Baseball at high school level is basically the first step towards a sporting career for many young players. They follow the rules and established concepts as well as the suggestions and recommendations from senior players regarding every aspect of the game. Knowledge about the bats is a very important thing to excel in baseball. When it comes to bats, any bat that is not made up of wood requires a BBCOR certification. Many two-piece bats are not allowed at high school level and the ones that are allowed require having a BBCOR stamp visible on them. Now you may ask that what a BBCOR bat is, well the term BBCOR stands for batted ball coefficient of restitution. It defines the trampoline effect that a bat has on the ball it hits. The specifications for a bat to qualify as a BBCOR bat are:
- Its barrel should be 2 5/8 inches.
- Its length to weight ratio should be -3.
- The length of the bat should be 36 inches or less.
If a bat does not match the above-mentioned specifications it can get you disqualified from a college league.
Like any other sport, when you reach a certain level in baseball, the equipment you use; plays an important role and the bat is the most important thing in baseball as it is the only contact between you and the ball itself. Most players get familiar with the feel of their bats and play accordingly, they feel uncomfortable with an unfamiliar bat and that’s why it is important to pick the right one at the beginner level so that one does not have to switch bats after becoming a pro or a serious player. Given below we have listed a few options for people looking to get in to the game and make a name for themselves
- Easton Mako Beast:
The Easton Mako Beast is the first one that comes to mind. It has a 2-piece TCT composite barrel which makes the bat very light and ideal for rapid swings. The barrel diameter is 2 5/8 inch and the two-piece design is made possible with Easton’s conneXion technology, and the length to weight ratio is -3 making it a BBCOR bat. The handle of the bat is covered with a 1.2mm hyper skin grip which ensures that nice feel of the bat and helps you transfer almost all of your swing momentum to the ball that helps you to hit the ball properly.
- DeMarini CF Zen:
The Demarini CF Zen is also a bat that is two-piece with composite construction. This enables it to be light and also with its 2 5/8-inch barrel be powerful at the same time. It also has a length to weight ratio that is -3 which makes it a BBCOR certified bat and it offers quite a large sweet spot and requires no break in period. The bat is very well balanced and the handle is covered with DeMarini’s D-Fusion 2.0 material which ensures that no vibrations and feedback makes it way to your hands keeping them safe.
- The Louisville Slugger:
The Louisville Slugger, unlike the others is a single piece bat. It has a fused carbon composite design. It is ideal for hard hitters and the pricing is very attractive too. The TRU3 technology takes care of your hand too by keeping the vibrations at bay. It is BBCOR certified with a barrel that is 2 5/8 inch and the length to weight ratio which is -3. The handle is covered by a lizard grip which all the users like a lot. The bat has a nice pop and you can easily hit hard and long with it.
- Marucci Cat7:
The Marucci Cat7 is also a one-piece bat with an all AZ4X alloy construction. The bat itself looks stunning in your hand and it offers a lot of improvements over the Cat6. Marucci has worked extensively on the barrel to provide a sweet spot almost double the size of the Cat6 and it does shows. The bat transfers momentum very efficiently and the barrel has no dead spots which makes it a very trustworthy tool. The bat is BBCOR certified with a 2 5/8-inch barrel and length to weight ratio of -3. It also offers a lot of protection to your hand by deadening the vibrations.
5. Rawlings Velo Hybrid Bat:
The Velo Hybrid balanced bat by Rawlings is also a great buy. It offers the perfect middle point between composite and allows construction. The bat itself is very balanced and a great all-rounder. The barrel is made up of an acoustic allow, which according to Rawlings is the loudest allow on the market. There is a grove lasered into the sweet spot which provides for greater flexibility. The end cap of this hybrid bat is constructed of fiber reinforced composite.
The price is compliant with the market it targets and it offers good value for money. The barrel is 2 5/8 inch and the length to weight ratio is -3 so it is a BBCOR certified bat.
- COMBAT MAXUM AB7MX103:The COMBAT MAXUM bat is another great option especially for power hitters. Its one-piece composite design makes it ideal for such players. The all composite also adds lightness to the bat and it’s also very durable. The design of the bat is quite attractive; COMBAT has used its Precision molding technology to create a seamless bat which is very well balanced and consistent. The bat has an adjustable barrel which provides a large sweet spot and transfers most of your momentum over to the ball. It features a lizard skin grip which offers slip resistance and great grip. The barrel is 2 5/8 inch and the length to weight ratio is -3 like the others making it a BBCOR bat.
So here are the few picks that were worth mentioning. All these products are available on Amazon so you can also check them out at any time and pick the one best suited to your needs. For more information and professional reviews, you can go to Choose The Best Bats and there you could find enough tips and tricks to pick your favorite BBCOR bat.