We know this because last Thursday the cameras caught him swinging a Yasiel Puig model bat during the Nationals game against the Mets. According to Harper, he got the bat from Puig. He’s been hot lately, in what has been a disappointing season overall, so he’s been sticking with the Cuban import‘s lumber.

Harper told the Washington Post he’s long used bats with other players names etched on them, adding he’s swung Chase Utley, Mike Trout, Troy Tulowitzki, David Wright, Buster Posey, Robinson Cano, Todd Helton, Melky Cabrera and Miguel Cabrera models in the past. (It appears to the 21-year old has already learned to borrow from the best.)

His only rule is he won’t swing another man’s stick when he’s going against that player’s team. So if he’s still enthralled  the Puig model — the YP-66 — next week when the Dodgers come to town, he will simply send Puig’s bat to a custom manufacture like Chandler or Marucci and they will send him a bootlegged “Harper” model with the identical specs.

Harper also regularly switches bats game-to-game depending on the pitcher. He is so mercurial when it comes to his lumber he told the Post he doubts he’ll ever stick with a bat long enough for there to be an official BH-34 model that other players can borrow.

The Vapor 360 is still cowhide where it counts — in the palm. (Although one could argue if you’re good a baseball you catch the ball in the webbing, not the palm.) But the rest of the glove is mostly synthetic with minimal elements of leather, allowing it to be ready for action right off of the shelf.   And even the natural material in the palm has been tweaked in the binding so that section of the glove also doesn’t require break-in time

“We’ve taken a traditional leather for the palm and perforated it to remove some of the structure so it forms more quickly,” Nike Baseball Senior Designer Matthew Hudson explained. “Therefore, the glove is ready to use straight out of the box.”

Others features of the glove include inserts inside the thumb and pinky, which create a custom feel, and a soft PORON foam in the wrist that enhances comfort and breathability. The glove was developed with the help of Colorado Rockies  outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

“My first impression was ‘Wow, this is different,’” Gonzalez said. “Once I put it on and played catch in camp, everything clicked. This is what I was looking for. I wear this glove and I feel like I can catch any ball.”

The glove made its debut during the 2014 All-Star weekend in Minneapolis. However, we don’t think the glove is really geared toward the pros. While Nike does have a few MLB stars, including, Gonzalez, it badly trails Rawlings and Wilson in overall MLB representation.

Also, Gonzalez comments aside, we’re not sure there is a huge demand for lighter gloves at the professional level. We also think the pros are quite comfortable with breaking their gloves in. (Or getting someone else to do it for them.)

In fact, we think it would be a shame if new technology denies baseball players of any stripe the ritual of breaking in a glove.

According to Nike’s promotional material, the Nike Vapor 360 “answers outfielders’ call for a fresh-out-of-the-box, lightweight and responsive fielding glove.”

Again, we’re not sure outfielders are making that call, but, as you can see from the photos, some people will think the glove looks cool. And there is no doubt it looks like the product of serious sports science.

The glove is expected to retail at around $150. So it’s not for beginners or casual players.

It should be available by the holiday season.

Is the Vapor 360 something you would like to see under your tree? Or, by making a glove that is lighter and requires no break in time, has Nike simply solved a couple problems that most baseball players didn’t think we’re problems in the first place.

Let us now what you think. We’ll also be monitoring the success of the Vapor 360 to determinate if Nike is in fact on to something.

A baseball’s drop is its weight in ounces minus its length in inches. So a 30 inch bat that weighs 20 ounces would have a drop of -10.

If you are playing high school or college baseball you need to use a BBCOR approved bat and the BBCOR only gives the OK to bats with a -3 drop. (Between 29 and 35 inches and 26 and 32 ounces.) So if you are planning to play high school or college baseball,you will need to buy a bat with a -3 drop.

Bats specified to the height to weight ration tend to be pretty expensive, but here are the four of the cheaper bats with -3 drops on the market. They are available on their companies’ websites but you may be able to find them for slightly cheaper on Amazon so make sure to check that out too before you buy.

