The following was posted on a Florida HS baseball website:
January 1st 2012 will ring in the new year and a new era for high school baseball. Following the NCAA decision to switch to BBCOR in 2011, the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) will implement their BBCOR bat mandate in 2012. This will require all high school baseball players to swing a BBCOR certified bat for the 2012 season. With the deadline approaching now is a great time to start your BBCOR bat research. Below is a simple four step guide to help select the perfect BBCOR bat for the new season.
4 Steps to help you select the perfect BBCOR Bat
Step 1: Set a BBCOR Bat Budget.
Establishing a BBCOR Bat budget is a good idea as BBCOR bats can be expensive and market conditions may increase prices. BBCOR bats will vary considerably in price from $49.99 to $399.99 with the average BBCOR bat falling in the $199.99- $299.99 price range. BBCOR Bat prices may skyrocket to $450-$600 as demand for popular models will exceed supply. Manufacturers and Retailers are anticipating extended backorders on popular BBCOR models. Having a bat budget can be helpful in an unpredictable market.
Step 2: Select a Bat Design
BBCOR Bats will come in a variety of designs and determining the right design early will help narrow the pool of bats to consider for purchase. Popular BBCOR bat designs include aluminum alloy, composite, hybrid (alloy & composite) and wood. Each bat design will have pros and cons, so be selective and choice the bat that will benefit your personal style of hitting. The most common BBCOR bat design will be a one-piece alloy. Alloy designs will provide the largest pool of bats to choose from and will be the most competitively priced.As a general rule of thumb, one-piece alloy bat designs will be more affordable, while hybrid and composite BBCOR bats will be more expensive.
Step 3 Select a Manufacture
Selecting a Bat manufacture can be difficult as there are many great choices. To simplify the overwhelming selection of bbcor bats to choose from select a few manufacturers that you like or know. Industry leaders such as Easton, Louisville, DeMarini and Anderson will provide a great starting point when selecting the perfect BBCOR Bat..
Step 4: Select the Proper Size
All high school and college players have to swing a minus or drop 3. This means the difference between the length of the bat and the weight will be 3. For example, a 32” bat will be 29oz. and a 33” will be 30oz. A standard bat size guide is a good starting point to help determine proper bat sizing. The bat size guide suggest bat lengths based on a players height and weight. Other factors to consider would be player strength, body type, experience, and personal preference.The most common sizes for high school and college players will be 32” and 33”
Be prepared when selecting your BBCOR Bat this season. There are a handful of designs and manufactures to choose from at drastically different prices. Setting a budget, selecting a design, choosing a manufacture and selecting the proper size will help you select the perfect bbcor bat.
4 Steps to help select the perfect BBCOR Bat Podcast
http://www.bbcorbats.com