Bat Sizing

Bat Chart*

Success at the plate oft comes down to this: making consistent hard contact confronting alive pitching. To do this, it'southward of import to swing the right bat for you. That means a bat that's long enough to encompass the strike zone, light enough to swing with ease, heavy enough to generate ability, and, of course, permitted in your league. In order to discover the platonic size for you, consider the following guidelines:

three'-3'4" 91.44cm‑101.6cm iii'5"-3'8" 104.14cm‑111.76cm 3'9"-4' 114.3cm‑121.92cm 4'ane"-4'4" 124.46cm‑132.08cm four'5"-4'8" 134.62cm‑142.24cm 4'nine"-5' 144.78cm‑152.4cm 5'one"-v'4" 154.94cm‑162.56cm 5'five"-v'eight" 165.1cm‑162.56cm 5'9"-6' 175.26cm‑182.88cm 6'ane"-Over 185.42cm‑Over
Under 60 Lbs. Under 27.22 Kg. 26" 66.04cm 27" 68.58cm 28" 71.12cm 29" 73.66cm 29" 73.66cm
61 - 70 27.67kg-31.75kg 27" 68.58cm 27" 68.58cm 28" 71.12cm 29" 73.66cm 30" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm
71 - 80 32.21kg-36.29kg 28" 71.12cm 28" 71.12cm 29" 73.66cm 30" 76.2cm thirty" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm
81 - 90 36.74kg-40.82kg 28" 71.12cm 29" 73.66cm 29" 73.66cm thirty" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28
91 - 100 41.28kg-45.36kg 28" 71.12cm 29" 73.66cm 30" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm
101 - 110 45.81kg-49.90kg 29" 73.66cm 29" 73.66cm 30" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm
111 - 120 50.35kg-54.43kg 29" 73.66cm 29" 73.66cm thirty" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm
121 - 130 54.88kg-59.00kg 29" 73.66cm xxx" 76.2cm thirty" 76.2cm xxx" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm
131 - 140 59.42kg-63.50kg 29" 73.66cm xxx" 76.2cm 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm
141 - 150 63.96kg-68.04kg 30" 76.2cm xxx" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm
151 - 160 68.49kg-72.57kg 30" 76.2cm 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm
161 - 170 73.03kg-77.11kg 31" 78.74cm 31" 78.74cm 32" 81.28cm 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm 34" 86.36cm
171 - 180 77.56kg-81.65kg 32" 81.28cm 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm 34" 86.36cm 34" 86.36cm
Over 180 Over 81,65kg 33" 83.82cm 33" 83.82cm 34" 86.36cm 34" 86.36cm

MOST Popular LENGTH By AGE

Age 5 - seven 8 - ix x 11 - 12 thirteen - 14 fifteen - 16
LENGTH 24" - 26" threescore.96cm‑66.04cm 26" - 28" 66.04cm‑71.12cm 28" - 29" 71.12cm‑73.66cm 30" - 31" 76.2cm‑78.74cm 31" - 32" 78.74cm‑81.28cm 32" - 33" 81.28cm‑83.82cm

Length

Bat length is measured in inches from knob to end cap. A longer bat gives you greater reach, assuasive you to hit assurance on the exterior part of the plate. Notwithstanding, longer bats likewise tend to have more than mass towards the end of the bat that requires more power to swing them. We recommend swinging bats of different lengths to decide what option best suits your swing. The correct combination of length and weight will help y'all accomplish your peak performance.

Baseball bats well-nigh commonly are found betwixt 24-34 inches. Delight check the size chart for examples of what length may be appropriate for you.

Many baseball game players mistakenly believe a longer bat means more plate coverage, simply this is not ever true. Since a longer bat often means a heavier feeling bat, a bat that is too long for you tin tedious downwardly your timing and prevent you from catching up to and hit inside pitches. Fifty-fifty some Major League players swing bats as short as 32 inches. When choosing your bat length, y'all should go along plate coverage in listen. You should also consider your swing and opinion relative to the plate.

