best wooden bat

[cowboy15]

hey yall i got a question and i figure this is the best catagory of the forum to ask it in....Im lookin for a new wooden bat and im just curious on what the concensus is here about the best material to get? ive heard maple and ash are supposed to be pretty good but i want to know what yall think

[The Commissioner]

I'm certainly no expert on the subject. From what I've heard, though, maple bats are supposed to be much stronger and sturdier than ash. However, they are also supposed to be heavier to swing. The other drawback is that there are a lot less maple bats in production, so finding a high quality one is much more expensive. I'd imagine since there hasn't been this instant dramatic rush towards maple, that neither bat is going to make all that much of a difference for your production (as oppossed to if you suddenly started using an aluminum bat). Since a bat is someting that needs to fit your comfort level, I'd avoid ordering one without testing it in person. I'd say simply shop around, swing as many bats in the store as possible, and find out what you feel most comfortable with. Overall, your eyes, bat speed, and comfort level at the plate are going to make a lot more difference than the type of lumber you use.

[Chinmusic 44]

If you want a wooden bat for BP, buy a composite (sp) since it will give the feeling and effect of a wooden bat, but won't easily break.

[Rossembagger]

Composties are a good idea, especially if you've never played with a wood bat before, you won't have to worry about breaking your bat. If your going for this, get a Baum bat, it's wood but it won't break on ya.

If you just want a normal wood bat tho, RBI's are a good choice, they're maple bats and made somewhere in Canada, it'll last you a while.


And whatever you do, don't buy it from a place like sportchek or any other chain store, because they get the last of the crop after all the other specialty store take their picks.

[Kiwideus]

Barry Bonds prefers Maple bat, his homerun stats have changed BIG time since he switched from ASH to Maple... SO i assume Maple bat is pretty good and better.

[abolishthedh]

An article in the 2002 season preview issue of Sports Illustrated discussed bats, and maple versus ash. The issue is probably still available at a public library, or online somewhere. I would advise reviewing it, and you'll learn about the name of the maker of Barry's bat. The guy who makes Barry's bat lives in Canada, and his business has picked up in the past few years, as you can imagine. If I recall, the maple bat is a love it or despise it idea, but I'd have to reread the article to remember why.

[Ram Man]

Originally posted by abolishthedh
If I recall, the maple bat is a love it or despise it idea, but I'd have to reread the article to remember why.

It's probably due to all that sap oozing out. If you use a lot of pine tar, you love it, but if you're just a batting glove or bare-handed guy, you'd despise it. :)

[trosmok]

Most players still use ash, it is less expensive and most of the big manufacturers can provide every imaginable length, weight, and circumference allowed by the rules. My personal favorite has always been the Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville sluggers. My prize is a Jackie Robinson model with an extrodinarily fat handle, but I had the most success with the Ron Santo signature model. Not a big fan of the skinny handle sticks many players prefer, but that is the beauty of bats, to each their own. Maple has the disctinction of being a harder, heavier and more dense wood than ash, but is a lot more expensive, and I have heard that because of it's density, it is also more brittle, and therfore more easily cracked. Some small outfits are also making hickory and walnut bats, but I haven't heard much about them. Composites are making inroads, but I absolutely hate aluminum. Some legislatures are outlawing them because of the danger to pitchers they pose, and I long for the sound of wood on ball in college games instead of that gawdawful "ping" noise. Pitchers aren't taught to throw inside anymore, due in part to aluminum hits off the handles that would saw off a real wood bat.

[Bullwinkle]

My son swears by the Sam Bat..it's a maple bat.. He says it feels harder, heavier and has more pop. It's good for BP and game.

Look for them on the web at: www.sambat.com

[Mattingly]

Originally posted by Kiwideus
Barry Bonds prefers Maple bat, his homerun stats have changed BIG time since he switched from ASH to Maple... SO i assume Maple bat is pretty good and better. I've heard Bonds switched to maple since this is heavier and harder. If you've got quick strong wrists like him, that makes sense. If you're not as strong or as fast, that may just slow you down, I would think.

[CardFanNV]

Originally posted by cowboy15
hey yall i got a question and i figure this is the best catagory of the forum to ask it in....Im lookin for a new wooden bat and im just curious on what the concensus is here about the best material to get? ive heard maple and ash are supposed to be pretty good but i want to know what yall think

Call Sammy Sosa - he'd know better than me

[Elijah]

I just found this link while browsing through the sam bats pages. http://www.sambat.com/carlos.htm Don't know exactly what it means but take it for what it is worth, bonds bats made in canada?? Sambats are made in canada.

