The Best Baseball Bats Of 2023
Are you looking for the best baseball bat for the 2023 season? With such a wide selection and so many bats on the market, it can be hard to narrow down the choices and find the perfect fit for your game. The bat is a critical component of any batter's gear, as it serves as the ultimate link between player and ball. Bats come in a variety of weights, materials, and designs, with some tailored toward particular hitters or games. Keep reading to find out which model will take your game to the next level!
Types of baseball bats
Wood baseball bats
Wood baseball bats are quite simple, but offer many options in terms of customization. Typically, dense wood like maple or ash wood is used to manufacture these bats. Rock maple is one of the stiffest materials to use in the production of baseball bats. While these tend to be one-piece bats, composite wood bats are constructed out of different types of wood.
Metal baseball bats
These bats are manufactured using aluminum and alloy materials. Metal bats are the oldest type of non-wooden bats and are often used in college baseball.
Composite baseball bats
These are made out of lightweight composite materials. Composite bats tend to have larger sweet spots for hitting. This makes them a great choice for younger, inexperienced players.
Hybrid baseball bats
Hybrid bats combine the best features of aluminum and composite bats in a balanced design. These bands tend to have a composite handle together with an aluminum alloy barrel. Hybrid bats offer extra power together with a lightweight feel.
Fungo bats
Fungo bats are designed specifically for batting practice and are not used in either minor or major leagues. Their slim barrels, light swing weight, and longer length allow coaches and newcomers to perform very efficient swings.
Do heavier bats hit farther?
While some extra weight can help one perform more powerful swings, power hitters also have to think of their swing speed. Balance, bat speed, and barrel control all play an important role when making balls fly further.
Working with a lighter swing weight can help you perform faster swings and provide the maximum energy transfer possible. While some elite power hitters like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb are known for their use of heavier bats, other elite hitters like Roger Maris and Barry Bonds have performed legendary swings with bats made of lightweight materials.
In the end, the best option for maximum power lies in an individual's capacity and personal preferences. While a heavier bat, such as a one-piece alloy bat, may provide lots of power, the strength needed to swing them properly may hinder some players' performance standards.
Which bat has the most pop?
"Pop" is used in terms of performance to define the speed at which the ball leaves the bat. A higher energy transfer on contact will cause the ball to travel further. When looking for a bat with lots of pop, the best option for power hitters is a bat with a one-piece design and the stiffest materials. In contrast, contact hitters and smaller players may feel more comfortable with bats with composite barrels and a comfortable grip.
Players interested in a bat with substantial pop should try out the Marucci CAT 8 line. These one-piece alloy bats are manufactured using AZ105 alloy, giving them great balance and lots of pop. Those looking for a slow-pitch bat with considerable pop will be happy to give the DeMarini Nautalai 13" SP a try. It has an all-composite construction, complete with a massive barrel and a composite handle made of aluminum allow.
Baseball Bat Certifications
Governing bodies, such as USA Baseball, BBCOR bats, and USSSA, develop and enforce special bat performance criteria in line with the rules of the leagues or tournaments they oversee. Before going to a shop to buy a new bat, it's a good idea to learn about the expectations that the bat must meet.
BBCOR Baseball Bats
You’ve probably heard of BBCOR (Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution), which is the current norm regulating adult baseball bats used in high school and collegiate play. BBCOR bats focus on the trampoline effect of the bat rather than the ratio of ball exit speed to pitch and bat speeds.
When a pitched ball contacts a BBCOR bat or composite, the alloy barrel slightly flexes inward, allowing the ball to maintain more of its energy, resulting in more hits. Wooden baseball bats have less give, and the ball loses a lot of energy as it hits the ground.
BBCOR bats have a composite and alloy barrel diameter of no more than 2 5/8 inches and a length-to-weight ratio of no more than -3. BBCOR bats are considered adult baseball bats and must be used in high school and collegiate leagues, although some middle school leagues require all baseball bats to have the BBCOR.50 qualification mark on their alloy barrel or taper.
USSSA Bats
The United States Specialty Sports Association has set guidelines for bats. The Elite World Series, USSSA World Series, Global Sports World Series, and All-American Games are only a few of the travel ball tournaments that use these bats.
A bat with a USSSA 1.5 BPF rating has a lot more flexibility. The thin, unregulated barrel walls of these bats produce a big-time springy trampoline effect and a loud, hollow sound when striking. On well-struck balls, the difference between a BBCOR bat and a USSSA bat is around 25-40 feet.
Here’s a list of tournaments that have adopted the USSSA Bat standards:
- Elite World Series
- USSSA World Series
- Global Sports World Series
- All American Games
USA Bats
USA Baseball Bats meet the new norm for youth baseball bats, which calls for a more wood-like performance. The new norm went into effect on January 1, 2018, and it can affect someone who is not in a USSSA bats league. To decide which bat norm applies, it’s best to consult with league officials.
