The Top 4 Woods For Baseball Bat Performance: Ultimate Guide - SPC Sports

It may not seem too obvious, but baseball Slowpitch Softball Bats & Fastpitch Softball Bats come in a variety of woods, and these materials can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of your bat. It’s all situational and more complex than you may think. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this often-overlooked aspect of our sport. We’ll help you get oriented on the best wood for baseball bats so that you can determine the best wooden baseball bat for your own personal needs! To know more: https://www.spcsports.com/blog/the-top-4-woods-for-baseball-bat-performance-ultimate-guide/

Transcript

1. The Top 4 Woods For Baseball Bat
   Performance : Ultimate Guide
   It may not seem too obvious, but baseball bats come in a variety of woods, and these materials
   can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of your bat. It's all situational and more
   complex than you may think. So, without further ado, let's dive into this often-overlooked aspect
   of our sport. We'll help you get oriented on the best wood for baseball bats so that you can
   determine the best wooden baseball bat for your own personal needs!
   Why is choosing the right wood for your baseball bat so important?
   As one of the oldest active sports in North America and the oft-deemed "America's Game",
   baseball is a highly competitive activity for all ages. Every player wants a competitive edge -
   they want a bad that is scientifically proven to launch balls farther and with more power than
   ever before. Finding the best wood for baseball bats will ensure that you are bringing your best
   game to the table to help your team squeeze out that victory!
   Benefits of wood for baseball bats
   At the higher end, wooden baseball bats have more power and balance than metal. Some of the
   greatest seasons of baseball ever, such as the one Barry Bonds had in 2001, were
   accomplished using wooden bats. The heavier nature of wooden bats will give them more
   strength and also strengthen their owner's muscles. Wooden baseball bats are also considered
   to have better "feedback" after hitting a ball - this satisfaction helps with follow-through and
   reaction time. Wooden bats do have a smaller "sweet spot" for hitting balls than metal, but that
   should not be an issue after you hone your batting skills.
   Baseball bat wood characteristics
   There are several things that you want to consider when selecting the right woods for baseball
   bats.
   Grain structure
   Your options are ring-porous and diffuse-porous. Ring porous is very easily visible - the wood
   developed in a highly layered fashion, much like a lasagna. The grain itself may be dense, but
   the layers are not. Ring porous bats tend to flake. On the other hand, diffuse-porous (aka open
   

   View Slide

2. grain wood) is not as well defined, with pores that are more spread out and a density between
   layers that is more consistent. Diffuse porous bats tend to splinter. Due to the danger of flying
   splinters, diffuse-porous/open grain requires an MLB ink dot test for the bat to be usable in a
   game.
   Robustness
   Bat performance is linked directly to how hard the wood is. The "Janka" scale will help
   determine how hard your wood is. Bats can also be flexible, which is usually on the opposite
   end of the spectrum as hardness. The harder a bat is, the less flexible - and vice versa. This is
   not always the case, of course.
   Label location
   The label should be placed over the weakest part of the wood. If not, it may increase the
   likelihood of fracture if balls make an impact on this area too frequently.
   Turning models
   These can affect the feel of the bat, and you want to ensure that your bat feels great to use so
   that you are maximizing your comfort and minimizing your distractions.
   Types of woods for baseball bats
   We get it: this could be overwhelming if you are new to the sport or purchasing a bat. We're here
   to outline some of the major wood options for you!
   Ash Woods
   Perhaps the most common wood for baseball bats, ash woods are ring porous and tend to flake
   when destroyed, making them generally safer than other woods like maple. Ash has a nice
   balance between flexibility and hardness and is fairly lightweight, making it a really strong option
   for newcomers to the sport or wooden baseball bats in particular.
   

   View Slide

3. Maple Woods
   This type of wood for baseball bats has surged in popularity after many power hitters had
   success with it, such as Barry Bonds. Due to its diffuse porous tendencies, breakage can be
   dangerous and splintery - in recent years, however, this has been mitigated, making maple
   much safer to use. The wood is hard, making it connect with balls with intense power! Its
   hardness does have drawbacks: although the feedback is great, it may be distracting or
   overwhelming at times, especially if you hit the ball at the wrong spot.
   

   View Slide

4. Hickory Woods
   Another porous wood like ash, hickory is really heavy, which slows down the speed of the bat
   but makes for a decent power hit. Its hardness means that the bat won't have much feeling in
   your hands. It used to be very popular and still could be a great choice for power hitters who
   want to launch the ball. For those who want an old-school approach or novelty, this may be the
   choice for you!
   Bamboo Woods
   

   View Slide

5. Bamboo is becoming a common choice of wood for baseball bats. Is it the best wood for bat
   making? The jury is still out on that. However, bamboo IS considered a composite, which may
   not be allowed in certain leagues: keep this in mind! Bamboo is appealing for its affordability
   (due to fast growth), reasonable durability, high tensile strength, and great power. Although it is
   indeed in the composite category, its feel and strengths are much more similar to traditional
   wooden bats according to some players. Again, the jury is still out on this one! If you're curious,
   though, it may be worth purchasing a bamboo bat just to see how it stacks up against the more
   purist options listed above.
   Other Woods
   

   View Slide

6. Birch is an option for wood for a baseball bat because it is a nice balance between ash and
   maple. Composites - bats that combine multiple wood types for optimal performance - are also
   sold but are not necessarily allowed in every league. Generally speaking, ash, maple, hickory,
   and bamboo will give you a fairly wide range of features and options for your wooden baseball
   bat.
   Conclusion
   Well, we'd say that we've covered all the bases here: no pun intended, of course.
   

   View Slide

7. There is no true right answer here, as one can tell. If you've figured out the best bat for you, or
   simply want more information on the different types of wood for baseball bats, it may be a good
   time to start shopping around. We have a great range of options to help you obtain the best
   wooden baseball bat imaginable. Check us out today!
   Buy Fastpitch Bat
   Buy Slowpitch Bat
   

   View Slide