11 Best Baseball Bats Reviews 2019 (BBCOR) | A Buyer Guide
Fact:
Baseball bats are one of the leading selling items in the sports industry. They are of different materials. These materials may include wood, metals like aluminum and others. Also, they have different bat taper, weight drop, and barrel size. So, you can choose according to your needs. There are many companies manufacturing baseball bats.
Features to look for:
The cost of these bats depends on the size, material, and quality of them. Each of them offers the strength which may last for a season or two.
Buying tips:
Below article shows the list of the best baseball bats along with buying tips. These bats are suitable for most players and will help you to find a suitable option for yourself.
Let’s take a look!
Image: baseballgenesis.com
11 Best Baseball Bat Reviews
1. Rawlings USA Baseball Bat
Rawlings is the leading manufacturer of competitive sports equipment. It has hands deep inside basketball, baseball, and football equipment and is a symbol of quality and durability.
The Rawlings 5150 is a great fit for any and all positions in the lineup. It is known for its durability and responsiveness which are almost unparalleled. It provides the incredible balance that makes it a great choice.
Moreover, it has a huge sweet spot that just about guarantees performance. It is constructed from an aluminum alloy which adds to the feel of the bat. It is known to deliver remarkably on everything that you could possibly need from a baseball bat.
2. Marucci Hex Alloy Senior League Baseball Bat
Marucci was founded for the sole purpose of providing quality bats and have provided bats to some of the world’s big league players. They have an acute insight into the requirements of the user and have molded their bats to meet those requirements.
Marucci boasts near perfection with this bat. It is indeed the bat for you if you want that smooth feel, the powerful strokes and remarkable speed. It provides added control and works to enhance and make every performance better.
The balance is great so that you find the true combination of power and comfort. It is probably most suited for senior league players because of the increasing demand for powerful and determined strokes. This bat helps deliver. The aluminum alloy construction makes it incredibly durable while retaining the traditional feel of the bat. It enables you to provide firm and precise strokes.
3. Rawlings 5150 Alloy BBCOR High School/Collegiate Baseball Bat
Rawlings manufactures high-end products for NFL, MLB, and NCAA retail products. It is a symbol of quality and durability.
The Rawlings BBCOR is good options for high school and college level baseball players. With its weight of 3 pounds, it adds to every shot and augments every stroke. The Rawlings comes from a line of great baseball bats, all of which are made from the highest quality materials.
The quality of the craftsmanship and performance earns it its place in the best baseball bats. The lightweight also means that you get a nice ping every time you hit the ball. This bat adds to the speed and agility of the player.
4. Rawlings Velo Hybrid Balanced BBCOR High School/Collegiate Baseball Bat
Rawlings is a brand associated with quality and durability in sporting equipment. It is known for its basketball, football and baseball equipment.
The Rawlings Velo Hybrid is a bat that is great for high school and college level players. It was created to be a hybrid for both high school players and adults. It has a one-piece aluminum alloy construction that provides a very old school and traditional feel to the bat. The Silver Comp-Lite end Cap is what truly earns this bat a spot among the top-rated baseball bats.
The Silver cap works to improve balance and provide incredible precision for each stroke. It boasts enhanced swing speed that helps to make every stroke just perfect. It has been known to scratch easily, but that doesn't take away from the durability of the bat.
5. Easton 2018 Beast X Speed BBCOR - High School/Collegiate Baseball Bat
Easton is the leading manufacturer of baseball and softball equipment. It is one of the most iconic brands when it comes to these sports. Their long-standing commitment to quality and excellence has earned them associations with multiple international leagues and professional sports organizations.
The Beast X prides itself on delivering a product that boasts brute strength. It is a good baseball bat for high school and college level players and has been designed based on the requirements of that particular baseball niche. It is a suitable option if you consider yourself a contact hitter.
It has a balanced swing that provides exceptional control. The control adds to the precision of each hit which makes your game great. It has a thermal alloy construction that produces a remarkably powerful barrel.
6. Easton MAKO COMP 3 BBCOR Adult Baseball Bat
Easton is a well-known name when it comes to baseball equipment. They have multiple endorsement deals with some of the world’s leading sports organizations and manufacture their products for them. They are a symbol of commitment and quality.
