certified, the average customer will be getting the good wood. In our online store, we offer several companies that fit this profile.
 

Shop at http://www.DerbyBaseball.com and earn 10% off all wood baseball bats during the winter months.

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Why Composite Youth Baseball Bats Outperform Aluminum Youth Baseball Bats

By Todd Hester

The three main differences that make a composite bat outperform an aluminum or wood bat have to deal with trampoline effect, swing weight, and vibration.

Trampoline effect has to do with what happens to the bat and ball when they collide. Manufacturers can vary the stiffness of the barrel of a composite bat which can increase or decrease the speed the ball comes off the barrel when hit. Making the barrel softer decreases energy loss and in turn increases the speed the ball is hit. An easy way of looking at this is whether the ball gives or the bat gives when contact between the two is made. The ball is what gives when hit by a hard surface like aluminum or wood. The ball giving instead of the bat reduces the energy created by the pitcher and batter and slows down the speed in which the ball leaves the bat. A composite bat can be made stiff at the handle yet softer at the barrel. This softer barrel enables the wall of the bat to give instead of the ball which helps maintain the energy created by the pitcher and batter.

Swing weight is a term used to describe how heavy a bat feels when you swing it instead of the weight the bat actually is sitting still. Manufacturers can lessen swing weight when dealing with composite by making the center of gravity closer to the handle. This increases bat speed which in turn increases the speed the ball comes off the bat. A simple way to compare this is to swing any bat by the handle and then turn it around and swing it by the barrel. This is a little extreme but you can see how moving more of the weight closer to where you hold the bat makes the bat much lighter to swing.

Anyone who has ever used an aluminum bat and missed hitting the ball on the sweet spot of the bat knows how much it can sting your hands. This is caused by the vibrations in the bat. Composite bats have a lower bending stiffness which lessens vibrations in a bat which in turn reduces this stinging effect. Also, composite bats have a greater damping rate which has to do with how long the bat vibrates after contact. Composite bats are considered more forgiving by players when they miss hit a ball because they do not feel the sting in their hands.

The future of composite bats is up in the air right now due to the concern of the safety of the pitcher and infielders. The fact that the ball comes off the bat at a greater speed than a wood or aluminum bat reduces the reaction time the pitcher and infielders have to get a glove on the ball. On December 30th, 2010 Little League officials announced a complete moratorium on all composite bats until they could be tested to see how fast the ball comes off the bat. This came at a horrible time considering lots of little boys got new expensive composite bats for Christmas. Since then a few composite bats have been tested and approved for Little League use. I suggest visiting Little League's official web site or asking the commissioner of the league your child plans to play in before purchasing an expensive composite bat.

Todd has been coaching Little League Baseball for several years. During his coaching career he has witnessed several players using the wrong size baseball bat. For this reason he has put together a site that will teach you everything you need to know to turn an average player into a Great Baseball Player which includes bat size charts to insure you buy the right size baseball bat for your Little League player. He has a new website telling all about the different types of youth baseball bats at http://www.baseballbatsyouth.com


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4 Steps to Selecting the Perfect BBCOR Bat for the 2012 Season

By Ryan M Davis

4 Steps to help you select the perfect BBCOR Baseball Bat

Step 1: Set a Budget.

Establishing a BBCOR Baseball Bat budget is a good idea as BBCOR bats can be expensive and market conditions may increase prices. BBCOR bats will vary considerably in price from $49.99 to $399.99 with the average BBCOR bat falling in the $199.99- $299.99 price range. BBCOR prices may skyrocket to $450-$500 as demand for popular models will exceed supply. Manufacturers and Retailers are anticipating extended backorders on popular BBCOR models. Having a bat budget can be helpful in an unpredictable market.

Step 2: Select a Design

BBCOR Bats will come in a variety of designs and determining the right design early will help narrow the pool of products to consider for purchase. Popular designs include aluminum alloy, composite, hybrid (alloy & composite) and wood. Each bat design will have pros and cons, so be selective and choice the bat that will benefit your personal strengths and style of hitting. The most common BBCOR design will be a one-piece alloy. Alloy designs will provide the largest pool of bats to choose from and will be the most competitively priced.As a general rule of thumb, one-piece alloy bat designs will be more affordable, while hybrid and composite BBCOR baseball bats will be more expensive.

Step 3 Select a Manufacture

Selecting a manufacture can be difficult as there are many great choices. To simplify the overwhelming selection of BBCOR bats to choose from select a few manufacturers that you know or like. Industry leaders such as Easton, Louisville Slugger, DeMarini and Anderson will provide a great starting point when selecting the perfect bat.