Easton BK6 Hammer Bbcor Adult Baseball Bat (-3) $25 to $40
Easton lowest priced BBCOR approved bat on the market. It has 2 ⅝ barrell and the aluminum bat is made from 7046 aircraft alloy. It is able to meet BBCOR requirements thanks patent pending barrell technology that braces the bat at critical points in its construction. The bat has a thin 31/32 handle and features and cushioned grip. This one piece design bat comes with a one year warranty and since it’s not a composite it doesn’t need any breaking in. Those who have bought the bat say it hits like a more expensive model.

Rawlings Velo Ash Wood Bat (-3) $49.99

Go old school with a wood bat from Rawlings. Made from m.aple, Rawlings guarantees each bat features a -3 drop. This economically priced has a pro cupped end which allows the bat to have a superlative swing to weight ratio. The bat has a medium cup size meaning it less than 2.5 inches. Designed to have a bigger sweet spot Rawlings recommends this bat for those who want to increase their swing speed while maintaining a balanced approach. The bat is available at 31,32,33 and 34 inches and for an extra $10 you can have the bat engraved. So say goodbye to the ping and swing like the pros do with this chape -3 baseball bat.

Easton Typhoon BBCOR: BK63 Adult (-3) 49.99
This BBCOR approved bat with a -3 drop features a 2 ⅝ inch barrel diameter and a thin 31/32 tapered handle. It is made from 7046 airplane alloy and has a one piece design. The Easton Typhoon’s brace barrel technology locates the critical spots in the bat and reinforces them, which is how it is able to meet BBCOR requirements. The bat is available between 29 and 33 inches and comes with a full 12 month manufacturers warranty. Those who have purchased the bat give it solid marks across the board, with some saying it provides as much pop as much more expensive bats.

Louisville Slugger TPX Warrior BBCOR (-3) $59.99
While Louisville Slugger is known for the wood bats, they also have a very extensive line of aluminum and composite bats. The Louisville Slugger TPX Warrior featuring a -3 drop is one of their cheaper bats, but it is still BBCOR approved, making it eligible for high school and college play as well as certain adult leagues which require this certification. The bat has 31/32 inch tapered handle with a synthetic grip. It comes with a 12 month warranty and has a vibration cancelling end cap that actually locks in that energy creates more power on contact. The bat gets high marks for its lack of vibrations and durability from those who have bought.

Combat sports is a sporting goods company which makes composite baseball bats. Founded by GE executives in the late nineties, the Canadian company started out by making composite hockey sticks. They moved into the baseball in the early twenty first century, first supplying composite bats to Worth, Rawlings, Nike and other industry leaders. In 2004 they decided to go on their own way and market their products under their own label. They are now the fastest growing bat maker in baseball and softball.

Combat’s bat are made from carbon, glass and Aramid fibers — which are used to make bulletproof vests — and our embedded in a plastic resin. The advantage composite bats have over bats made of wood or just one metal are that the bats’ engineers can isolate certain points of the bat and make them stronger or weaker. For example they can increase the stiffness of the handle and reduce the stiffness of the barrel to create a trampoline effect with. Composite bats are also better than aluminum bats in cold weather and should vibrate less. According to Combat, their bats offer a fifteen percent bigger sweet spot than their composite competitors.

Combat strives to make bats that meet the requirements of the BBCOR, which governs high school and college baseball. They acknowledge, however, that due to the evolving bat certification standards of various of the sports governing bodies that they can not guarantee the bats they sell will always be legal. As it stands, Combat baseball bats with -3 drops (meaning there there is a difference of three between the bats inches and ounces) should be legal in high school and college baseball. In fact, Combat is the official bat sponsor of about a dozen college baseball teams including Washington State and Texas Tech.

