Even with the perfect fast ball pitch, a good hitter needs a baseball bat of the proper size, weight, and shape. Choosing the right bat depends on the height and weight of the player, as well as his or her strength. Generally, though, children between eight and twelve years of age require bats that weight from 16 to 23 ounces. Batter taller than 4'2" should use bats from 19 to 23 ounces, and batters who weigh more than 80 pounds should use bats that weigh 22 to 23 ounces.
Bats for high school and college players usually weigh between 27 and 33 ounces. Generally, players between 5'6" and 5'8" should use bats that weigh between 27 and 28 ounces, while batters 5'9" and taller should use bats that weigh between 30 and 33 ounces.
Often, a bat's weigh is described as a negative number. This means that the weight of the bat is its length less the specified number. For instance, bats that are 34 inches long and advertised as having a bat weight of (-7) actually weigh 27 ounces (34-7=27). If a bat is to be used for high school or college sports, it must not have a weight-to-length ration that is greater than (-3).
Heavy bats yield power, but not speed. A light bat provides better control and higher speed, but decreases the height of the ball's arc when hit. Often, professional baseball players use bats with lighter weights because this will help them to hit the part of the ball referred to as the "sweet spot" with better control.
Measuring a baseball bat's size is easy and quick. Stand the bat on its end next to the batter. The baseball bat should reach the batter's waist. Usually, children between eight and twelve years will need a bat length between 26 and 31 inches. High school, college, and professional base ball players generally use bats between 32 and 36 inches long.
A baseball bat's shape is also important. Bats with a wider, longer barrel have larger sweet spots. In contrast, a lighter-weight baseball bat will have a shorter, narrower barrel, which will offer better speed and control. A bat should also be properly tapered. The majority of bats have a taper of 31/32". Bats with narrower tapers allow hitters to rotate their wrists more quickly and adjust to pitches better.
A bat's grip is also important. Most bats feature grips made of leather, rubber, or synthetic leather. While leather grips offer the batter the best hold, these do not absorb vibrations as well as rubber grips do.
Baseball Bat Materials
Many types of materials are used in the manufacture of baseball bats. For example, wood bats are used exclusively in Major League Baseball. These offer an optimal range of selection with regard to taper and shape, but they are heavier than bats made from other materials. Wood bats are typically made from ash, maple, or bamboo, and tend to crack after several uses.
Many baseball bats used for amateur sports are made of metals or metal alloys. Titanium baseball bats offer the greatest durability, and are constructed from an aluminum core with a titanium overlay. Graphite baseball bats are also quite strong, and are either made from a combination of graphite fibers, or contain aluminum cores with a graphite overlay.
Aluminum baseball bats are one of the most popular choices on the markets. These are light, stronger than wood, and yield higher speed and power. These bats are reinforced with a number of different alloy metals to provide reinforcement and greater strength. Some metals that are combined with aluminum in making baseball bats include zirconium, magnesium, and scandium. Some manufacturers choose to include a carbon lining for increased strength. Others cryogenically freeze the bat to provide more strength without increasing the bat's weight.