With the growing popularity of BBCOR bats, there has been an influx of available models to choose from when hunting for a new bat. The increasing necessity for BBCOR bats, especially at the college and high school levels, also makes it hard to determine what bat is best for you. Because a bat can drastically improve or destroy your offensive game, it is important to choose the right bat for you. So how do you go about finding the best BBCOR bat on the market for you?
Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
A | $$$ | ||
A- | $$ | ||
B+ | $$$ | ||
B | $ | ||
B | $ |
**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
How To Choose The Best BBCOR Bat
Via ripit.com
Choosing the right bat can have a huge effect on how well you hit the ball. If your bat isn’t the right fit for you, it can drag down your game and make you a liability at the plate. Here are a few things that you should consider when looking to purchase a new BBCOR approved bat.
Length
Length is the first thing that should be considered when picking out a new bat. The length of a bat can alter one’s swing and make a swing longer or shorter than it should be. To ensure that the bat you are buying is the right length for you, a general rule of thumb is not give up more or less than one inch from the length of your previous bat. If you feel your bat is the wrong length already, you may want to consider using a sizing chart to see how long your bat should be.
Weight
Weight is also an important factor that should be considered when choosing your next bat. Much like how length can affect a batter’s swing, weight also has a huge impact on this, as a heavier bat will be harder to swing than a lighter one. Weights of bats are measured in drop weights, rather than a typical unit of weight, and this is important to note when choosing a BBCOR bat because in college and high school, where these bats are required, drop weight can be no greater than -3. To determine the right weight for you, simply take a few bats and take practice swings to decide which one feels most comfortable for you.
Barrel Diameter
Players always look to hit the ball on the barrel of the bat, as it gives that solid ping sound off the bat and results in the best contact. This makes barrel diameter an important factor when choosing a new bat. It is recommended that players around the age of 12 or younger should use a bat with a barrel diameter of 2 ¼ inches. Moving into travel teams and other older leagues, barrel sizes can be up to 2 ¾ inches in diameter. In the high school and college ranks, however, the maximum barrel diameter that can be used in 2 5/8 inches in diameter.
Lifespan Of The Bat
Different bats have a tendency to hold up longer than others. This is decided by how many swings it can take before starting to degrade. This is often determined by how the bat is made and what materials it is made of. If you are buying a BBCOR bat for are younger child who will need a new one down the line as they grow, lifespan may not be as important of a factor as it would be for a player who is in high school or college.
League Requirements
The final factor that should be considered when buying a BBCOR bat is whether it has the specifications required by the league you are purchasing it to be used in. There are a multitude of leagues at many different levels of the game and before buying a bat to use, you need to make sure that your specific league will allow it to be used in game action.
Best Materials Of Bats
Via Youtube.com
One other major factor that should be considered when purchasing a new bat is what the bat is made of. There is quite the variety of bat materials out there and are each has their own positives and negatives.
Composite Bats
Composite bats are typically made of layered materials that are comparable to carbon fibers. The best part of this type of material is that they more easily are able to control weight distribution, making them more balanced. These bats also minimize the sting of the bat and provide a larger sweet spot. The one negative of the bat is that it takes a lot of swings and contact to break in.
Alloy Bats
Alloy bats are the typical aluminum bats that have been used for years. Their positives are that they are much more durable than the composite bats that tend to crack after a while. Alloy bats also don’t require as much break in time as the composite bats. The negative of going with an alloy bat, however, is it does not provide as strong of a performance standard.
Wooden Bats
There is a large variety within the category of wooden bats but they all seem to have the same general positives and negatives. The feel of wooden bats are unrivaled by any other material. Wooden bats also provide great flexibility that helps against splintering and cracking. While this flexibility is great, the one drawback is that wooden bats do tend to break much more easier than the other options.
Top 5 Best BBCOR Bats Reviews
There is a large and sometimes overwhelming amount of BBCOR bats on the market today and it can be hard to find the best bang for your buck. These are just a few of the best BBCOR bat options that are available on the market today.
Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
A | $$ | ||
A- | $$ | ||
B+ | $$$ | ||
B | $ | ||
B | $ |
The Easton Mako Bat is an extremely popular bat on the market that gains much praise from players. Easton markets it as being a bat that maximizes a player’s performance at the plate and has unrivaled bat speed. It is a composite bat that uses patented Easton technology to provide maximum energy transfer and a comfortable feel.
Pros
- Huge Sweet Spot – The Mako bat has a large sweet spot on the barrel, making it much easier to make good, solid contact on every swing, unlike many other BBCOR bats on the market.