Combat is also known for their protective equipment — such as batting helmets and catcher’s gear — and their baseball bags and backpacks. They also feature a line of baseball batting gloves.
One of Combats most popular youth bats is the Combat Grifter Youth Baseball Bat -12, which is approved for play in most youth baseball organization. The barrell of the bat has a titanium enhanced barrel, which is offset by a specially constructed handle. The bat also features Resonance Proof Taper, which cuts down on any sting or vibration. It also has gear technology which gives the bat a softer feel. This bat runs about a hundred and fifty dollars.

The Combat B4 Portent is a BBCOR approved bat that is a winner with the high school and college set. Specially engineered to have the largest sweet spot (a “double” sweet spot they call it.) and lightest swing weight possible, this -3 bat is brimming with store and release power and comes in 31, 32, 33 and 34 inches. This bat retailers at $379.

As you can see, Combat bats are not cheap. But what you are paying for is some pretty serious high-tech engineering. Combat bats can be purchased on the company’s website and also at sporting good stores and online retailers like Amazon. Anybody thinking about buying a Combat Baseball bat should first take a look at eBay, as you can often find new Combat baseball bats on the auction site for up to fifty percent of the retail price.

The Nocona Athletic Goods Company has been making Nokona baseball gloves in Nocona, Texas since 1934.

The reason they are called Nokona gloves instead of Nocona gloves is that the US Patent Office would not allow the name of an incorporated town to be part of a trademark. The “K” gives the glove somewhat of a foreign sound, which is ironic because Nokona is one of the few gloves still manufactured in the United States.

Nocona was initially a leather good company which made boots, belts and wallets. During the Great Depression Robert Storey, the company’s president and a former college baseball player, decided to start manufacturing gloves as a way to increase revenue. The company has more or less remained in family hands since and Storey’s grandson Bob Storey is currently Chairman of the Board.

Nocona went through some tough times in the beginning of the twenty first century. A fire destroyed their factory in 2006. Although their factory was insured,  the disaster pushed them further in with a group of East Coast investors who had already purchased half of company and who wanted to parlay Nokona’s reputation for quality gloves into a bigger market share.

Their expansion plans failed and Nocona eventually had to declare bankruptcy. A new group came in and snagged the brand, with the Storey family still holding a minority stake.

Nokona gloves pride themselves on being made from the highest quality leather by experienced craftsman who hand cut, stamp, stitch, lace and embroider each glove. Because they don’t use a cookie cutter approach to glove manufacturing no two Nokona gloves are the same.

They are also not cheap. Their signature line, the bloodline, runs between $300 and $400 a glove. Made with genuine shearling cuff, the bloodline requires a heavy break in period because it is built strong and to last. Other adult baseball lines include Pro, Buckeroo and Buffalo combo, which requires less of a break-in period.

Nokona also has a few lines of youth baseball gloves and are well known for their fast pitch softball gloves. Nokona’s fast pitch catcher’s mitts, in particular, are held in high esteem.

The Nokona website has a feature which allows for complete customization of a glove. Nokona offers one year warranty on each of their gloves against defective workmanship and material. Additional coverage can be purchased through their glove club program. An $89.99 platinum membership gets a full factory glove inspection after one year (with shipping included) as well as 50 percent off repairs for three years and other goodies.

Todd Walker and Jeff Fuccillo are among recent Major League Players who wore Nokona gloves. Nolan Ryan has raved about the glove in the past, and is featured on their website explaining that his first glove was a Nokona.

Nokona gloves can be purchased at your local sporting goods store or online glove retailers. Often the price you can find online or at a brick and mortar store are cheaper than what is offered on Nokona’s website.

Nokona offers tours of its Nocona, Texas facility between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM Monday through Friday. The cost of a tour is five dollars but that will be subtracted from any glove purchase. Students tour free with a valid school ID.