Weight**

Bat weight is measured in ounces (oz.). A bat'due south weight is often tied to its "weight drop" -- its length in inches versus its weight in ounces. For instance, a 32-inch, 22-ounce bat would be referred to equally a -ten bat.

bat length (in.) – bat weight (oz.) = weight driblet

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the competition or league level (pregnant, from youth league upwards to the pros) the lesser the weight driblet. A lesser weight drop means the bat feels heavier. And then a -5 bat will feel heavier than a -10 bat.

Selecting the right bat weight depends on three master factors: sport, league rules, and player preference.

  • Leagues have rules identifying which weight drops are permitted for play. Prior to choosing a bat, we recommend finding out if your league has a specific standard for bat weight drops in club for them to be permitted. For more information on league rules, delight refer to the Your League section.

  • Players with less experience generally swing lighter bats in society to have meliorate bat control. More experienced players generally swing a heavier bats to help maximize power. A manner to tell if a bat is right for you is your swing speed. A bat that is likewise heavy is harder to swing, causing a loss in momentum, reduced distance or a miss altogether. If a bat is as well lite for a actor, the player could miss out on the extra forcefulness they could generate from a heavier bat. A happy medium needs to exist plant. Information technology is highly recommended you demo a bat against alive pitching speeds in club to find the all-time weight for you.

Almost common weight drops in various baseball leagues are -12, -10, -ix, -8, -5, and -3. As you progress toward high school baseball, the weight drop lowers (the bats go heavier). When moving to a heavier bat, you lot may then decide to drop an inch in length to more easily handle the additional weight. This is a matter of personal preference and comfort at the plate every bit you advance in age, league and skill level.

Shop By Weight Drib

  • -three
  • -5
  • -8
  • -ix
  • -ten
  • -11
  • -12
  • -12.5

*This is for example purposes only. The best way to discover the right size bat for you is to demo the bat, preferably against alive pitch speeds.

**Manufacturing tolerances, performance considerations and grip weight may cause variations from the listed weight.

Leagues

Governing Bodies

Governing bodies (for example, the USSSA and USA Baseball) gear up unique standards for bat operation. Bat manufacturers make bats to see these standards. Each standard, however, is unlike. And so, bats coming together one standard may not meet another. Bats are marked with logos identifying the standard which they meet.

Leagues adopt the standard they deem appropriate for play under their item rules. League adoptions vary region by region, so we highly recommend consulting your coach and/or league official to empathize the standard adopted by your league prior to purchasing a new bat.

The following data volition aid you lot understand in the standard adopted by your league.

Select your governing body or league*:
*Regulations for each league are subject to change. In order to have the virtually upward-to-engagement data, please contact your coach or league official.

BBCOR Certified logo

BBCOR

Higher and High Schoolhouse Baseball game

  • -3 Drib Weight
  • Barrel Bore 2v⁄8" or less

USSSA logo

USSSA

Senior League Baseball game

  • Broad Weight Drop Range
  • Broad Barrel Range Diameter

USA Baseball logo

USA Baseball

USABat Standard

  • No Weight Brake
  • Maximum Barrel Diameter of 25⁄8"

College and High School Baseball

  • Maximum driblet weight of -three
  • Maximum barrel bore of 25⁄8"
  • Most wood bats are allowed under BBCOR rules

In that location are multiple ways to recognize a BBCOR bat. The easiest way is to look for the BBCOR certification stamp where the handle meets the barrel. Another manner to identify a BBCOR Louisville Slugger bat are the knob and the packaging sticker, both of which are blue.

Woods bats are also legal for BBCOR play and do not need the BBCOR marker. Wood composite bats on the other mitt practice need the BBCOR mark to be legal for play.

Not all -3 BBCOR bats feel the same. Often, a line of BBCOR bats is fabricated with varying swing weights, from light-swinging to balanced to terminate-loaded. The swing weight is influenced by how the bat's weight is distributed. End-loaded bats have more weight toward the end cap, more and have a relatively college swing weight for that reason. More balanced bats take their weight distributed more evenly and have a relatively lower swing weight for that reason. For more information on end-loaded and balanced bats, please come across the Bat Tech section.