The Easton features a TCT (Thermo Composite Technology) that produces a massive sweet spot, incredible feel, and a phenomenal swing.
It has a great two-piece design that minimizes the conduction of vibration from the barrel to the handle. This further enhances the precision of each stroke delivered. The bat speed is unmatched, and the beat is certified for use for high school and college level players. The hyper skin grips add to the experience off the game and make every stroke more precise. The two-piece design enhances the conduction of force from the handle to the barrel.
7. Rawlings 2018 Velo Hybrid USA Baseball Bat
Rawlings bats are the USA made that is the reason behind their superior strength. This Velo hybrid bat contains acoustic alloy. It has a pop size of 2.0’’ which makes it a better bat than any other. It has a stiff handle with a flexible barrel. This helps in the fast acceleration of the bat for a better swing.
Helping you in swing speed, it has lightweight. This enables you to catch-up to higher velocity pitches. This baseball bat incorporates a comp-lite end cap as well. This lowers the moment of inertia thus creating a perfect balance.
8. Easton BB17MK Mako Beast Comp 3 BBCOR Baseball Bat
Easton is one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to baseball bats. This baseball bat is suitable for every player. It has a Thermo Composite Technology (TCT). This means it has an extended barrel design.
Its massive barrel gives you the hit that you want. It is a two-piece composite barrel which gives the fastest swing.
Not only this, the bat comes with conneXion technology as well. This enhances the energy transfer for an optimized feel.
With an easy to carry feature, the bat has cushion feature. This thing also offers enhanced grip whenever you hit.
9. Marucci MCBC7 Cat7 BBCOR Baseball Bat
This bat by Marucci has AZ4X alloy construction. So, this will give you increased strength and better response rate. It has a barrel design with a larger sweet spot. This is a great bat for aluminum bat lovers. It has a finely tuned dampening system because of 2nd generation av2 anti-vibration knob.
Not only this, it has a better swing control with a precisely balanced barrel. These bats come with a barrel diameter of 2 5/8 inches. Also, it is BBCOR certified for its good quality.
10. Rawlings 2018 Velo BBCOR (High School/Collegiate) Baseball Bat
This bat uses acoustic alloy. This thing enhances its strength and durability. It has a stiff and strong handle which gives a good acceleration upon through contact. Velo bats incorporate a comp-lite end cap. This features lower the moment of inertia and creates an ideal balance.
This bat by Rawlings has certification for NCAA and NFHS. Having an ultra-lightweight, it gives a fast swing for a powerful hit. It has a drop weight of -3. With a 33 inches bat length, this is a great bat for adult players. Also, it has a big barrel of 2 5/8 inches.
11. Easton 2018 Ghost X -3 Adult Baseball Bat (BBCOR)
This bat has a length to weight ratio of -3. It gives you a large barrel size of 2 5/8 inches. This bat has a 1.4 mm HYPERSKIN grip featuring strong grip and stability. It is a two-piece fully composite bat. With an end loaded swing weight, it gives you full swing for a great hit.
It has an enhanced sweet spot because of newly engineered X advanced EXACT Carbon technology. It is a lightweight bat suitable for young but tall players.
Baseball Bat Buying Guide
Having a suitable baseball bat in hand is good before any game. For that purpose, we have gathered some buying guides for your guidance.
Weight
Baseball bat weight depends not only on the material but also on the player himself. For that, there are different bats according to the heights of the players. Below, we have a chart which will guide you to have the best baseball bat suitable for your height.
Length
The only weight of the bat does not matter. It is in length also. An ideal length of the bat is essential for any player. It must be easy for any player to hit the ball with that. So, for that purpose, we have the following chart.
This chart shows the required length of the baseball bat according to the height of the player.
Material
There are different materials used for the manufacturing of a baseball bat. Mainly are wood, aluminum and composite bats. Each of them has its strength and performance value. So, it depends solely on you to choose between them.
Barrel Size
Check the barrel size of the baseball bats. Larger barrel size will have greater sweet spots. Thus, it will give you more control over it. Most of the barrel sizes come in 2 ½, 2 5/8, 2 9/16 inches.
Grip
A good grip is also vital. So, make sure your baseball bat has a good grip. It should have a cushion for easy handling. This will help in the better swing. Also, it feels that bat is lightweight.
