Wood Bats?

When son was looking to get a wood bat he looked for a bat that was the correct wieght and length for his body type and one that felt good to swing. He did not worry about brand names. The one requirement he had was that it had to be maple. He researched and found that there are different quality of maple wood used for bats. You want a bat made with rock maple. The bats range in price from over $100 to about $70. We settled on the $70 bat (Since I was paying for the bat I settled for the $70 bat). On his 10th at bat with his new wood bat, bang the bat broke with the head of the bat flying towards third base. Son thought it was cool to shatter a bat and I thought it was cool that it was a $70 bat. I believe that a $100 bat would have done the same thing with that pitch location, velocity and swing. Here are a couple of sites to check out.
http://www.blastbat.com/ http://www.baseballtips.com/howto/wood.html
http://www.bwpbats.com/woodbatproducts.asp

I reccomend Maxbats. They are rock maple and you can get them in almost any size specifications you want.

The most economical way we've found to buy and experiment with wood bats is Carolina Clubs, www.carolinaclubs.com

They often have amazing sales--two maple bats for $79 holiday special right now, and the quality is great. The only catch is that you cannot always get exactly the model you want if you buy one of their sale deals. Thus the use of the word "experiment" in my first sentence.

Go with D-bat they are pretty good. WWW.dbatinc.com.

Are you using these for cage and bp? Or for game use?
If you use a regular maple bat they are going to break. No matter what the brand.
If you want a bat that you can hit in the cage, bp, etc....get a bat that is a composite wood bat. More durable and you won't go through $$$$ replacing bats that cracked around the handle, etc...

I'm gonna let the cat out of the bag... I hope Julie dowsn't mind this just this once

I am re-launching my wood bat business. Wesite is in design mode, but we have a couple of listings on ebay.

It's not maple.... but it's better.

Ebay listing.

My son used a Sam bat all last summer. Played alot of wood bat games maybe 20-25 and some top pitching and BP before all games no issues. Then was playing in a fall league not so great pitching and it broke. He was a little up set. Sam bat is on the high end for the price range but the quility is very good. Got him another one for Xmas this year.

Do a search on "wood bats (or bat)" and you will find all kinds of information here.

My son personally likes the Mizuno bamboo models for durability. Plus the look great

Rawling's Big Stick Maple

If you have a Rawling's Factory outlet near you, check them out $49

My 16 yr has had great success with the 460.

He has broken 1 bat in two summers of wood bat baseball.

Louisville Slugger M9 maple bat, C271 turning model is great. Rockbats are some of the best rock maple bats I have ever used. They are perfectly balanced. The wood is excellent. I had one break right half in two from the top of the bat all the way to the knob. The wood had the most excellent grains I had ever seen. I've never seen a bat split so perfectly. Rockbats also has the finest batting gloves you will purchase at about $15.00 a pair. They are made of goatskin and are extremely soft. The best I have ever used.

www.rockbats.com

Jimi-

My son was able to get a box of the Louisville Slugger M9 maple bat, C271 turning model from the "pro stock." The wood is exceptional and balance and finish as my son said is "sweet."

quote:

Originally posted by ILVBB:
Jimi-

My son was able to get a box of the Louisville Slugger M9 maple bat, C271 turning model from the "pro stock." The wood is exceptional and balance and finish as my son said is "sweet."

Those with the XXTIMBER are even better. I loved hitting with one I had. Give that www.rockbats.com website a look and see what you think about Roland's bats. They might too pricey, but the barrell is tested and checked for the sweet spot. It is then marked on the barrell of the bat as to where the ball needs to hit, so the batter should have the most pop.

If they're allowed where you play, Baum bats are almost indestructible.

quote:

Louisville Slugger M9 maple bat, C271 turning model is great. Rockbats are some of the best rock maple bats I have ever used. They are perfectly balanced. The wood is excellent. I had one break right half in two from the top of the bat all the way to the knob. The wood had the most excellent grains I had ever seen. I've never seen a bat split so perfectly.

Jimi,

From our experience it would be very rare for a maple bat to split the way you described. Are you sure it was maple and not ash? Typically an ash bat will break with the grain, while a maple bat will break across the grain. In fact, we have seen maple bats shatter and we've seen them break clean across the grain. I think that is the way most real good maple bats are supposed to break. Of course, the "harder" maple bat does not break as easily as ash.

Maybe one of the bat folks who post or advertise here can give more information.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:

quote:

Louisville Slugger M9 maple bat, C271 turning model is great. Rockbats are some of the best rock maple bats I have ever used. They are perfectly balanced. The wood is excellent. I had one break right half in two from the top of the bat all the way to the knob. The wood had the most excellent grains I had ever seen. I've never seen a bat split so perfectly.

Jimi,

From our experience it would be very rare for a maple bat to split the way you described. Are you sure it was maple and not ash? Typically an ash bat will break with the grain, while a maple bat will break across the grain. In fact, we have seen maple bats shatter and we've seen them break clean across the grain. I think that is the way most real good maple bats are supposed to break. Of course, the "harder" maple bat does not break as easily as ash.

Maybe one of the bat folks who post or advertise here can give more information.

It was definitely maple. It looked like I had run a saw through the bat the break was so clean. You could really see a great view of the grain pattern from the inside. It was very a very unique break.

I believe with ash you hit against the grain and with maple you hit with the grain.