A baseball can be a dangerous thing. They sometimes break windows and eye sockets. And since this damage can happen during a baseball game, think of all the destruction baseballs can cause during practice, when multiple balls being used in multiple drills are flying all over the place

Luckily, we have baseball nets. During baseball drills baseball nets preserve windows and eye sockets and also keep all those baseballs close so practice can be a time to learn new skills instead of combing the area for wayward balls.

Here is a list of four different types of baseball nets that can make any baseball practice safer and more efficient. You should be able to find these products on the websites of eRetailers such as Amazon or Dicks, or at your local sporting goods store.

Bownet Baseball/Softball Big Mouth Portable Net $150 to $200
Weighing in at only 13 pounds, this may the gold standard of portable but effective baseball nets. Its rigid fiberglass and steel poles and super-strong netting allows ball after to ball to be pounded into it at close range, whether off of a bat or from the arm of a fireballing pitcher. The “mouth” feature of the net takes up more than half of the total area and will capture most balls hit into it. The Bownet Big Mouth requires no screws, snaps or tools for assembly, and those who have purchased it confirm it only takes about two minutes to set up. There are some complaints about its ability to function in very windy conditions, but other than that this product gets extremely high ratings.

Franklin Sports MLB Deluxe Infinite Angle Return Trainer $80
Some baseball nets aren’t just about catching balls. They are also about bouncing them back. The Franklin Sports MLB Deluxe Infinite Angle Return Trainer’s tubular steel construction and reinforced bungee net adjustment system will fire either pop ups, line drives or ground balls back to whomever throws them at it. The product features a heavy duty 30-ply net that is designed for all weather and a demarcated strike zone target. The MLB Deluxe a has simple two fold set up design which makes for easy assembly and storage. It will also work for lacrosse.

SKLZ Quickster Net – Portable Quick Assembly Multi-Sport Net $150
Even better than just a baseball net is a multi-sport net that can be used for drills and practice whatever the sporting season. The SKLZ Quickster Net has all of the qualities of a great baseball net: durable easy to assemble design; a mouth that captures balls; and a movable pitching target. But it is also specially designed so it works for practicing football, softball, lacrosse and soccer. With strong ply-netting that can withstand year-round use, this product may well be the first step toward making your burgeoning athlete the next Bo Jackson.

ATEC Pro Pitcher’s Practice Screen with Stand $150
This pitcher’s oriented practice net will have a young hurler moving the ball around the strike zone with the accuracy of a Cliff Lee. That’s because the screen features six highly visible targets around the corners of the strike zone for the pitcher to aim at. The ATEC Practice Screen With Stand also has a built in ball collector that will swope up any pitch that hits the strike zone. (More incentive to be accurate.) This easy to assemble product comes with a stand but can also be set up without one. Its heavy duty tarpaulin is double stitched for long-life and when the screen isn’t being used for pitching practice it is very effective as a portable backstop for hitting. The Practice Screen gets high marks from those who bought it on both ease of assembly and effectiveness.

Economic factors certainly come into play when considering youth baseball gloves. On the one hand (so to speak) you want to buy your burgeoning slugger or fireballer a glove that works well and they can feel proud of. But on the other hand their little hands will soon be ready for a full size glove so the shelf-life of a youth baseball glove is a lot shorter than the one you are going to buy your kid when they get a little older.

We’ve compiled a list of four youth baseball gloves that are reasonably priced and well-made enough to be handed down to any younger brothers or sisters your well appointed ballplayer may have. While these gloves can purchased on their respective companies’ websites, sometimes you might get a better deal at third a party website such as Amazon or at your local sport goods store.

Franklin Sports Field Flex Teeball Glove and Ball $13
Before baseball comes teeball. And if the shelf-life of a youth baseball glove is sort the window of usefulness of a tee-ball glove is miniscule. But don’t worry, the Franklin Sports Field Flex Teeball Glove only cost about as much as few lattes. And it comes with a free tee ball! This 9.5 inch glove is not fancy, but it does come with embossed leather textured shell material and shok-sorb palm padding. Those who have bought the glove report it doesn’t feel or look like the cheap plastic gloves you’d expect at such a low price point and that their kids seem to like the mitt.

