Most research studies have found that the weighted bat doughnut has a positive mental effect yet negative physical effect. The “kinesthetic illusion” created by the bat doughnut makes players believe they are swinging the standard bat post warm-up with the bat doughnut when the subsequent swings are in fact, slower.
A majority of baseball players will use some type of extra weight while warming up in the on-deck circle. Most players will use a batting weight like a weighted donut or a weighted sleeve while other players prefer to swing 2 or 3 bats at the same time.
Purpose of Bat Weight in Baseball Bat weights can come in different designs and shapes. The idea behind the bat weight is that it helps to warm a batter up. Your player may use the bat weight in the on-deck circle so that when they remove the weight and step in against the pitcher, it will be easier to swing the bat.
Purpose of Bat Weight in Baseball
Bat weights can come in different designs and shapes. The idea behind the bat weight is that it helps to warm a batter up. Your player may use the bat weight in the on-deck circle so that when they remove the weight and step in against the pitcher, it will be easier to swing the bat.
A heavier bat will hit a ball farther than a lighter bat, when the speed of the bat swing, the pitch speed and the ball mass are kept constant. Increasing the mass of the bat gives the ball more momentum.
The results for the Little League player are quite different. The optimum bat weight, for maximum batted ball speed, is about 16oz, and the Ideal Bat Weight is about 12-13oz.
Angels’ Yunel Escobar warms up before taking his at-bat in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals on April 15. The man who regularly swings the biggest bat in baseball is 34 years old, a decade into his major league career, and has never hit more than 14 home runs in a season.
MLB regulations allow a bat up to 42 inches, but we’ve yet to record anyone using a bat larger than 36. Even today, big hitters rarely go much over 34, let alone 35 inches. They dwarf in comparison with big hitters of the past.
A two-piece bat allows a contact hitter to swing the bat fast, put the ball in play, and control their contact to get on base. Also, if you prefer a smooth feel on every swing, then a two-piece bat is the best fit.
You can tell the bat is too heavy if the player appears to be “chopping” at the ball. A bat that is too light also hampers the development of a solid, level swing. The player will swing the bat from low to high, with too much bat speed resulting in fly balls.
Yes, every ounce makes a difference. Two ounces doesn’t seem like much but I’ve seen it make a large difference. 1 inch in length is huge. My 12u daughter is still on a 30" despite her having a brand new zeno 31" and brand new 454 31" in the bag.
Another very simple test that anyone can do is to hold the bat out straight. If right-handed, use right hand to hold the bat straight out, parallel to the ground. If he can’t easily hold it in this position for 20 seconds, it’s too heavy.
End Loaded Baseball and Softball Bats
By placing more mass directly in the hitting zone, stronger hitters can generate more momentum with similar swing speeds resulting in the ability to hit the ball a greater distance. We recommend that older, stronger players experiment with end loaded bats.
Age 14 to 16, drop 10 • Age 16 and up, Drop 8oz to 10oz. Drop 10 is still the most popular drop, but some power hitters prefer a drop 9.
Average Overall Bat Speed by Age
Middle School baseball(45-65 mph). High School baseball(55-75 mph). College baseball(60-80 mph). Pro baseball (65-85 mph).
Edd Roush. Hall of Famer Edd Roush holds the distinction as the player who used the heaviest bat in MLB history. Roush, who debuted with the Chicago White Sox in 1913, used a 48-ounce behemoth. His power statistics by modern standards are not spectacular as he only hit 68 home runs during his 18-year career.
But would Ken Griffey Jr. hit 40 to 50 home runs every year if he didn’t swing his signature 34-inch, 31-ounce Louisville Slugger? Baseball bats are so important to Colorado Rockies left fielder Dante Bichette, he doesn’t even endorse one.
The most popular size for major league players is 34 inches and 32 ounces.
Back in December 2019, a bat the Yankees star used to smash his 500th home run sold for just over $1 million at SCP Auctions. In addition to the club, Ruth’s professional model hat which he donned during his 1927-28 “Bustin Babes” barnstorming tour is also up for grabs, with an estimate of between $200,000-$400,000.
Baseball bats cost anywhere from $30 to $500, with most bats ranging between $75 to $150. The cost of a wood bat is between $30 to $200 while the cost of an aluminum bat is between $30 to $500.
Coating a baseball bat with wax, paraffin, pine tar, or any other substance that affects the flight or rotation of the ball makes the bat illegal, and the bat will be removed from the game. Substances can be used on the handle, but usually no higher than 18-inches from the base of the handle.
Typically a heavier player is stronger than a lighter player and therefore, able to produce more bat speed + hand speed, coupled with the ability to swing a heavier bat which allows the batter to create more momentum and more exit velocity and distance.