If you want to buy a high-performing wood baseball bat with strong longevity and efficient performance at a reasonable cost, you need to do some thorough research.
We are here to address all your concerns regarding your purchase. In this article, we have reviewed the nicest wooded bats in the market with respect to their key features and detailed descriptions.
In the end, we have included a buying guide too!
Continue surfing this page for all the information you are seeking.
8 Best Wood Baseball Bats
Bat | Sweet Spot | Swing Weight | Performance | Durability | In-hand Feel | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 42 | |
9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 41 | |
9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 41 | |
7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 42 | |
9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 40 | |
9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 40 | |
9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 42 | |
7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 39 |
Marucci AP5 Pro
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Maple
Suggested users: Adults
Feel: End-loaded
Warranty: 30 days
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REASONS TO BUY
+ Ideal for experienced players
+ Throws bomb shots
+ Has a large, explosive barrel
+ Offers fine control in the hands
+ Loved by MLB players
REASONS TO AVOID
- Too heavy for inexperienced champs
Marucci has maintained its reputation as a brand that produces the best wood bats over the years and the AP5 Pro baseball is yet another addition.
AP5 Pro is hand-crafted with top-notch maple which makes it an ideal choice for adult players because of its heavy, dense build. So, the bat throws the balls out of the field with great force and pop.
To help boost the incredible performance, the big, explosive barrel also comes into play. Its barrel size is bigger than the Victus V Cuts barrel. Due to such an efficient barrel, there are hardly any mishits during the game.
Also, the handle and the knob taper allow for fine control during the game. So, no mishap while hitting!
However, due to the dense maple, the AP 5 Pro is way too heavy for players who have no prior experience hitting with a wooden bats on the field.
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Victus V Cuts
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Hard Maple
Feel: Both end-loaded and balanced
Suggested users: Adults
Warranty: 45 days
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Delivers impeccable performance on the field
+ Hand-crafted
+ Has a large barre
+ Has a glossy finish
REASONS TO AVOID
- Not much durable
The Victus V Cuts delivers the finest performance in the game. This wood bat is hand-crafted with high-quality maple.
Having a huge barrel which corresponds to a wide and responsive sweet spot. So, the bat delivers a consistent performance without any mishits, like the AP 5 Pro.
Moreover, the V Cuts has a glossy finish which gives it a stylish appearance that boosts the confidence of the hitter while swinging.
But, the durability remains questionable. There are many complaints about the bat breaking early after only a few uses. So, the players tend to switch to more durable alternates in the market.
Mizuno Bamboo Classic MZB
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Bamboo
Feel: Balanced
Suggested users: Unisex adults
Warranty: 90 days
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REASONS TO BUY
+ Offers light swing
+ Provides a solid grip
+ Has a comfortable feeling
+ Has great pop
REASONS TO AVOID
- Has awful durability
The Mizuno Bamboo Classic MZB is a popular choice among those who want a light swing.
Due to the balanced, lightweight swing, hitters hit the balls across the strike zone effortlessly.
Also, this Mizuno Bamboo Classic MZB offers a solid grip. The sanded handle results in a strong grip on the bat during the game.
Moreover, this bat has a lovable in-hand feel. The comfort and smoothness of this bat are comparable to the AP 5 Pro.
It offers a massive pop with huge exit velocity. So, you can throw pitches across the strike zone with minimum effort.
But, Many players have complained that the bat cannot take on the intense hitting sessions and breaks only after a few sessions.
Marucci JB19 Pro Model
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Maple
Feel: Balanced
Suggested users: Men
Warranty: 30 days
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Hand-crafted
+ Ideal for experienced hitters
+ Has a comfortable feel
+ Delivers a consistent performance
REASONS TO AVOID
- Expensive price
The Marucci JB 19 Pro Model is one of the most in-demand wood baseball bats. This is carefully hand-crafted with top-quality maple to deliver a flawless performance on the field.
Although this bat delivers an efficient performance to everyone including the newbies looking to launch their game, it works ideally for experienced players who have previously swung a wooden stick.
The in-hand feel is also great. In hand feel is smooth and does not cause any hand stinging while hitting.
Some players might not find the price Of JB 19 Pro to be within their budget. The price of this bat is similar to AP 5 Pro.
Louisville Slugger Select Cut M9
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: M9 Series Hard Maple
Feel: Slightly end-loaded
Suggested users: Unisex adults
Warranty: 1 year limited
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Offers a stiff grip
+ Has a large barrel
+ Feels comfortable in the hands
+ Costs an affordable amount of money
REASONS TO AVOID
- Terrible longevity
The Louisville Slugger Select Cut M9 is another high-performing addition to the market.
That offers a solid and stiff grip so that it does not slip in the hands as it has a slightly end-loaded swing weight.
It has a large barrel which leads to a wide and responsive sweet spot. Due to the high generosity of the sweet spot, adult baseball players enjoy a consistent performance without any mishits.