Rawlings Savage Series 10-inch Infield/Outfield Baseball Glove (PP100DP) $26
The Rawlings Savage Series Infield/Outfield glove is a cool looking mitt for a cool price. Featuring white leather laces and a conventional flex loop plus neo flex technology this glove is perfect for five to seven year olds. This 10 inch glove comes 90 percent broken in, good for impatient youngsters who just want to get right out on the ballfield. And it works for infielders and outfielders, which is great for little kids still trying to figure out where they belong on the field. Although small, those who have bought glove says it snaps around the ball with the same force a full-size model and most would recommend the mitt to a friend.

Mizuno Gpp1051 Prospect Series 10.5 Inch Utility Youth Baseball Glove $30
The Mizuno Gpp1051 Prospect Series is a great glove for when a youngster has graduated from tee ball but still isn’t quite ready for a full-sized adult glove. The 10.5 inch mitt features multiple technologies which help young hands close on the ball and grip it. It also has a parashock palm lining which protects growing pams from the sting of the ball and a special youth oriented tartan web pattern. The glove is available for right handed and left handed throwers and verified buyers report that the mitt is easy to break in and long lasting.

Nokona Bloodline Select BL-200 11.25″ Youth Baseball Glove $250
OK, we said this list was going to be only of reasonably priced gloves. But reasonable priced is a relative term and at only $250 bucks the Nokona Bloodline Select BL-200 is quite a bargain for somebody who is really rich and likes to spoil their children. Kidding aside, if you want a really high quality youth baseball glove and cost is not a factor this is a winner. Although it sounds vaguely Japanese, Nokona was actually founded in Texas and is one of the few glove manufacturers to still make their mitts in the United States. Although the Bloodline Select’s high quality leather is going to take a bit longer to break in than your normal glove its unique tanning process results in a glove that is unusually tough and sturdy.

Baseball savings is an online one-stop shop for baseball equipment and apparel. It was founded in 2006 and its mailing address is in Wichita, Kansas, where they also have one retail store there. Baseball Savings is the number one baseball only retailer on the Internet.

Baseball Saving is famous for guaranteeing the lowest price on any baseball bat. If you find a lower price on any bat Baseball Savings carries, they will match the price.

According to Baseball Savings they also have the widest selection of bats on the Internet. These include Easton, DeMARINI, Marucci, Mizuno, Louisville Slugger, Nike, Rawlings, RIP-IT, Miken, Anderson, Mattingly and Reebok. The also have every kind of bat from wood to composite to fungo to fast pitch softball to custom. One of the neat things about Baseball Savings website is that there is a an easy to use function which displays bats by association regulations.

So if, for example, your league is under the ASA umbrella you can just click on ASA and see all the bats that meet that association’s standards. This is also a separate section for BBCOR bats, which are used in college and high school baseball and always feature -three drops. (The drop is difference between the bat’s length in inches and weight in ounces.)

When you click on an individual bat Baseball Saving’s website will give you a bullet point list of all the bat’s features which would include what material the bat is made of, its specs and any warranty information.

Of course Baseball savings is about more than just bats. They sell just about any piece equipment that a baseball player would need, including the field equipment that builds and keeps the diamond in shape. The websites also feature just about any item of NCAA or Major League baseball apparel that a fan would want. Additionally the online market place offers a custom logo service that would be great for corporations, charities and events.

If you are in any way dissatisfied with any product you purchase from Baseball Savings you can get a hundred percent refund as long as you return it within a thirty day period and the product is still in its original packaging and in “new, unused and original” condition. The shipping fee, however, is non-refundable. Custom orders, closeouts, demo items and personalized items or not eligible for this refund.