The leagues that use the USA Bat standards are listed below:
- American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC)
- Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken
- Dixie Youth and Dixie Boys
- Little League Baseball
- PONY Baseball
- National Amateur Baseball Federation
- Dizzy Dean Baseball
Best Softball Bats in 2023
When it comes to serious fast-pitch softball, you must be at the top of your game every time you enter the box. Today's pitchers have a slew of fastballs, drop pitches, riseballs, and off-speed deception at their disposal, all of which are built to send you to the bench in a hurry. With one of the best fast-pitch softball bats for 2023, you will be ready to take on the challenge.
Easton FP20GHAD9 Ghost Advanced -9
The Ghost Advanced softball Bat features a second-generation composite barrel construction. It is made using Easton's precision-balanced barrel design to provide the lowest compression in the game for maximum barrel flex and performance.
If you’re looking for something similar but at a more affordable price, you can also check out the Easton 2022 Ghostmondo 12.5".
Easton FP20GH Ghost Double Barrel -9
Approved for play on all fields, these double-barrel baseball bats are designed to give players the best possible feel, pop, and sound.
The Ghost's unique double-barrel design and fusion connection technology offer the most toughness and stability with an extremely low barrel compression. This responsive barrel design will appeal to all levels of hitters.
Louisville Slugger Inertia
The Louisville Inertia is a balanced bat. Designed using lightweight materials, this bat doesn't require much strength from its user to achieve max performance.
The Best Baseball Bats on the Market For 2023
Easton Maxum Ultra 2 5/8'' BBCOR Bat -3 BB21MX
The Maxum Ultra BBCOR bat was created by incorporating input from countless D1 college programs as well as elite travel ball and high school programs from around the world. This information was used to re-balance the bat, increasing the alloy barrel's mass. The Maxum Ultra's composite build, huge barrel, and massive sweet spot have been designed for peak performance and are unrivaled in the industry.
Easton SL20ADV108 ADV 360 2 5/8 -10
Designed with excellent power and speed in mind, the Easton ADV 360TM -10 is a great option for power hitters. As the is the most advanced two-piece composite bat in the game, it integrates composite technology with 360 Engineering to provide 360° of barrel-tuned accuracy, optimizing barrel profile and pushing output boundaries.
This USSSA-certified two-piece composite bat has a very stiff handle designed for a perfect comfort grip. Its Power BoostTM Soft Knob technology increases leverage and power potential while reducing vibration and improving bottom-hand comfort.
Marucci CAT8 -3 BBCOR Bat MCBC8
The new and improved AZ105 Alloy, the strongest aluminum on the Marucci BBCOR bat line, allows for thinner walls, a higher reaction rate, and better reliability. This bat's 2 5/8-inch composite and alloy barrel allows for a larger sweet spot, allowing for more base hits.
This Marucci CAT 8 BBCOR bat (MCBC8) has a -3 length-to-weight ratio and a 2 5/8 inch ring-free alloy barrel construction, which is vital for increased barrel flex and fewer dead spots, so any ball you hit can fly high and far. The barrel is also precision-balanced for a lower M.O.I., resulting in a lighter feel and greater precision and stability when you swing.
The tapered handle with its soft-touch grip is topped with an ergonomic knob shape for more top-hand control and comfort while at the plate, and the one-piece alloy construction ensures a clean, consistent swing. The BBCOR bat is approved for high school and college baseball, and it comes with a year of warranty.
Marucci Posey 28 SL USSSA -10 MSBP2810S
The Posey 28 Pro Metal baseball bat blends the pop of Marucci partner Buster Posey's in-game model with the strength of the high-strength AZ105 alloy. The only thing “wood” about this one-piece alloy masher is the smoke-colored wood grain cosmetics, which offer explosive results with an extended barrel and a more sensitive sweet spot.
The AZ105 alloy, the most durable aluminum in the Marucci bat line, allows for faster reaction and longevity. The bat's multivariable wall architecture provides a larger sweet spot and thinner walls that are more forgiving when touch is off-center.
Easton YBB19GXE10 Ghost X Evo 2 5/8 -10
The Easton Ghost X Evolution 2 5/8-inch USA Baseball Bat is a two-piece Exact Carbon composite build with a speed-balanced swing weight.
This bat's two-piece construction uses Nitrocell foam to build a lighter and more comfortable link between the handle and the barrel, and a new Speed Cap design helps create a more flexible and sensitive composite and alloy barrel while also improving the bat's tone.
The 2 5/8-inch barrel on this baseball bat features a custom LizardSkins grip for the best sound, cushion, and tack. It's legal to play in leagues and clubs that adhere to the USA Baseball rules.
Demarini Nautalai 13'' SP
The DeMarini Nautalai 13" Slowpitch Bat features the new 240 stamp and a strong continuous fiber barrel wall construction to deliver peak performance from your very first swing. Its stiff ZnX Alloy Handle pairs with the mid-loaded barrel to help you send balls flying.
Rawlings 2020 Quatro Pro BBCOR 2 5/8'' BBZQ3
Masterfully crafted from the finest composite materials, this bat can help elite power hitters reach max performance. Its longer barrel, larger sweet spot, and more balanced swing are achieved thanks to Q4 suspended inner-barrel technology. This bat provides a cleaner swing and consistent contact.