A wood bat is one of the best investments you can make as a player – and for good reason. Wood bats teach vital fundamentals such as better pitch selection, improved technique, precision, and strength. Despite metal bats being all the rage right now, their benefits may very well be their drawback – their innovation may be covering up serious flaws in your technique.
If you have dreams of going pro one day, or simply hitting like one, then you should definitely consider having one of these best wood bats in your arsenal. Below, I review the best wood baseball bats from some of the world’s best wood bat brands.
If you’re short on time and would rather know our #1 pick, we chose the Marucci AP5 as the best wood bat of the lot. It is well built, has a huge barrel, a large sweet spot, excellent pop & sound of a classic wood bat. But if that’s not what you’re looking for, read on – we have other fantastic recommendations.
Best Wood Bats of 2023 – Our Top 5 Picks
Click To Learn MoreIs the Marucci AP5 really worth the hype? I definitely think so. This is no doubt one of the best wood bats I have ever used, and one I personally own.
This Marucci Albert Pujols Maple Wood Bat is a fantastic wood bat, handcrafted from top quality maple wood. It is an end loaded beast of a bat with a long, massive barrel.
The Marucci AP5 is bone rubbed to close the pores and compress the wood to make it harder. It has a tapered knob and tapered handle that makes the bat lighter and provides more control. Additionally, it has a pro cupped end for improved weight distribution.
The AP5 is also very hard to break – It’s been 6 months of near daily use and it has held up extremely well.
What I liked: The AP5 is one of the best wood bats out there. And that’s saying something, having tested lots of great wood bats. It is well built, has a huge barrel, a large sweet spot, excellent pop, and beautiful sound – the unmistakable “crack” of a classic wood bat. Finally, because it’s is end loaded and the ball rifles off it when you hit the ball.
Because it is end loaded, it’s most ideal for power hitters. However, anyone can use this bat, but it does take some getting used to.
What needs improvement: The finish is a little slippery – Nothing some bat grip tape or a pine tar stick can’t fix. Also, the paint on the hitting surface may chip after some months of use.
The Marucci JB19 Maple Baseball Bat is another high-quality wooden bat from Marucci.
It is handcrafted from a top-grade maple billet, and bone rubbed for ultimate wood density (“Boning” a bat closes the wood’s pores and compresses it to make it harder. A finish is then applied to the bat to seal the wood.)
This bat features a gradual taper into a traditional mid-sized barrel and has a pro cupped end for balanced weight distribution.
What I liked: The JB19 is a balanced (owing to the cupped end) bat, has great pop, a large sweet spot, and a medium handle that is perfect for good bat control. It also looks and feels great in the hands.
What needs improvement: While this bat is versatile enough for average and power hitters, I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners. It feels better suited for gap hitters and more experienced players who have experience hitting wood. The handle was pretty slippery but it’s isn’t anything some good bat grip tape can’t fix. The paint also chips fairly easily
The MZM 110 is as good as it gets when it comes to wood bats. Mizuno wood bats are hugely popular and have been the bat of choice for superstars such as Pete Rose and Ichiro Suzuki.
While Mizuno may not be as big as major vendors such as Marucci, or Louisville Slugger, they still make many great wood bats for every type of player, and at a range of price points to suit your budget.
The Mizuno Elite Wood Baseball Bat is a balanced drop 3 bat, 110 turn model made from high-quality maple wood.
It features a big barrel for improved performance and a huge sweet spot, a long taper, and a cupped end to reduce unnecessary weight and improve balance.
This bat uses lightweight materials to keep the swing weight well balanced, in spite of the bigger barrel. The Mizuno Elite also features an exclusive Supra-Helix grip for additional comfort and better grip.
What I liked: Hitting with this bat is quite the experience. It sounds great! You’re going to love the unmistakable ‘CRACK’ sound this bat produces.
In terms of looks, this bat is downright beautiful. In fact, the furniture grade finish makes it look more like a high-quality piece of furniture than a wood bat.
