Bat FAQs

Does it matter what side of the bat I hit with?

Yes!  All wood bats are intended to be used with the label facing either up or down as the ball is struck.  This ensures that the strongest part of the wood is making contact. 

What is the black dot on the handle of some bats?

This is the MLB approved method for testing the straightness of the wood grain.  The ink makes the grain more visible so the straightness can be measured.  The ink dot is not necessary on Ash bats because the grains are easily visible.  All of our adult size and Youth Pro Build bats—in Maple or Birch—are ink dot tested and meet professional standards. 

Why do some bats have a cupped end?

Cupping takes a little bit of weight, approximately .5oz, off the end of the bat to slightly shift the balance closer to the handle.  It can also be used to make a final adjustment to ensure the bat meets the desired weight.

What is drop weight?

This is a comparison of the length (in) to the weight (oz).  For example, a 33in drop 3 bat would weight 30oz.  Most leagues from high school and up allow a drop weight of no more than -3oz.  Younger kids need a lighter bat therefore our Youth Pro Builds come in -5oz and our youth standard barrel bats come in -6oz. 

What wood species is the best?

That depends on what characteristics you’re looking for.  If you want a loud invigorating crack, go with Maple.  If you want the best possible durability and life span, Birch is what you want.  If safety is your main concern with the possibility of bats breaking into multiple pieces and you love flex in your bat, then Ash is the way to go.  The truth is they’re all great woods and you can’t go wrong with any of them. 

Are your bats BBCOR certified?

The truth is, there is no BBCOR certification for one piece wood bats.  Having said that, all of our bats—apart from trophy bats—are cut from professional A grade prime wood.  But to be honest the wood is so good they should be BBCOR certified.

What is the Swing Weight Scale all about?

As every ball player knows, different bat models feel different when swung and as time goes on every player finds the model that feels the best to them.  To help younger players find that perfect fit quicker, we have created a one of a kind scale that compares what we call the “swing weight” of all of our bat models.  Swing weight is essentially the effort required by the hitter to move the bat through a full swing.  The swing weight of a bat depends upon the length, shape, and weight. 

Bats on the left side of the scale will be easier to get through the zone and give the hitter more control, while those on the right side are more end loaded for power but require more muscle.  Our advice for anyone new to wood bats is to get your hands on different models—if possible—to get an idea of what feels good to you.  If you don’t have any bats available to you then select something in the lower end of the scale to start with, you can’t really go wrong with a lighter swing weight bat but you certainly can with a heavier one.