- High School/College Approved – The Mako bat can be used at the highest amateur level, as it meets all specifications needed, being BBCOR approved, having a drop weight of -3 and a barrel that is 2 5/8 inches in diameter.
- Increased Pop – Like most composite bats, the Mako has much more pop coming off it than bats made of other materials. Combine that with bigger sweet spot and the pop is even more prevalent.
Cons
- Durability – Like almost all other composite bats, the Mako is a two-piece bat that is more likely to suffer cracks from wear and tear, making it more likely to have to be replaced down the line.
The Louisville Slugger Omaha 516 is another popular bat on today’s market for those seeking a BBCOR approved bat. This bat is made of alloy, so it is your typical one piece aluminum bat that has been seen around the game for years. This bat, however, has specific technology that makes it ahead of others in the field.
Pros
- Big Sweet Spot – While it is often believed that alloy bats do not have as big of a sweet spot as their composite counterparts, but the Omaha model has a massive sweet spot that gives it unrivaled pop among the alloy bats on the market.
- Durable – This bat is a one-piece alloy bat and that gives it more durability than bats made of any other material. This bat also features flex barrel technology that makes it even more likely to last.
- Comfortable Grip – This bat is included with a lizard skin grip that helps to lessen the sting of the ball hitting the bat and gives the hitter better control of the bat.
Cons
- Only for Advanced Players – This is a bat that should only be used by kids that are going into the high school level at the very least. There are limited sizes available and it is built to be used at higher levels.
The Voodoo Paradox bat is another option on the market for those who are not specifically looking for a bat to take into the highest ranks of the game. It is a combination of alloy and composite, as the alloy is found on the barrel while the handle is made of composite material. Because of this combination, it offers unique benefits.
Pros
- Lightweight – While it is BBCOR certified, it is a lot lighter than most other BBCOR bats on the market. This is because DeMarini used the composite handle and used fine tuning to thin the barrel without sacrificing performance.
- High Quality End Cap – The end cap used on this bat serves many more functions than the typical bat, not only reducing vibration and sting on contact but also transferring more energy into the barrel of the bat.
- High Quality Knob – Much like how the company made the best of the end cap, the knob of the bat serves a similar function, as it reduces vibration and sting while also allowing the bat to rest comfortably in your hand.
Cons
- Size Restrictions – While this bat has a lot of interesting features on it, it is only available in one size length and weight, which severely limits the potential users of the bat.
One of the most recognizable brands in baseball, the Rawlings RX4 bat earns great marks for its consistent performance on the field. Made of alloy, this bat has been tested consistently on the field to prove its durability and high performance standards that Rawlings expects from all of its equipment.
Pros
- High Quality Barrel – The barrel of this bat is why it is so highly coveted, as it has gone through rigorous construction to make sure it provides durable, consistent performance for years.
- Good Pop – Rawlings has tested this bat and their own technology, making sure it provides the most possible pop for an alloy bat at its light weight.
- Meets High School/College Requirements – The RX4 has a drop weight of -3 and a barrel that is 2 5/8 diameter or less. This is crucial because Rawlings advertises it as a college and high school bat.
Cons
- Limited Users – Not only is this bat advertised only for high schoolers or college students, it also is only sold at one size and weight, really limiting who would feel comfortable using it in a game.
The Mizuno MZB110 is one of the highest quality wooden bats that is BBCOR approved that you can find on the market. Wooden bats often have a better feel when hitting the ball and are easier to control. Made out of bamboo, this bat provides surprising positives that most wooden bats would not.
Pros
- Durability – Durability is often the main concern when it comes to wooden bats but the MZB110 is made of hard bamboo and Mizuno has made these bats for 30 years, perfecting their craft.
- Good for Training – Mizuno advertises this bat as the perfect training bat if you are looking to improve its already strong lifespan so it could come in handy for those who are looking for experience using a wooden bat.
- Comfort – While most wooden bats provide more comfort than other materials, this bat has a sanded grip that provides an even better grip.
Cons
- Not a Game Bat – As stated above, this bat is advertised as a training bat so it may not be something you want to buy to use in a game situation.
Conclusion
While these bats would be a smart choice for someone looking at a new BBCOR option, if I were choosing a bat I would go with the Easton Mako bat. It provides so many perks, including a huge sweet spot and maximum pop, while being available in multiple different sizes and weights that can be sampled to find the best fit. This bat is also around the same price point, sometimes lower, than some of the other high-quality bats available. Do you agree that this is the best BBCOR bat available? If you prefer another bat that isn’t on this list, feel free to leave a comment below.