The Demarini Pro is one whose solid pro maple composite construction gives it amazing durability. It carries all the benefits of a wood bat, plus the added benefit of being almost impossible to break.
The Pro is a well-balanced, drop 3 wood bat that has a medium sized barrel, a single wall barrel design, a long taper and is great for contact hitters and power hitters alike.
This wood bat comes in each turn model, namely 110, 243, 271 and I13 to suit various batting preferences. The barrel is made from high-quality maple, and employs a composite wood handle. This maple-composite combo results in a strong, and durable wood bathat has a larger sweet spot than most other wood bats out on the market today.
What I liked: Despite hitting off the end of the bat a few times, it still didn’t break. The D271’s durability is definitely one of its most impressive aspects.
Additionally, the handle is coated with a synthetic finish to help improve the batter’s grip.
The DeMarini D271 Pro Maple Composite Wood Baseball Bat is well constructed, has a good amount of pop (even when you don’t always get the ball right at the sweet spot). It has a cupped end to improve balance, is lightweight, and feels comfortable in the hands.
What needs improvement: I love that this bat is BBCOR certified, but that’s also one of its major drawbacks – it’s disallowed in many other leagues outside of collegiate and high school leagues, so check with your league before you buy.
The Mizuno Elite Maple Wood Baseball Bat (MZM 271) is a 271 turn model, drop 3, one-piece, all maple wood baseball bat.
While the MZM 271 does not have a BBCOR stamp on it, if a high school player needs to use a wood bat in a game that allows it, then the MZM 271 makes the cut because it’s made from only one type of wood (as would any other all-maple, hickory, ash, birch wood bat etc), regardless of the missing BBCOR stamp.
The Mizuno Elite Maple Wood Baseball Bat is ideal for both contact hitters or power hitters, although contact hitters especially love this bat for its balanced swing.
The Mizuno Elite MZM 271 is not only a great-looking wood baseball bat, it is also made from high-quality maple. Much like the MZM 110, the Mizuno Elite MZM 271 has a bigger barrel, a massive sweet spot and all around better performance.
Lightweight materials keep the bat’s swing weight low and keep it well balanced. This, in turn, provides more control through the hitting zone. Additionally, the cupped end reduces unnecessary weight and improves balance.
The Mizuno Elite MZM271 has a furniture grade finish that makes it look more like an expensive piece of high-quality furniture.
Finally, this wood bat comes wrapped in Supra-Helix bat grip tape for additional comfort and grip.
The Mizuno Elite Maple Wood Baseball Bat (MZM271) and the MZM110 are quite similar in many aspects such as their cut – Both have a well-balanced feel. However, there are some minute differences. Secondly, the MZM110 has a thicker handle compared to the MZM271. Finally, the knobs on the bats differ ever so slightly.
Picking the Best Wood Baseball Bat – A Buyer’s Guide
If you are just starting out with wood bats, or are just looking to pick out a wood bat, here is everything you need to know about wood baseball bats.
This guide will walk you through how to pick out the best one, and how to get the best bang for your buck. Let’s start with some basics:
The Advantages of Practicing with a Wooden Bat
So why choose a wood bat when everyone else seems to be hitting with metal? Metal bats have gained popularity because of their outstanding performance.
That said, most coaches will recommend wood bats for practice over other materials such as aluminum, and for good reason. Wood bats are also the preferred choice for Major League Baseball players.
When hitting with metal, pitch selection is not something you fuss about, and mishits aren’t that big of a deal. Balls still fly off the handle, and you can even swing at bad pitches without any problem.
With wood bats, however, you need to be a lot more selective. Hitting with anything but the sweet spot might very well result in a broken bat.
This then motivates you to improve your hitting, which in turn makes you a better player.
Because wood and metal bat performance is so different, pro leagues and certain youth leagues have in the interest of safety, switched to wood bats.