Orders to Baseball Savings can either be done through their website or over the phone. Baseball Savings offers a $6.99 flat rate standard shipping fee. (It is two dollars more for delivery to “rural” areas, seven to fifteen dollars more to ship to Alaska and three to five dollars more to send something to Hawaii.) Next business day shipping is $22.99, and second day is $14.99.

These shipping prices only apply to orders under seventy five pounds. Saturday and Sunday don’t count as shipping days and any order received after noon on Friday will go out on Sunday.

Baseball Savings only charges sales tax when shipping to Kansas, California or Washington State. However your state my require you to report your purchase and then pay the appropriate sales tax on it.

All of the baseballs used in a Major League game are made in a single factory in the Costa Rican town of Turrialba. It’s been that way since the the late ‘80s when Rawlings, the official ball maker of Major League Baseball, moved production to the Central American nation from Haiti, which was suffering government unrest.

The 350 workers at the Turrialba plant work ten hours a day and turn out about 2.4 million baseballs a year. They make $1.60 an hour, above minimum wage in Costa Rica, and get a 52 cent bonus for every ball they complete beyond their 156 ball weekly minimum. Since baseball isn’t very popular in Costa Rica few of the workers know much about the game they are creating essential equipment for. Upon completion the balls are shipped to Miami and then to Major League Baseball stadiums across the country.

Major League baseball has tried to maintain consistency in their baseball construction since 1872. However it wasn’t until 1910, when the cork centered ball was introduced ,that they have achieved any sort of real uniformity through time. Although production methods differ, a ball today should be pretty similar to one made a hundred years ago.

These days, a Major League baseball begins with the “pill,” which is a 4.25 inch golf ball-sized sphere of cork encased in rubber. The process of making a big league ball begins when hundreds of these pills are dumped into a rotating tumbler and covered with latex adhesive. The drum spins to evenly coat the pills with the latex and when that process is complete the pills are sticky to the touch.

Next comes a machine which spins four ply wool around the pill, making the ball substantially larger. After this come a layer of three ply wool and then another layer of three ply yarn, this one a bit lighter than the second.

All this wool yarn gives the baseball resiliency so it can spring back to shape after being smacked repeatedly with a bat. The last layer of wool is lighter, smoother poly-wool blend. Overall about 370 yards of yarn go into a baseball.

This wool rubber and cork sphere is called the “center” and it measures about nine inches around. The center is also placed in a tumbler with adhesive rubber to make sure all the wound yarn sticks together. When the tumbler is done spinner the center is air dried for 48 hours but remains sticky.

Next figure-eight shaped cuts of leather are punched out using a wedged press that also gives them holes for stitching. These chunks of Tennessee Holstein cowhide will eventually be the outside of the baseball

However before stitching takes place the date and lot number is stamped onto the leather figure eights and they are wrapped in wet towels to make them pliable enough to sow. Next an adhesive is rolled onto one side of the cowhide cutouts.

When two cutouts are positioned on the center’s sticky surface they should provide full coverage and create what is finally starting to look like a baseball.

Next comes the most labor intensive part of the process: The stitching. The sowing begins when the now-leather clad center is put in a vice. The sower diligently uses two needles to hook the leather unto the wool center and also to cross stitch. During the process wax is rubbed onto the stitching to keep it from tangling. Each ball has exactly 108 stitches and will be between nine and nine ¼ inches in circumference.. Lastly, the balls go through a press that smooths down the seams and a three-headed stamp which gives the official baseballs a trademark, a commissioner’s signature, and a league logo.

The entire process takes a week. The average Major League Baseball lasts a few pitches. You can buy one for $13.95.

Just like a painter needs a brush, a hitter needs a bat. We’ve scoured the internet for the most highly rated bats in the youth, adult and softball categories. Below are descriptions of the bats as well as the price range you should expect the bat to go for. These bats can all be purchased from sporting good stores and online retailers.

Youth bats

Louisville Slugger MLB225YB Youth Wood Baseball Bat $10 to $60
When you think baseball bat — especially a wood baseball bat — you think Louisville Slugger, which is the company that’s been making bats for Major Leaguers for over 100 years.