Step 4: Select the Proper Size

All high school and college players have to swing a minus or drop 3. This means the difference between the length of the bat and the weight will be 3. For example, a 32" bat will be 29oz. and a 33" will be 30oz. A standard bat size guide is a good starting point to help determine proper bat sizing. The bat size guide suggest bat lengths based on a players height and weight. Other factors to consider would be player strength, body type, experience, and personal preference.The most common sizes for high school and college players will be 32" and 33"

Be prepared when selecting your BBCOR Bat this season. There are a handful of designs and manufactures to choose from at drastically different prices. Setting a budget, selecting a design, choosing a manufacture and selecting the proper size will help you select the perfect BBCOR bat for the 2012 season.

About The Author: Ryan Davis is a baseball enthusiast and self proclaimed bat guru. His website at http://www.bbcorbats.com/ offers in-depth bbcor bat reviews, news, price comparisons, videos, products and podcast. Ryan's Free Podcast is jam packed with insightful bbcor baseball related information. Subscribe for FREE at http://www.bbcorbats.com/bbcor_bats_podcast.html


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Tips On How To Find Baseball Bats For Sale

By Rileys R

If a child has aspirations of being a professional baseball player in the future, parents encourage them to follow their dreams. Why not? It's America's Favorite Pastime and any parent would be proud if their kid did fulfill his dreams. However, a rising dilemma is buying your children an ideal beginner bat. If you're on a tight budget, there are baseball bats for sale from both select baseball specialty stores and online sports houses.

The length and diameter of baseball bats should be proportionate to the child's age and size. Since most kids get their motivation revving up from age 7-10, you need to know what bat is suitable for their age. There are certain things which parents should take into consideration before practicing baseball. There will be constant offers online of baseball bats for sale. They are priced as low as $15-$150 and depending on what material the bats are made of. Try to stay away from metal bats for the mean time, and stick with wooden bats. Its diameter should be the standard 2 1/4 inches so your kids can practice his swing the right way.

Once you've picked your material and you're aware of the standard measurements for a child's bat, it's crucial to look at stores. Oftentimes, shops offer baseball bats for sale only for a limited time. Take that opportunity to take your child with you and probably give them a swing. Baseball bats shouldn't compromise quality despite a cheaper price.

There will be pros and cons if you decide to buy a custom-made bat for your child. The price of course will be higher compared to regular bats found in sports houses. You need to select the type of wood the bat will be made of. Try to check in with the manufacturer what the best wood is for your kid's needs. It will also take a longer time before your kid can start using it. Custom-made bats can take up to three weeks before they can deliver the bats to you.

Whether it is custom-made or baseball bats for sale, skills should still be given far more emphasis. Pitch for your kid as often as you can to practice his swinging and batting skills. Who knows, it might be the first bat that you bought your child which will inspire him to be the next superstar in baseball. By knowing this information about bats, you can now choose to buy one that fits your budget and needs.

Rileys has been writing online for several years. Check out his latest interest on baseball bats for sale. He has created a website as a dedicated resource for the best product deals for baseball batting cages, visit http://www.homebattingcage.org/ for more information.

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Little League Bats

By Glenn Downer

With so many little league bats available in the market, do you feel confused over which is the most suitable baseball bat to get for your child? What should you consider when you are buying a little league bat? Below are some tips to help you, as you make your selection.

1. Length, Weight and Barrel Width
I have decided to group these 3 points together because they are kind of related to one another. The bat should not be too long or too heavy or your child will find it hard to swing. This should be considered in respect to your child's build and strength. You might think that getting a longer bat will make it easier for your child to hit the ball, but have you thought about the weight. If it is too heavy, the young player might end up not learning how to swing properly. On the other hand, bats that are shorter and lighter will teach the player to swing with more speed.

In fact, to be on the safe side, you should consult with the league organization on their requirements, as some leagues do not allow more than 2¼ " round, so you do not want to buy something that you can not use.

2. Material
By material, I am referring to the make of the bat. There are coaches who prefer their young students to learn using wooden bats, as it is better for the training of swinging. However, the con is that wooden little league bats might prove to be too heavy for the young ones. That is probably the main reason why aluminum or alloy baseball bats have been created, and they are also very popular among youth baseball players. These bats are lighter and easier to maneuver than the wood bats.

Ultimately, a baseball bat is a very personal tool, so the player must feel comfortable when using it. The feel of the bat as well as the price should also play an important role when you are making your selection of the perfect baseball bat for your child.

For more information please visit Little League Bats.

http://www.littleleaguebats.org


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