picking the right baseball bat

Picking the Right Baseball Bat

By Jon Doyle, MA, CSCS

5 tips to picking the right baseball bat

Anybody who tells you that all baseball bats are created equally doesn't know the first thing about hitting or about baseball, and it doesn't take very long to realize that. With different designs, materials, weights and sizes, baseball bats can perform and feel very differently from one another. In order to maximize your success in the batter's box, you have to ensure that you have the best baseball bat possible for you and your needs. Take a look at these quick tips to help you pick out the right baseball bat, and watch as you see improved results.

1. Don't pay too much attention to anyone else's opinion: You're the only one that needs to be using your bat, so why should you be swayed by what a teammate, endorser, coach or anybody else says about one particular bat. Make the final judgment for yourself and don't get carried away putting too much stock into the opinion that anybody else has. Maybe it is their dream bat and they shine with it and it can do no wrong for them. But for you it could be a different story. So picking the right baseball bat is all about being sure you actually like a bat instead of relying on the thoughts of anyone else.

2. Balance is key: One of the most important aspects of picking the right baseball bat is making sure that you feel balanced and in-tune when you're making a swing. Balance has to do with weight, length and the exact design and proportions of the bat, and it can be hard to predict how you will feel unless you actually take some swings. Bad balance will not go away, and it can really disrupt your swing and your mechanics, not to mention your success at the plate. Don't pick out a bat and then assume you will adjust and balance will return. picking the right baseball bat is about making sure the balance is there right from the get go to prevent further problems down the line.

3. Match your strengths: The bat you use should make you a better ballplayer. Whatever you do best is what your bat should be designed to do. If you're a slugger that belts balls over the fence and smashes line drives to the wall, then you want a bat that best enables you to do that. If you're a speedster that puts the ball on the ground and tries to find holes in the defense, then you want a bat that can help you do that as well. Picking the right baseball bat is about selecting a bat that matches your strengths and it should help you do what you do best, even better.

4. Match your approach: Nobody has the exact same approach at the plate. If you're a batter that likes to reach across the zone and nab a pitch on the outside of the plate for an opposite field strike, then you'll want a bat that provides you with that extended coverage and can be controlled to your liking. If you like to wait and wait to see how a pitch develops and then take your swing, maybe you need a very light bat that's quick to get around. No matter what approach you bring to the batter's box, bring a bat with you that fits your style.

5. Forget the bat: Ultimately, a great baseball bat should make you entirely forget about the bat itself while you're swinging. It should become a seamless extension of your body, and a tool that you utilize without thought, concern or analysis. If you are always stopping to think about how your bat feels, how you can adjust to get a better swing with this or that bat or anything else, then the bottom line is the bat you're using is not for you. Picking the right baseball bat is about finding a great bat that makes you entirely forget about it, and that's the ultimate test.

Maybe picking the right baseball bat isn't rocket science, but there certainly are some important decisions that you have to make along the way. Be sure to pick a baseball bat that fits your style, and feels great for you. Don't worry about what anybody else thinks, just find a bat that you're comfortable with and you'll be able to be a more successful and prolific hitter.