Swing
Your baseball bat should not be heavy. Otherwise, it would make difficult for you to hit the ball properly. Check its drop weight value. If it has more negative value, it means it is lighter. This will help in fast swing and better overall performance.
Baseball Bat Buying FAQs
1. What is the difference between a two-piece and one-piece baseball bats?
The main difference is their material. One-piece baseball bats use the same material entirely. While in a two-piece baseball bat, the handle is a different and a separate piece of the barrel. These two are then bonded together.
A one-piece baseball bat is preferred by power-hitters. You can get a stiffer bat when it is one-piece. The two-piece design allows the barrel to flex. It creates a trampoline effect. They have fewer vibrations than one-piece baseball bats.
2. What is the meaning of weight drop ration of the baseball bat?
Weight drop is the difference between the length and the actual weight of the bat. Length is in inches and weight is in ounces. Weight drop ration comes out in a negative integer. It means the more negative a number is, the lighter will be that bat.
3. Of how many materials are there baseball bats?
Baseball bats include the materials of wood, aluminum, and a composite. Composite is a mixture of various alloys and other materials.
Wooden baseball bats are ash, maple or sometimes bamboo wood. Each of these materials has its level of strength and durability. Wooden baseball bats are known for their hardness. That is the reason why they are mostly used by professional players.
Aluminum bats are also in for a very long time. They are light in weight. But, they sometimes create a great trampoline effect due to which injuries occur. They have larger sweet spots and are durable.
Composite bats introduced carbon fiber baseball bats. They are also durable and gave a tough competition to the aluminum baseball bats. Now, a huge variety of composite bats is available in the market.
4. What is the meaning of barrel size on any baseball bat?
Barrel size is the size of the sweet spot. It is the size of that round part of the bat below. It comes in contact with the ball. The standard size of the barrel is 2 ½ inches. Larger barrel size results in a heavier baseball bat. But, larger barrel size has a more sweet spot which gives a better hit. Overall, it depends on the preference of the player if he needs a lighter one or a larger barrel sized.
5. How do I choose the baseball bat for myself or my child?
You should feel comfortable in the thing that you use. So, the main key is a comfort. Though lighter bats are easy to carry and create more speed, heavier bats have greater force. It is usually recommended that thick-handled bats are good for line drivers. Whereas, thin handled bats are suitable for power hitters.
6. What should I do if I don’t feel comfortable in that bat I just bought?
If this is the case, you should immediately send that back to the company. Baseball bats usually come under warranty claims. So, if you have any problem regarding its quality or size, you can always exchange it with the most suitable one.
7. How is the weight related to the age of height of the player?
For better control, a good baseball bat should be selected. This means it should be easy for you to carry. For that purpose, we have a chart. This chart shows how the height of the player is dependent on the weight of the bat.
8. What is meant by the legality of the baseball bat?
USA Baseball association has some rule and regulations regarding the game. They have adopted a method of evaluating the performance of the baseball bats. Only those bats which conform to its standards can play in the leagues. So, for that, they must be approved by USA-Bat standard.
9. What is meant by the length of the baseball bats and how to choose the perfect length for one’s self?
Baseball bats come in a variety of lengths, and each player has to choose according to his height and age. Those players who are taller and heavier ideally select long and heavier bats. This is because they can have the advantage of swing power.
Small height and younger players choose lighter bats with small lengths to make a quick swing with better control. Note that the length and weight are often together expressed as a ratio. This means that a bat with a ratio of 20/33 will weight 20 ounces and length of 33 inches.
This information is also in the buyer’s guide section. It shows how the length of the bat varies according to the age.
10. How can I measure length for a perfect bat?
For choosing the perfect length of any baseball bat, you can take a baseball bat of any size and place its handle in the center of the chest. Your arms should be stretched outside with being parallel to the bat. If the top of the bat reaches your fingertips, the bat is an ideal size for you.
Conclusion
Baseball bats are available in a variety of size features and materials. To deal with the wood scarcity and bring innovative bats other materials are added in their manufacturing. Above mentioned are some of the best baseball bats. They are suitable for every type of player.
If you are a new player to this game, choosing the right bat may not be easy for you. Proper guidance and tips are necessary to have a good bat. You should not spend much of the cost on an expensive bat unless you are a regular player.