$120 a pop plus shipping on these beauties. Tuffbats are $90 plus s&h and I thought that was steep. I wonder how long it takes to get one.

I clicked on the first link from this link.
http://www.sambat.com/index2.htm

I am now under the assumption that bonds does or did use sam bats.

[Elijah]

I just found this link while browsing through the sam bats pages. http://www.sambat.com/carlos.htm Don't know exactly what it means but take it for what it is worth, bonds bats made in canada?? Sambats are made in canada.

$120 a pop plus shipping on these beauties. Tuffbats are $90 plus s&h and I thought that was steep. I wonder how long it takes to get one.

I clicked on the first link from this link.
http://www.sambat.com/index2.htm

I am now under the assumption that bonds does or did use sam bats.

Oh, wait I just found this link too http://www.sambat.com/learning_to_hit_with_wood.htm

"Major league ball players are constantly telling us that our Sam Bat is the best baseball bat made today. Some of these fellows - Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco for example - truly know a thing or two about bats and how to use them. "

[Bullwinkle]

my post in 2002 is as valid as it is in 2005...son still uses sam bats. He likes the heavy feel of maple and the ball pops off the bat.

[Elijah]

Problem... It is gonna take a month to get one.. Oh well I guess I will use the cheapies until then.

I absolutely hate the BamBoo bat now. Sweet spot is sucky "compared" to some crappy ash eastons I have been using.

Every wood bat I have used besides the bamboo bat kicks it's butt. So it will just be a BP bat.

I will order a sambat and get a mizuno or easton locally.

Now I just have to figure out which model sambat to get. They will replicate any bat out there.

The eastons I have been using are ash and compared to the mizuno maple's the MM's seem to hit just a tad bit farther.

Be nice to get a sambat!

[west coast orange and black]

maple bats are not necesarily heavier than maple ones.
there is a great degree of variance in density and weight with the woods.

the maple bats are denser but not really harder than ash.
when ash breaks, it tends to happens along the grain, so lots of bats break when we are not even aware of it ocurring.
but when maple bats break they really explode. everyone at the yard and at home watching on the tube knows about it.

already mentioned is the sam bat co. this is the one utilized by bonds.

[wogdoggy]

bonds? lol ...more importantly sir albert uses sam :clapping bats.

[YankeesCatcher]

I swing a 32 inch P72 Louisville slugger.

All the sissy boys on my team use aluminium.

I am affectionatly referred to as "Old School" because of my love of wood.


Edit: Here's a picture of my bat, except it has an A-Rod sig model on it and no writing


http://www.sportsartifacts.com/bgarcia.JPG

[wogdoggy]

i like the metalwood bats for practicing ..the handle is metal while the barrel remains wood.wood feel and wood sweetspot but no breaking.the best training bat i've found
:clapping

[WonderMonkey]

I got my son the MetalWood bat from a local dealer. Web site is www.wvbats.com . Since then two other kids have started to use them and we all love them. If you want one I'm sure you can order one off the internet or I can put you in contact with the local dealer.

[Toriihunter48]

i love maple xbats model 24 it is the toughest maple i have ever used hasnt cracked yet and i have had it for 6 months

[andrewlevino]

If you can get a hickory bat you would be golden.

[echy88]

I've heard about some new kind of bamboo bat thats supposed to be really strong. But you can't go wrong with maple or ash. My friends maple broke before my ash, I even have the ash to this day. Anways I'd go with maple, or ash if you don't have the $$$.

[ccbsball12]

i love the x-bat model 98 (33,30.5) , its lasted me over a year and has a lot of pop....also i have a mizuno custom classic maple (33, 31) its like a candy red, it looks so sweet and swings so sweet also

[ekpentz]

The dramatic increase in Barry Bonds' homerun totals has less to do with the maple bat than it does with steroids or hgh (or whatever he's using).

People can claim all they want that there is no proof Bonds used any banned substance (Frankly, I'll be surprised if anything official ever shows he used any substance), but the human head does not increase in size without chemical assistance. Body mass and musckles can increase through workouts. Head size will not.