A Smaller Sweet Spot
There are few things that compare to the utter satisfaction you get when you catch a ball right on the sweet spot. It makes you feel like a baseball god.
Wood bats have a much smaller sweet spot than metal bats, forcing your technique to improve as a result.
Smaller Sweet Spot = Better Pitch Selection
Improving your technique, in turn, makes you a lot more selective about the pitches you swing at. Choosing pitches that are worth swinging at and those that aren’t is a valuable skill in any batter’s arsenal.
For instance, an outside pitch that’s hit with an aluminum bat may very well go past the infielders.
Because wood bats aren’t as forgiving as aluminum bats, they correctly teach batters the strike zone, and players who hit with wood become much better at pitch selection.
Improved Technique
Because hitting with wood is so much harder, the bar is raised considerably and practicing with a wooden bat, will improve your overall technique.
More Power in Your Swing
As your hitting mechanics and technique get better, so will your confidence, speed and, ultimately, your power. With your new superpowers, it’ll get so much easier to hit with a metal bat.
The sooner you start training with wood bats, the sooner you become a better player, overall. With aluminum, instead of breaking your bat when you swing at an inside or outside pitch, aluminum bats simply turn a bad swing into a cheap hit.
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Training with a wood bat will teach the value of selecting good pitches, and improve your hitting mechanics. Invaluable skills in the pursuit to become a better hitter.
And because wood bats are difficult to master, using them to train makes hitting with metal bats a cinch!
Classification of Wood Bats According to Turn
You’ll often hear about turn when shopping around for a wood bat. What is turn and how does it apply to wood bats?
Know what it means but not sure which turn model suits your style of play? This section will explain the differences between the various turn models and their differences – everything from handle & barrel diameter, taper, and balance.
Knowing the difference goes a long way in helping you when choosing a wood bat. The most common turn model is the 110 turn, the 271 turn, the I-13 turn, and the 243 turn. Here is a brief rundown of each turn model:
110 turn
This model is ideal for players who are new to the game, or those making the switch from metal bats to wood bats, because of how alike they are in terms of feel.
The 110 model has a long barrel and a thicker handle which makes it a lot more durable than other wood bats.
Because the weight distributes along the long, slow taper, 110 turn model bats are lighter, have greater swing speed, and a balanced feel.
This makes this turn model the ideal choice for contact hitters. It has a barrel diameter of 2 1/2“ and a handle that’s about 1” thick.
Barrel Diameter: 2 ½”
Handle Thickness: 1.00”
Barrel Length (Taper): Long
271 turn
This turn model is quite similar to the 110 model as far as barrel diameter and barrel length goes.
However, this turn model has a shorter taper than the 110, which results in a larger barrel, and a slight end loaded feel.
Additionally, the 271 has a thinner handle, which is about 0.938” (15/16”). Because it’s slightly end loaded, this turn model is popular with power hitters.
Handle Diameter: 15/16”
Taper: Long
Barrel Diameter: 2 ½”
I-13 Turn
The dimensions of this turn model are similar to the 271. And like the 271, it has a 2.5” barrel diameter, and a 15/16″ handle diameter.
This model has a shorter taper than the 271, which results in a bat that’s top-heavy.
Besides that, the dimensions turn model is fairly similar to the 271. This is the preferred option for power hitters.
243 Turn
The dimensions of this turn model are quite dramatic, with a 2 ⅝ (.906”) barrel, and a handle thickness of 29/32″.
This turn model has a sudden taper which in turn creates a huge barrel and a thin handle.
Because of this, the 243 turn is end loaded and has lots of pop. This makes it the preferred choice for power hitters and more experienced players.
Needless to say, because of its dimensions, this turn model is not ideal for players who are new to the game.
Handle thickness: 29/32”
Taper (Barrel Length): Medium
Barrel thickness: Approximately 2 ⅝”
The Ink Dot – What’s It For?
Watched any Major League Baseball game recently? You may have noticed that some of the best wood bats in use have a black dot around the handle. This is as a result of a text known as an Ink Dot Test.
