Think about your skill level, playing style and age when selecting your Rawlings® baseball bat.
Larger, stronger players benefit from a heftier bat—these players can take advantage of the extra weight, swing power and ball-carrying distance of a larger bat. Smaller players should try a lightweight, groundball-hitting bat. A lighter bat helps generate faster swing speed.
Shop a variety of materials and bat technologies from Rawlings® for the feel that matches your game. Select the drop, barrel length and grip material you need to make this season your best yet.
Rawlings® baseball bats are available in a variety of industry-leading materials. Wood bats are great for cage practice. Aluminum alloy bats have stronger, thinner walls for more "pop" off the bat's surface. Composite bats provide balance and a large sweet spot. Hybrid bats are designed with light materials in the handle and aluminum alloy in the barrel.
Learn more about the components of your Rawlings® baseball bat when making your purchase:
- The Grip is the covering on the handle of your bat. Rubber grips absorb more shock when the ball makes contact with the bat, but leather or synthetic leather feels tackier in your hand. To minimize vibrations, look for a grip with specialized padding.
- Barrel Size is the diameter and length of your bat. The longer the bat, the larger its sweet spot—the zone that releases maximum energy from the bat. Small barrel diameter lightens weight for a faster swing speed.
- Bat Drop is the bat's length-to-weight ratio, denoted as a "minus number." This factor is defined as the difference of the bat's weight, minus its length. Wood bats and slow pitch bats are not defined by a drop. Leagues regulate the drop allowed for legal play, so consult with your local guidelines before purchasing your Rawlings® bat.
High school and college players require a Rawlings® BBCOR bat with a 2 and 5/8-inch barrel and -3 ratio, or drop. BBCOR, or Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution, measures the trampoline effect of a baseball.
