How to Buy The Right Baseball Bat

Our baseball experts offer a few tips for finding your next game-changing baseball bat.

When choosing a baseball bat for your season, it is important to first consider any rules that your program might have for what baseball bats are allowed and which are prohibited. For example, some little league programs do not allow composite bats (that is the type of material the bat is made out of). So, first things first, check your rule book and find out what bat you can play with.


The way you select a bat will change based on your age. We’ll have more later on selecting the right T-Ball bat, versus a player that is 10 or 12 years old. In the video above, our baseball tech rep is providing guidance on how a high-school player might select a baseball bat.



When selecting the proper bat length, a good rule of thumb for any age group is to place the handle end of your bat in the middle of your chest and extend it out toward your index finger with your arm extended to your side. If the bat goes far beyond your index finger, it’s probably too long. If it is around your palm or wrist, the bat is too small.



The right weight is very much how you feel. If you take multiple swings and the bat feels heavy or begins to drop, the bat is probably too heavy. Try holding the bat handle and extending your arm to your side. If you can’t hold the bat extended for 30-45 seconds, the bat might be too heavy for you. Check the drop of the bat, too. Drop refers to the length of the bat minus the weight of the bat. The higher the drop, usually the lighter the bat is. Again, some leagues and/or programs have a limit on how much the drop can be so always check your rule book.


If you’re a power hitter, you may do well with a slightly heavier bat. If you play small ball and try to get base hits, a smaller bat will give you more control.