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.

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[/url]

[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]

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]

Originally Posted by Allie Fox

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[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

[Iron Jaw]

Originally Posted by 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.

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....

[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