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Whether you're a contact hitter who leads off the lineup or a designated hitter leading your team in homeruns, you need the right bat to perform your best at the plate. Discover which baseball bat will work best for you before entering the batter's box and find bats configured for your body, ability, and batting style on eBay.
| Baseball Bat Materials |
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Manufacturers such as Easton, Worth, Louisville Slugger, DeMarini, Nike, and Rawlings construct bats out of a variety of advanced materials, making them more durable and powerful than ever before.
Aluminum Baseball Bats
Lighter and stronger than wood, aluminum bats are designed to increase bat speed and power, sometimes called "pop." Manufacturers blend aluminum with a variety of different metals to reinforce the bat. Common alloys include:
- 7046: Standard alloy used in economical aluminum bats.
- Cu31/ 7050: Mid-range alloy, featuring zirconium and greater amounts of magnesium and copper than 7046.
- C405/ 7055: More expensive and stronger alloy than Cu31 with more zirconium.
- C555: Premium alloy for aluminum bats with trace amounts of scandium. Manufacturers claim that it is seven percent stronger than C405.
- SC777: Newest, most advanced bat alloy.
Manufacturers may also add a carbon lining to increase strength or cryogenically freeze a bat to increase strength without adding weight.
Graphite Baseball Bats
Stronger and lighter than high-grade aluminum, graphite bats are either made of a graphite-fiber composite material or have an aluminum core with graphite lining.
Titanium Baseball Bats
Stronger and lighter than high-grade aluminum, titanium bats generally have an aluminum core and titanium lining or wall. Some softball associations have banned the use of titanium bats.
Wood Baseball Bats
Wood bats like those used in Major League Baseball have the greatest selection of shape and taper (handle diameter). These affordable bats made of ash, maple, or bamboo offer less durability than metal bats and can crack with regular use. They also weigh more than their metal counterparts.
| Baseball Bat Characteristics |
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Not every pitch goes down the middle of the plate. To effectively turn on an inside ball or "go with the pitch" and hit to the opposite field, you'll need a bat with the proper weight, length, and shape.
Baseball Bat Weight
A player's age, height, weight, strength, and hitting style determine bat weight. Generally, players in Little League or Youth League should use bats between 16 and 23 ounces. At the high school and collegiate level, bat weights generally range from 27 to 33 ounces.
| Little League (8-10 yrs) |
| Player Height |
Bat Weight |
| 48 to 50 inches |
16 to 17 ounces |
| 51 to 60+ inches |
19 to 20 ounces |
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| Youth League (11-12 yrs) |
| Player Weight |
Bat Weight |
| 70 to 80 lbs |
18 to 19 ounces |
| 81 to 141+ lbs. |
22 to 23 ounces |
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| High School & College |
| Player Height |
Bat Weight |
| 66 to 68 inches |
27 to 28 ounces |
| 69 to 77+ inches |
30 to 33 ounces |
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Sellers may list bat weight as a negative number, meaning the bat's weight equals the bat's length minus the indicated number. For example, a 32-inch bat with a bat weight of -5 weighs 27 ounces (32 - 5 = 27). Bats used on the high school and college level cannot have more than a -3 ounce weight-to-length ratio.
Heavier bats can generate more power, but reduce bat speed. Lighter bats offer increase speed and control, but reduce pop. The pros often gravitate toward lighter bats which allow a player to make contact with the "fat of a bat" or its "sweet spot" more easily.
Baseball Bat Length
When standing on end, a bat should come to your waist. Length ranges from 26 to 31 inches for Youth League and 32 to 36 inches for high school, collegiate, and professional players. A Little League bat cannot measure more than 32 inches long.
Baseball Bat Shape
Look at the shape of a bat, taking its barrel, taper, and grip into consideration.
- Barrel: Most barrels, the wide portion of a bat that strikes a ball, measure 2 1/2, 2 5/8, or 2 9/16 inches in diameter. Longer and wider barrels provide a larger sweet spot. Lighter bats have shorter and narrower barrels for increased speed and control.
- Taper: Taper refers to handle diameter and must fit a player's hands, allowing a comfortable grip. The taper on most bats is 31/32 of an inch. A narrower taper allows you to rotate your wrists faster and "square up" on pitches more effectively. Little League baseball bats cannot measure more than 2.25 inches in diameter and bats used in high school and college cannot measure more than 2 inches in diameter.
- Grip: Make sure your metal bat has a proper leather, synthetic leather, or rubber grip. Leather grips will provide the best hold, but do not absorb vibration as effectively as rubber.
| Find Baseball Bats on eBay |
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Now that you know which bat you need, find it quickly on eBay. Go to the Sporting Goods portal and click the Bats link under Baseball & Softball.
- Categories: Use the links in the Categories list on the left side of the page to begin narrowing down item listings. You'll find links for adult baseball bats, wood baseball bats, youth baseball bats, fastpitch softball bats, slowpitch softball bats, and more.
- Keywords: Keywords can quickly help you narrow down your choices. Type the words you want to find into the Search box to find listings that match your specifications. For example, if you want a new SC777-alloy aluminum bat, type the keywords SC777 new. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more advice about searching with keywords.
- Let Sellers Help: A good item listing should include information about the type of bat and its materials, the name of the manufacturer, and a clear picture. If you want to know about information not included in a listing, email the seller your question by clicking "Ask seller a question" under the seller's profile.
If you can't seem to find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save your search and eBay will email you when a match becomes available. While you shop, don't forget a batting helmet, batting gloves, balls, sunglasses, and an equipment bag.
| Buy With Confidence |
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 Know Your Purchase
- Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
- Is the item you want still under warranty? If so, what are the terms? If you want more warranty information from a seller, ask by clicking the seller's "Ask seller a question" link under a seller's profile.
Know Your Seller
- What is the seller's feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive feedback do they have?
- What do their buyers say in their feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
- Does the seller have a return policy? Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer Protection
- PayPal Buyer Protection: In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, PayPal is there for you. Learn about PayPal Buyer Protection and how your purchases can be covered up to $1,000.
- eBay Security & Resolution Center: If a problem arises in your transaction, eBay can help you solve it quickly and efficiently. Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn more about eBay’s resolution tools.
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