USSSA - Usa Sports Specialty Clan

USSSA (Us Sports Specialty Association) is one of the largest baseball associations in the U.s.a.. USSSA separates their regulations by age grouping, with a range of permitted weight drops and barrel diameters. In order to observe the most accurate data near what can be used in your USSSA league, we recommend contacting your motorcoach and/or league official, or checking the USSSA website.

Ways to recognize bats certified for USSSA play include the USSSA logo on the taper of the bat, and the ruby-red knob and packaging sticker.

Weight drops vary in Senior League baseball, simply players 10 years old and nether oftentimes use -10 weight drop bat. Players 11-12 years old will often utilise a -8 weight drop, and 13 twelvemonth quondam players frequently use a -five weight drop.**

**These are recommendations. Check with your coach/league official to find out what your league rules allow.

Youth Baseball

Effective Jan 1st, 2018, USA Baseball volition adopt a new bat standard for youth baseball bats. All players participating in leagues that have adopted the USA Baseball bat standard volition be required to employ a USA Baseball-certified bat (a "USABat(s)" Standard). On January i, just bats that have the Us Baseball mark volition be legal for play in these leagues.

Louisville Slugger bats that pass the USA Bat certification will have these marks:

The post-obit national member organizations will be adopting the Us Baseball bat standard beginning January 1, 2018:

Louisville Slugger USABat FAQ

*In order to accept the most up-to-date information or if y'all accept specific questions nearly your league, please contact your jitney and/or league official.

Bat Technology

A bat is more than merely a hunk of metallic or wood. It is a carefully-engineered tool that allows players to become the most out of every swing. Every component of the bat, from the knob to the end cap, is designed to maximize every ounce of performance. At that place are four principal tech components you demand to know for your bat: textile, barrel diameter, construction and weight residue.

Material

One of the biggest influences on bat performance is its material. Bats are made of metallic, composites, or wood. Metal and composite bats, are typically made of blended or blend material, are traditionally used for youth baseball game through college baseball game. Wood, meanwhile, is used throughout the professional levels, as well every bit for specific amateur and travel ball leagues/organizations. Please read beneath to acquire more than about bat materials and how they affect performance.

Composite Vs. Blend

Non-wood bats are built from either alloy, composite, or a combination of the two.

Composite bat cross section

Blended

Composite bats are made with a layered cloth (often carbon fiber) that is piece of cake to distribute, giving us the ability to make bats with a multifariousness of swing weights, from balanced to terminate-loaded.

Pros of Blended:

  • Minimize the sting from a mis-hit ball by reducing vibration to the hands

  • Oft have a larger sugariness spot than alloy bats

Alloy bat cross section

Blend

Blend is a mixture of two or more metals, and has been commonly used in baseball game bats for years.

Pros of Alloy:

  • Stiffer feel through the swing zone

  • More than durable fabric

Construction

1-piece bats are 1 consummate piece of composite or alloy and are often used by power hitters, since they provide less flex on contact.

Multi-piece bats are comprised of two split up parts: the barrel and the handle. The handle is connected to the barrel through a transition piece in the taper area of the bat. Multi-piece structure helps minimize vibration on mis-hitting balls. Those bats are preferred by contact hitters, since the ii-part construction helps generate maximum swing speed without the fear of major sting on contact.

Swing Weight

A gene you may non run across, but volition definitely feel is the swing weight* of your bat. Bats are often segmented by their given length and weight. The Swing weight is a determination of how a bat's particular weight is distributed forth the bat's length. For example, you can have two bats that are 30 ounces, only that accept different swing weights because the 30 ounces are distributed differently in the bat. Bats can fall along the swing weight spectrum, from lite to balanced to end-loaded.

End-loaded bats shift actress weight toward the end of the barrel, creating more than whip-like action on a player'southward swing and generating more power.

Balanced bats have a more even weight distribution, allowing for potentially greater swing speed for many hitters. This is preferred by contact hitters who want more control of their swing.

*Note - at that place are a variety of swing weights offered to see actor needs.