Louisville Slugger also produces a line of wood bats for youth baseball that has long been very popular. The bats are made from maple, rather than ash, which makes them less prone to cracking or flaking, thus more cost effective. They are available between 26 and 31 inches and can either be cupped or not cupped. The Major League logo on the bat will make any youngster feel just like a Big Leaguer.

Easton LX73 Reflex -13 Youth Baseball Bat $36 to $60
If you want to go the alloy bat route for your youngster, the Easton LX73 Reflex is a popular choice. It’s made out of 7050 aircraft alloy and features an extremely light weight-to-length ratio. In fact, it can be purchased in sizes such as 29 inches 16 ounces or 31 inches 18 ounces, which are perfect for the under ten set. Some complain about the LX73 ability to generate bat speed, but for an eight year old learning how to hit that’s not really paramount. This bat is made to act as a stepping stone to bigger things.

Easton Youth Yb13S1 S1 Composite-12 Baseball Bat $200 to $250
As you can see from the price, the Easton Youth Yb13S1 S1 is a serious bat. What differentiates it from cheaper youth bats is the science behind it. The hitting stick features patented two-piece ConneXion technology for maximized energy transfer and a composite barrel with an extended sweet spot. The end result is laser quick bat speeds at 29 inches 17 ounces. Yes, this is a lot to pay for a Little League bat, but with greater bat speed those medium ground balls your ten year old was hitting could well turn into doubles in the gap.

Louisville Slugger 2010 TPX Tee Ball Omaha Baseball Bat $20 to $35
A tee ball bat should be short with a nice wide barrel to help the little ones make contact. And that’s what’s going on with the Louisville Slugger 2010 TPX Omaha bat, which comes in 24 inch 13 ounces and 25 inch 14 ounce size. The bat features extended barrel with a rolled end and a standard .875 inch handle with a high-tack synthetic grip. It also comes with a one-year warranty, which is just about enough time for your little one to graduate from tee ball to coach pitch.

Combat Youth Tee Ball Bat $35 to $45
With its wide barrel and explosive colors, the Combat Youth Tee Ball Bat certainly looks good. But beyond its bat rack appeal it packs a real punch, thanks to a hollow core which minimizes the bats weight while maximizing its trampoline effect. The bat is offered in sizes between 25 and 27 inches and 11 and 14 ounces and features a 14 ounces drop. It’s a virtual guarantee that if one kid on the tee ball team gets this bat everyone will want it, thanks to its cool look. And thanks to its cool performance, that would be a pretty strong team.

Adult bats

DeMarini Voodoo -3 Adult Baseball Bat with a 2 5/8-Inch Barrel $150 to $300
The advantage of synthetic bats is that they can play around with the design and create larger sweet spots. The DeMarini Voodoo promises an expanded sweet spot, while still being BBCOR approved — meaning it can be used in high school and college games. DeMarini believes their alloy bat has a distinct advantage over aluminum bats, due to its weight distribution, and that they have created a synthetic bat that limits vibrations. It’s a costly piece of equipment, but most of those who have purchased it seem to have thought it was worth the price.

Easton BK6 Hammer Bbcor Adult Baseball Bat $25 to $40
You don’t have to break the bank to buy a BBCOR approved adult baseball bat. The Easton BK6 is a perfectly acceptable hitting stick that will leave you with some cash for batting gloves or batting lessons. Easton’s patent pending Brace Barrel technology results low moment of inertia rate, which can make a bat feel up to 2 ounces lighter than it really is. When you step into the batter’s box with this hitting hammer you will have the comfort and confidence of a bat three times the cost.

