Baseball is no doubt America’s game, especially when you take into account major league baseball (MLB), where there is now only one Canadian team involved (the Toronto Blue Jays, for those of you not into MLB). Baseball teaches children to play as a team and leave individual statistics behind, gives great hand to eye coordination skills and keeps them in good physical condition. But, no matter what all the psychiatrists and family book writers say, it is much more fun to win than to lose, and it is way more fun to hit the ball well than to strike out or hit short hoppers every time you get to bat.
Selecting the right baseball bat is a rather tedious affair, as it involves the use of many different bats to get to the one that is best for you. If you are not in a league or belong to a baseball team, and are looking for a baseball bat for yourself or your child, the first place to go is a sporting goods store. Many stores have hitting cages out back, and you can try the different makes, models, lengths and weights of bats.
A baseball bat that is made of aluminum, wood or composite metal each have different characteristics and feel to them. One model may feel better to swing with, but when hitting the ball, you may find that it hurts, or does not get as much distance as it should. But, before finding which material you want your bat to be made of, you need to determine the length and weight of the bat.
Picking a baseball bat starts with finding the right weight and length for your swing. A general rule of bat manufacture is that a bat weighs one ounce for every inch in length, and most bats are 30 to 35 inches long. There are shorter bats for the younger children, and at that age, composition does not really matter, just go with the bat that your child likes the best when hitting a ball. For older players in leagues, over 10 years of age with a few year’s experience in league play, then finding the best bat for their swing is more important.
Finding the best bat for yourself is a measure of going out to the batting cages and trying each of the three types of bats, and finding which one feels better when hitting a hard thrown ball. Once you know your preferred composition, say maple wood, you can try the different lengths, to see which length gives you best coverage of the home plate. Your next step is to find the weight that suits you best.
There are different weights available for bats, aside from the general rule of one ounce per inch of bat length. You can buy a +3, a -2, or other variations on weights. A plus three, 32 inch bat would weigh 35 ounces, 32 ounces for the 1-to-1 ratio, and 3 extra ounces for the +3. You find your best weight by swinging for home runs in the batting cages, or at practice. Use the bat that you produce best with until you find that “perfect” baseball bat.
Swing batter, swing.