Barrel Diameter

The butt is the thickest and widest part of the bat used to hit the ball. The barrel is where you lot desire to hit the ball in order to achieve maximum performance.

Barrels come in different sizes, and are measured by diameter. Butt diameter is measured in inches and, like weight driblet, certain leagues limit the size of a bat'due south butt. Please refer to the Leagues to cheque your league's requirements. Generally, these are the virtually common barrel diameters:

  • 2three⁄4 inches
  • two5⁄8 inches
  • iiane⁄4 inches

Forest

In that location are iii chief types of wood bats that players use

Ash wood sample

Ash

Notwithstanding widely popular amid big leaguers, Ash provides the ultimate in flexibility due to its unique grain structure. More forgiving than Maple, Ash rarely sees multi-piece fractures when the bat breaks. Visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality, giving you the confidence you need when you pace upward to the plate.

Maple wood sample

Maple

The species preferred by most pro players, Maple features the ultimate surface hardness and provides an unmatched sound and feel at contact. Naturally harder, Maple offers added strength at impact. Closed grains eliminate flaking commonly seen with Ash, allowing for superior durability.

Birch wood sample

Birch

The fastest growing species in professional baseball, Birch features the ideal combination of surface hardness and flexibility for increased durability. Its hardness (similar to Maple) provides corking sound and feel at contact. Flexibility like to Ash allows for forgiveness on non-barrel contact, decreasing the run a risk of multi-piece fractured breakage. Birch is less dumbo than maple, giving information technology a lighter feel on comparable turning models.

*Wood bats are more likely to interruption or crack on mishits than Alloy and Composite bats.

Construction

These are the types of finishes on a bat. A stop is the combination of the color and "look" of the bat. On pinnacle of the cease a hard coat is applied to make the bat's surface even harder. On the top of the line MLB Prime forest bats, Louisville Slugger uses Exo Armour Premium Hardcoat which makes the bat twice as hard.

Stop

These are the types of finishes on a bat. A stop is the combination of the colour and "look" of the bat. On top of the finish a difficult coat is applied to make the bat's surface even harder. On the meridian of the line MLB Prime number woods bats, Louisville Slugger uses Exo Armour Premium Hardcoat which makes the bat twice as hard.

Seamless Decals

Louisville Slugger'southward sectional new Seamless Decals requite MLB Prime bats a pristine wait. All MLB Prime models feature branding that blends into the bat almost as intricately equally the grain of the wood itself – without added stress from pressure and estrus. This leads to a bat made of forest in its purest, hardest class with decals applied directly under the top coat. Thank you to innovative technology, MLB Prime bats go on to shine after countless trips to the plate.

Knob Manner - Round Knob Vs. Flare Knob

Not all knobs are the same. Some bats have a more than rounded knob while others feature a more than gradual flare. The choice between the two simply comes downwardly to personal preference.

Ink Dot

An ink dot on a bat certifies that the wood is MLB form. Often MLB-quality wood bats are bone-rubbed, which is the process of making a bat denser past compressing the wood.

Ink Dot being applied to a bat

Ink dot example on a bat

Cupped Vs. Non-cupped

Cupping a bat is the process in which the end of the barrel is hollowed out to remove weight while maintaining length. This procedure creates a slightly more balanced feel to your swing and is especially effective on larger-butt bats for increased swing speed.

Cupped bat end example

Non cupped bat end example

Turning Model

The turning model refers to the specific shape of the bat. Different turning models accept different specifications. Here are the areas where turning models differ:

  • Barrel Measurement: is the diameter in the largest part of the butt.
  • Barrel taper: indicates whether the bat has a short dramatic transition through the taper, or long transition through the taper.
  • Handle thickness: measures the diameter of the handle.
  • Knob taper: identifies what kind of taper exists for that turning model. Here are the three types.
    • No taper: handle comes straight into the knob with no flare.
    • Traditional taper: a gradual flare to the handle as it reaches the knob.
    • Max taper: an aggressive flare to the handle as information technology joins the knob for a wider feel in your bottom hand.