Moreover, the in-hand feel of this Slugger Select bat is amazing. Its comfortable in your hands and delivers an impeccable performance without causing any discomfort or sting.
Also, the price is quite reasonable. So, If you are a budget buyer then you can definitely go for it without a second thought.
However, the durability fails to impress users. There are several complaints about the terrible durability of the bat. The bat does not survive even a few hitting sessions and breaks early.
Marucci AP5 Youth Bat
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Blackwood
Feel: Balanced
Suggested users: Boys
Warranty: 30 days
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Best for youth
+ Has a lightweight swing
+ Offers huge pop and great exit velocity
+ Has a responsive and forgiving barrel
+ Delivers an incredible performance
REASONS TO AVOID
- Has questionable durability
Marucci Makes some of the top wood bats out there and The AP5 Youth is one of them as well.
It has a balanced feel and a lightweight swing which leads to easy hitting. Also, it throws the ball out of the field with an immense pop and a huge exit velocity.
Moreover, it features a massive barrel. Due to its wide and responsive sweet spot, you can enjoy a consistent and comfortable performance without any mishits.
Overall, this youth wood bat delivers a highly efficient performance on the field. The consistency and comfort of its performance are comparable to that of the Slugger Select Cut M9.
The performance is not that great and the durability is also a concern if you want it to last longer.
Also Check: Best USSSA Baseball Bats
Louisville Slugger Genuine Mix Unfinished Natural Clear
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: All-natural wood
Feel: Extremely balanced
Suggested users: Unisex adults
Warranty: 1 year limited
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Delivers an incredible performance
+ Has the nicest feel
+ Features a wide and responsive barrel
+ Offers a solid grip
REASONS TO AVOID
- Breaks early
The Louisville Slugger Genuine Mix Unfinished Natural Clear is a popular choice among players who are looking for a value-for-money.
This bat has an extremely balanced feel and hence delivers the finest performance without much effort. Like the Marucci AP5 Pro, the performance of the Genuine Mix Unfinished Natural Clear is comfortable and consistent.
Also, another exciting thing about this Ap5 Pro is its wide and generous barrel. The big barrel gives a responsive and forgiving sweet spot which ensures consistent performance without any mishits.
Moreover, it features an unfinished handle and an uncapped barrel profile for providing a solid grip during the game.
But, There are some complaints about it breaking after only a few hitting sessions.
BB-W
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Engineered wood
Feel: Balanced
Suggested users: Kids
Warranty: Manufacturer’s warranty
TODAY'S BEST DEAL
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great for self-defense
+ Durable and strong
+ Great for children and beginners
REASONS TO AVOID
- Good for only soft compression pitches
Now this is an interesting addition to our list of baseball bats. This is so because it is used more for self-defense than it is used for playing baseball.
Many people use this bat to protect themselves from intruders or anyone unwelcome. And it serves the purpose well!
The bat is made of all-composite wood, making it highly strong and durable option that lasts many hitting sessions. So, it does not break easily and does the job efficiently.
However, if you want to play with it, it makes a wonderful choice for kids and beginners with no prior experience swinging it on the field.
We recommend it for self defence only, as it is cheap and effective for that purpose. But still you want to take it to the field?
There is one thing you must keep in mind before taking this bat to the field. You should not use any other balls than the soft compression ones for a great performance in the game.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have gone through the above reviews, you know what you are going to buy. However, if you are still double-minded, let us help you further.
If you are a power-hitter looking for the best end-loaded bat, you should go for the Marucci AP 5 Pro. From performance to longevity, and from quality to comfort, everything about this bat is great.
However, if you are not into power-hitting, and want a lightweight bat with a balanced swing, you can go for the Marucci JB 19 Pro. Its performance is as great as that of the AP 5 Pro for power hitters.
If you have a limited budget and want to go for a bat that is value for money, the Louisville Slugger Genuine Mix Unfinished Natural Clear is your answer.
However, for self-defence and training beginners, you can purchase the BB-W.
Also Check: Best Baseball Shoes and Best Pitching Machines
Buying Guide
If you are a beginner with no prior knowledge about the types and features of baseball wood bats, you cannot make a wise choice while purchasing one.
So, we have compiled certain factors that you must be aware of before deciding to go for a baseball bat. Read the following buying guide carefully in order to learn the dos and don’ts of purchasing a wooden baseball bat.
Material
Different bats are made of different wood which affect and govern your performance in the game. So, you must be able to decide on the basis of the type of wood.
Maple
These days, maple is the most commonly used material to make wooden baseball bats. You do not see any other bat as often as you see a bat made with maple.
A part of their popularity goes to the records that some popular athletes use bat made with maple, and then common players started following suit.
It is one of the hardest materials out there for making bats as it is close-grain type wood.
Unlike other wood bat materials such as Ash, maple does not undergo splintering and flaking. So, extreme care should be ensured when around a maple wood bat. When it breaks, it can harm the player as well as the people nearby.