Louisville Slugger MLB180 Natural Wood Baseball Bat $20 to $45
While it’s true alloy and composite bats are all the rage with the adult baseball set, there is still a place for the traditionalist who don’t think “ping” should be a sound associated with baseball. For those diehards, a classic bat like the Louisville MLB180 Natural Wood bat should be a fit. Made from pro-grade ash, which is the strongest wood available, the barrel of the bat is forged in a way that allows it to bend rather than break, creating a larger sweet spot. And no annoying metallic clank.

Combat Portent Adult Baseball Bat $300 to $400
When picking a bat, you want to look for a lightweight swing and large sweet spot. According to the promotional material for the Combat Portent Adult Baseball Bat, it offers the lightest swing weight and largest sweet spot available. This is achieved by the bat’s handle flex and a barrel trampoline feature plus a -3 drop. The bat is available in 31 to 34 inches and 28 to 31 ounces. If you desire a high performing bat the Combat Portent might be just the perfect thing to take into your hardball warzone.

Cold Steel Brooklyn Crusher $25-$40
Cold Steel’s goal with their Brooklyn Crusher model bat is to create a hitting tool that is truly indestructible. Most who have purchased the bat agree that this durable polypropylene bat won’t in any way crack, rot or break.

While the 29 inch 33 ounce bat is effective in competition or batting practice, it is also weighted in a way that is beneficial for home security. So not only will the Brooklyn Crusher help you dominate your beer league games, but it just might be the perfect tool to protect your family’s home or car.

Softball bats

Worth SBRLDA-34 ASA Slowpitch Softball Bat $35 to $40
Do you want a relatively high performance slowpitch bat that will leave you with enough money to buy a case of post game beer? Well, the Worth SBRLDA-34 ASA aluminum slowpitch bat might be the choice for you. It’s not quite of tournament quality, but it’s extended sweet spot will allow you to be a consistent performer in the your casual to competitive weekend leagues. It is approved by all softball associations and is 34 inches long and 27.5 ounces. Many satisfied customers will say that Worth is worth it.

Wilson DeMarini 34″ Bruiser Slow Pitch Softball Bat $60 to $100
Although alloy rather than composite, many uses report the Wilson DeMarini 34 inch bruisers hits like a synthetic double walled bat. Maybe its the DX1 aluminum alloy, which promises the “perfect balance” of strength and toughness. Maybe it’s the M2N end cap, is designed to absorb vibration. Like most slow pitch bats, this ASA and ISA approved stick takes about 50 or so hits to break in, but once you are there you will have a mid-range priced bat that gets close to high end performance.

DeMarini The Stadium Slowpitch Softball Bat $250 to $300
Featuring DeMarini’s strongest ever alloy, The Stadium Slowpitch Softball Bat is meant to bring out the power hitter in you. Its concave design gives the bat the kind of stiffness that will generate speed off of a slowly pitched ball, and its hybrid two piece gripe system makes you one with your hitting tool. Upon purchases, many of this bats users report hitting their first home runs. The downside is the bat seems to take a while to break in. But that’s what practice is for. And practice is even more fun when you are driving it out of the park.

Easton SK60B Typhoon (-10) fastpitch Softball Bat $20 to $60
Economical and efficient, the Easton Typhoon is a balanced bottle bat with a forged end concave cap. It’s 31 inches long and ASA certified. While the size of the bat may be a little intimidating to pre-teen players, users report it works well for a ten year old girl and will deliver a surprising amount of power. It comes highly recommended for rec leagues, and the success your daughter will have with the Typhoon will likely propel her on a trajectory of softball excellence. (Which will probably include more expensive bats.)

Demarini WTDXCFS CF5-11 Fastpitch Softball Bat 2013 $200 — $300
The Demarini CF5-11 fastpitch bat is a serious piece of equipment for the serious softball player. It is made from a cutting edge composite and features a two piece hitting system that expands the sweet spot and turns balls a hitter didn’t quite square into line drives. It also has a clutch end cap, which double harnesses the power of contact. The bat is available in size 29-inch, 18-ounce to size 33-inch to 22-ounce, so this model will work for the competitive high school girls player, or the men’s league masher.