[Centerfielder2]

I had a LS mapple and i broke it in a tournment so for practice i got a composite Demarini maple and i like it alot its 130 dollars are most stores

but you cant you them in games :cry:

[tisting9]

I have a Mizuno Bamboo and love it! It is the hardest type to break and Mizuno gives a 90 day warranty just in case. Great BP tool.

[CanadianKid]

I have 3 wood bats. 1 is a cheap Rawlings Ash bat which I purchased for $20 (worth it though), the other is a RLC Maple which I picked up at a tournament in Ohio. The third bat I have is the one I use the most. It's a Brett Brothers Bamboo/Maple composite. It has a bamboo core and maple outer, very durable and alot of pop, and also has a 120 day warranty. I just got mine replaced after I chipped the barrel. I got the RLC for $45 and the Brett for $80 (regular is $120 though). I've also used a LS Ash, which I've broken and an Easton Prostix maple, which I've also broken.

[glovemedic]

I have 3 wood bats. 1 is a cheap Rawlings Ash bat which I purchased for $20 (worth it though), the other is a RLC Maple which I picked up at a tournament in Ohio. The third bat I have is the one I use the most. It's a Brett Brothers Bamboo/Maple composite. It has a bamboo core and maple outer, very durable and alot of pop, and also has a 120 day warranty. I just got mine replaced after I chipped the barrel. I got the RLC for $45 and the Brett for $80 (regular is $120 though). I've also used a LS Ash, which I've broken and an Easton Prostix maple, which I've also broken.

I use various interpretations of the C-271 model. The LS bats are best if you can get the pro-stock wood (ps-lite is not the same). This year I have been using D-Bat (http://www.dbatinc.com) ash pro-stock because it is easy to get a replacement bat when needed. These bats also have pop and are made of good quality Ash. The balance is a little different from the original C-271, but not significantly so. I have also used the C-271 bat model made by Gone Batty (http://gonebatty.net). Walter Ambrosch is a great guy to deal with, his bats are priced affordably and made from good wood. The Zinger-X maple bats are also good, but a broken bat is pricey at $70. $100 Maple or $40 Ash they all break the same if you hit off the end of the bat.

Stay balanced and get a good pitch to hit!

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I got 3 Ash LS M-110's off eBay and they've been good. I also have an Akadema maple bat that feels great to hit with. Those are my two favourites.

I bought a Rawlings BigStick, and I hate it. It only has 13 grains, but it feels dead. It's reserved for BP.

[wogdoggy]

try a max bat a 10 awesome

[ekpentz]

Can someone please explain to me how to read the woodgrain in bats to determine quality. How do I count the grains and in which direction? Also, are more or fewer wood grains better? I have a LS c243 Pro Stock and a M110 pro stock.

Also, does anyone know if the Mizuno custom classic maple bats are any good (how resistant are they to breaking?). Finally, has anyone used a Hoosier woodforce. if so, how did you like it and how is the balance in those?

[hiddengem]

Can someone please explain to me how to read the woodgrain in bats to determine quality. How do I count the grains and in which direction? Also, are more or fewer wood grains better? I have a LS c243 Pro Stock and a M110 pro stock.

Evenly spaced grains that are very straight are the best. Curvy grains or bat grains that resemble a phone book are not good.

Also, does anyone know if the Mizuno custom classic maple bats are any good (how resistant are they to breaking?). Finally, has anyone used a Hoosier woodforce. if so, how did you like it and how is the balance in those?


Mizuno bats are pretty good..the good ones are pretty tough to come by however. They'll break just like any other maple bat. I've used Hoosier, decent bat about 5 yrs ago, but I haven't seen them around in quite a while.

[hiddengem]

Maruchi(sp) bats are really hot right now. Alot of the guys with the Mets are using them, you'll know their bat when you look at the barrell end and see a dark ring right near the cup or end of the bat.

[ekpentz]

Can someone please post pictures showing bats with good wood grain and bats with poor wood grain. I am still a bit confused on what to look for. I am curious as I have a LS M110 Pro stock and am curious as to if it has good grain structure. Also,, can someone please explain on how to count grains (which direction)

[ekpentz]

also, what is meant by curvy grains and grains "resembling a phone book"

[Chieftain20]

I know this thread is a little old, but I HAVE to recommend the
CTG(Control The Game) 360 Woody.

It's an awesome bat, with a, get this, 1 YEAR warranty on breakages or cracks.