They have gone through the ink-dot test that shows the straightness of the grains. The straighter the grains are the more it is durable.
However, this fear of a broken barrel can be averted by following certain precautionary measures.
Another disadvantage of maplebats is their higher cost.
Ash wood
The ash is a super lightweight material used to craft top-quality wood baseball bats, which are popular among baseball players of all ages and skill sets.
Some time back, the ash baseball bats were the most common bats in the market. However, they do not enjoy that hype these days. Now, they are outshined by the maple.
Ashwood is the most flexible material for baseball bats. Due to this property, these bats are more forgiving when hitters experience mishits.
Also, the broken ash bat is not as dangerous as the maple bat. So, using this bat is safer in many ways!
Although ash bats are not as popular as they used to be in the past, they still make some finest bats that many players love even today.
Another benefit of ash bats is their vintage, stylish look will wide open grains and an affordable cost.
Birch Wood
Birch is another kind of wood that is used to make quality bats on the market. This wood type is not as popular as maple yet birch bats have been proven to be good enough. Birch bats are also being used by some major league professional baseball players as well.
However, its softness leads to a decline in longevity and pop.
Composite bat
As the name indicates, composite bats are a hybrid of composites and wood.
For instance, they could be made of composite core and coated with maple or they can feature an ash or maple barrel and a composite handle
This construction makes the wooden bats more durable and harder than the ultimate baseball bats.
However, despite them being highly durable, many leagues do not approve of these bats. So, you must check first whether your league allows a composite bat or not.
Bamboo bat
As simply as you can tell, bamboo makes the most flexible and durable baseball bat material. However, it cannot be termed as a wood though.
Bamboo has a stronger tensile strength than steel, which is only strengthened during the manufacturing process.
Due to the high tensile strength of bamboo, it makes the most durable bats.
Also, bamboo bats are available in both light and heavy swing weights. So, you can choose yours on the basis of your preference.
Turn model
The turn model is yet another important feature that helps you choose your desired bat.
The turn model indicates the specific dimensions of the bat such as shape, feel, size, etc. Different turn models represent different specs. These indicators can be categorized as follows:
End loaded/Balanced
Handle diameter
Knob taper
Barrel diameter
M110
M110 is a basic turn model and hitters of all hitting styles can use it. As the following stats show, it offers the bat an extended contact surface. So, it works perfectly for beginners who have never swung a wood bat before, or for contact hitters who look for a fast bat.
End loaded/Balance: Extremely balanced
Handle diameter: 1 inch
Knob taper: long taper
Barrel diameter: 2.5 inches
C271
This turn model is one of the most popular models. As you can see, it has many resemblances with the 110 turn model described above. Both power hitters and contact hitters love swinging bats with this turn model.
End loaded/Balance: Slightly end loaded
Handle diameter: 15/16 inches
Knob taper: long taper
Barrel diameter: 2.5 inches
I-13
This turn model marks more mass accumulation into the barrel, the power hitters prefer this turn model.
End loaded/Balance: End loaded
Handle diameter: 15/16 inches
Knob taper: Medium
Barrel diameter: 2.5 inches
243
The specs of this turn model are as follows:
End loaded/Balance: End loaded
Handle diameter: 15/16 or 29/32 inches
Knob taper: Medium
Barrel diameter: 25/8 inches
These are the common turn models to make wood bats. You should be able to make your choice depending on the turn model that suits your desire and preference.
Bat length
Bat length is yet another factor that affects your performance in the game.
So, you should be able to decide on that too!
Bat length is taken into account between the end cap and knob. A lengthy bat provides you greater reach, enabling you to hit the pitches on the outer part of the plate.
Also, the longer the length of the bat, the more mass accumulation at the end of the bat. So, you need to use more energy to swing a longer bat.
We recommend you practice with different bats of variable lengths so that you reach a thoughtful conclusion about the bat you find of suitable length.
You can deliver a flawless performance on the field only when you go with the right combination of weight and length of your bat.
Mostly, the length of the baseball bat ranges between 24 and 34 inches. So, you can choose yours from the size chart available!
Swing weight
Swing weight is another decisive factor in how greatly you are going to play a game on the field.
Though you cannot see the swing weight, you can feel the swing weight of your bat during the practice.
Bats are mostly categorized in terms of their length and weight. Swing weight is an interrelated factor.
It actually refers to how a bat’s weight is divided along the entire length of the baseball bat. So, you can have two belts with equal weights but different swing weights.
Swing weights can be divided into a spectrum of three stages
Light
Balanced
End loaded
An end-loaded bat has a weight more concentrated towards the end, thus creating a stronger, whip-like action that in turn produces more power.
Whereas the balanced swing weights have an even distribution of weight along the length, so they produce more swing speed.
We hope that you are able to identify which bat you should go for. So, in light of the above reviews, buy the one you love, and enjoy the game!