A lot of technological advancements have been made regarding the fabrication of baseball and softball bats. Instead of just having the choice of wood versus aluminum, the modern bat consumer has new options, like a bat made with compositing. The main drawback to these new options is that knowing how to choose a bat among the various sizes, drops, sanctions, barrels and branding can be daunting. Provided below is an overview of the information that anyone in the market for a bat can use to make the best choice for their particular needs, be it for sports or even self-defense.
Measure Yourself
While the best way to know whether or not a bat is the perfect length is to give it a few swings and feel it out, you can expedite the process by being aware of your height and weight. Generally speaking, the taller and more muscular a person is, the longer a bat they will want to use as their physique is able to optimize the heft and power in every swing. Conversely, smaller, slimmer players will want to favor a short, lightweight bat so that they can competently swing it without losing control.
Once you have a good idea of what works for you, set the bat by your side with its end cap on the ground. Next, reach down and check that your palm is easily able to reach the bat’s handle; should you have no problem at this point, you now have a very good grasp of the ideal length your bat should be.
After you have gauged the grasping length for your bat’s handle, the next test is to tuck the bat’s knob into the center of your chest and grasp it with your arm. If you can grasp the barrel of your bat, the wider striking portion, then the length is perfect.
Measuring for a Child
Considering that the child will be wearing cleats during the course of actual play, it is best if you measure their height with the cleats on. Set a particular bat’s end cap flat upon the ground and have the child stand parallel to it; should the bat’s knob extend above the child’s hip, then there is a good chance that the bat will be too long for the child to swing successfully.
Next, you will want to weigh your child, still with the cleats on, and then use the information of their height and weight to zero in on an ideal bat. For the most part, children below 60 pounds will want to be given a bat that ranges between 26 and 29 inches, while a child over 70 pounds will want a bat somewhere in the range of 28 to 32 inches.
Materials
Provided below is a breakdown of what the various major bat materials are capable of and what qualities to be aware of should you want to purchase one.
- Wood. Wooden bats are the heaviest of bats, often made from a single piece of wood like ash, birch, bamboo or maple. While able to give quite the wallop, these bats require maintenance, especially after a rainy day, to avoid warping or splintering.
- Aluminum. These bats are durable, and most of their weight lies within the barrel. Aluminum bats tend to have stiffness when making contact, but they also “pop” wonderfully upon making an impact. While aluminum bats are considerably cheaper than composite bats and suitable for any sort of weather, their “pop” will degrade over the years.
- Composite. Composite bats are lighter than aluminum bats, resulting in a swifter swing and a broader sweet spot. After breaking it in, taking somewhere around 200-250 swings, the pop and the distance of a composite bat that swings true only improve with time. Rather than stiffing on impact, composite bats send out the force coming into them and then some. Composite bats are terrible below 65°F-the cold interferes with the construction.
The Home Run Stretch
When figuring out your ideal bat, consider the build of you or your child and the specific circumstances you will be swinging that bat within. Different materials suit different budgets and styles of play.
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