What is an ink dot test? It shows the “slope of grain” on wood bats.
Commonly used on the best maple and birch wood bats, this test is useful for showing how the grain runs along the bat. Unlike on Ash bats where the slope of the grain is easily visible, it is hard to see the grains on maple and birch bats, so the Ink Dot helps comes in handy. Ash bats won’t have the ink dot.
If the grain runs diagonally, the bat is more likely to break/splinter across that line. Wood bats whose grain runs through from the handle to the barrel are more durable have a lower chance of breaking.
The side with the ink dot test is the hardest side of the bat.
Wood Baseball Bat Materials
Ash
Wood bats can be made from a variety of wood types, the most common of which is ash. Most ash wood bats today are made from Northern White Ash found in Pennsylvania or New York.
These bats are both an affordable and durable option for anyone who is just starting out with wood bats.
Ash is a medium-hard wood that has a wider grain structure than other woods. This results in a wood that is has a softer feel and greater flex when hitting.
This flex is beneficial for a few reasons
- Creates more whip through the hitting zone
- Provides a high trampoline on contact with the ball
- Leads to less splintering and flying apart when the bat breaks.
Additionally, because of their grain structure, ash wood bats have Increased bat speed.
Maple
Another popular choice. This is a hard dense wood that comes mostly from sugar maple or rock maple trees. The hardwood makes maple bats a better quality, tougher, and more expensive bat.
Maple bats are about 15% – 20% harder than ash, which results in a wood bat that lasts a lot longer, which more than justifies the price tag. This is why maple bats have become so popular.
Due to how hard they are, maple bats have less give. More energy is used to propel the ball as opposed to it being absorbed.
This results in the ball being sent further than it would with a less dense bat. These bats are smooth, and you can feel how compact the bat is when you run when you run your hand over one.
A word of caution when buying maple bats: Since maple bats gained popularity, many new companies have hopped on the bandwagon and are now making them. Unfortunately, maple bats from such companies are made out of inferior maple (e.g a soft maple such as silver maple) that is less durable and more susceptible to breaking. Which sucks given these bats cost more.
So, don’t buy a maple bat unless you are 100% certain the bat you are buying a hard maple (sugar maple or rock maple)
Birch
Birch is another type of wood that is hard and flexible. Its adoption has been slow, but more and more players (amateurs, minor league, and pros alike) are beginning to see it as a viable option to ash bats or maple bats.
This is a great option for anyone starting out with wood bats.
Birch is harder than ash but is more flexible than maple. As a result, wood bats made from birch are both durable and flexible.
It offers the best of both worlds with a pop similar to that of maple bats, and the kind of flex that’s found in ash bats.
This unique combination of hardness and flexibility leads to a bat with a great trampoline effect and one that’s less likely to splinter or fly apart when it breaks.
Hickory
This is the next great option. These are the hardest wood bats but due to this, they can get a bit heavy.
Fortunately, though, new techniques such as air-kiln drying rid the bat of the excess moisture, making it lighter.
Their popularity is growing by the day, and may soon become a staple in MLB, owing to its inherent benefits.
If you are looking for a hard-to-break bat that will last for years to come, hickory bats are the answer.
Bamboo
Bamboo is another wood bat material that has become quite popular over the years.
While it may not be the hardest wood out there, bamboo bats are more durable than traditional wood bats and can take lots of mishits without breaking.
They do not flake or split easily. As a result, the barrel does not need to be taped during batting practice or cage work.
These bats have fantastic pop and are lots fun to play with.
Composite Wood Bats
One common worry when shopping for the very best wood bats is the issue of durability.
Prior to the introduction of composite wood bats, it was impossible to tell how long your wood bat was going to last for.
Composite wood bats are an alternative that keeps the traditional feel of a regular wood bat, with the added benefit of durability.
These bats mix of different wood blends, composite fiber, and fiberglass fused to an inner support that’s not made from a solid wood billet.
Some advantages of composite wood bats:
- Composite wood bats perform just like traditional wood bats but are a lot more durable.
- They are BBCOR certified for adult league play. Even then, some leagues still do not allow composite wood bats. So as a rule of thumb, always speak to your coach before buying a wood bat.
- These bats are great for beginners, and are good for both batting practice and use on game days.
Care And Maintenance – How to Care for Your Wood Baseball Bat
Having spent your hard earned money on one of the best wood bats money can buy, a little tender love and care goes a long way and is well worth it.
To help your bat last long and keep it performing at its best, spend some time every so often to clean it. Especially if you use pine tar on your bat.
Here are a few care and maintenance tips to keep your bat in great shape:
Cleaning
Cleaning your wood bat is quick and easy. Set aside some time and it should only take a couple of minutes. If you use pine tar on your bat, dirt and grime will invariably build up.
The best way to clean it off is by wiping it down with rubbing alcohol.
Ideally, do this every day if you can. Take some rubbing alcohol and generously apply it to a soft cloth.
Using the cloth, wipe the bat down thoroughly all the way from the handle to the barrel.
Pay special attention to the handle, as that is where grime builds up most.
Storage
Wooden baseball bats and wood, in general, is susceptible to water damage or extreme temperature. With this in mind, here are a few pointers for storage in the off-season.
First, keep your bat away from any wet or damp areas. The moisture can seep into the wood and ruin it.
If possible, take a little extra caution and store your wood bat in a box full of sawdust. This way, the sawdust shields it from any moisture in the air and absorbs it before it reaches your bat.
Should your bat get wet, dry it immediately with a soft cloth, then apply linseed oil to it.
Never store your bat in your garage or inside your car. The high temperature will get rid of all the moisture in it, making it brittle and causing it to break prematurely. Instead, stow it away in your closet in the off-season or when it’s not in use.
Finally, always store your bat vertically with the handle side up to keep it from falling over or getting knocked over and possibly breaking.
Finish
Over time, your wood bat will get scratches, dings, and scrapes. To keep it silky smooth and working at its best, “bone it”. Take a bone, or even another bat and rub your bat firmly back and forth against it.
After a few minutes, the scratches and scrapes will be gone, and your bat’s surface will smooth out.
Breakage, Prevention & Repair
The sad reality of using wood bats is that breaking is a very real possibility. However, when being used correctly, these bats have been known to last a good long time.
To reduce placement, one key point to consider is the trademark placement. This is not by chance. Because no two trees are exactly the same, then no two bats are exactly alike. All of them differ in one way or another.
Always use your bat “label up”, or “label down”
Because of this, the trademark is placed on the part of the bat that is most susceptible to failure. The side directly opposite the trademark is similarly just as prone to failure. One look at how the grain runs around these areas will confirm this.
That said, the rule of thumb when using a wood bat is always to always bat with the label facing either up to the sky or down to the ground.
How to Repair Broken Wood Bats
Way back when I was a kid, repairing a broken wood bat simply meant getting the first thing you could find in your dad’s chest of tools. Some tape, nails and a hammer was all it took to get your wood bat working again.
There’s not a ton of value in repairing your bat as opposed to shelling out more money (about $50) to get a new one.
Wood bats are relatively inexpensive, and if you do manage to get it fixed, the bat will only be solid enough to practice with but not to play in a game. Put it in a game situation and an 85 mph fastball is enough to cause it to come apart.
If your bat is fractured, enlarge the crack by using something like a knife, and fill it up with glue. Gorilla Glue or Elmer’s woodworking glue should suffice.
Next, clamp the bat using a Woodworking Vise or any other clamp that can get the job done. Let the glue dry, and you then can take your bat outside for a trial run.
Finally, change the side you hit with. So if you typically hit with the label down, try hitting with the label up. Try out your bat, and try not to swing at outside/inside pitches! Good luck!
