A Guide to Choosing a Warstic Metal Bat
Choosing a metal bat can be overwhelming whether you are a parent new to the sport or even a seasoned player. Below are the most important things you should consider when purchasing a metal bat as well as a detailed explanation of the differences between each of our bats.
Still need help? You can schedule an in person fitting appointment (at our Headquarters located in Dallas TX) or schedule a digital fitting appointment with one of our staff by contacting support@warstic.com.
Don't forget, you can try our metal bats risk free for 14 days. Click to learn more
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Watch as Warstic Founder Ben Jenkins, Co-Owner Ian Kinsler and VP of Opps Mike Butler give an overview on what you need to know when looking for a metal bat.
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Warstic Founder Ben Jenkins, VP of Opps Mike Butler and Team Warstic Director Jordan Davis break down the full Warstic youth metal bat offering to find white bat is right for you.
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Warstic Founder Ben Jenkins, Co-Owner Ian Kinsler and VP of Opps Mike Butler break down the full Warstic BBCOR metal bat offering. We have a bat for each type of hitter in the lineup; watch to learn which is the best fit for you.
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BAT SIZING:
Selecting the correct size & weight of a metal bat is critical. The best way to ensure you get the right size is to come in for a custom fitting at our Headquarters OR set up a digital appointment with one of our fitting staff by contacting support@warstic.com.
If you can't make it to the store, the below is a basic guide for bat sizing.
DROP WEIGHT:
A 'drop weight' is the difference between the length of the bat and the weight of the bat (ex: a 33" bat that is 30 oz is a drop 3 also shown as -3). The lightest bats we offer start at -11 for teeball and very young players and go up to the heaviest bat -3 which is built for highschool and college age players.
Make sure to check your league's requirement on drop weight as they often will tell you if there is a required drop for their players. The chart above gives you some insight into the AVERAGE drop for age; however some players are strong for their age. You want to have your athlete swinging the heaviest bat they can control well and make consistent solid contact with the ball to maximize performance.
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SWING WEIGHT:
Swing weight is a term that describes weight distribution along the bat's length and is one of the largest contributing factors to different swing feels between bats. Even if you have two bats with the same total physical weight (ie. 33" 30 oz bat), they could still have widely different swing weights.The two extremes in swing weights are "Balanced" or "End Loaded." A balanced bat means the weight is distributed closer to the knob allowing the bat to be easier to control, feel lightweight to swing and would be considered a low swing weight. An end loaded bat(higher swing weight) has more weight toward the end cap and while it is more difficult to control, it generates more power and distance at contact for those who can consistently make solid contact.
There is no one size fits all, but a good rule of thumb is swing the heaviest bat you can control and make consistent solid contact with. See the charts above to compare the different swing bats in our bat lineup.
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LENGTH:
Bat length is measured in inches from the knob to the end cap. Longer bats can extend your reach; however too long a bat can be difficult to control effectively. When choosing the right length it is necessary to consider both the player's height and weight. There is no perfect guide for selecting the right length, but below is based on averages.
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SWEET SPOT:
A bat's sweet spot is considered the spot on the bat with the least vibration in the hands and the best exit velo at contact. That doesn't mean that multiple spots along the barrel will not perform at or close to the 'sweet spot' in terms of exit velo, but the feeling at contact is very different. Watch the 'overview' video above for an in depth discussion of sweet spot.
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"HOTNESS" OF A BAT:
This is a term you hear a lot on bat review sites; however usually this is a very misleading term! ALL bats have to go to the same independent facility where they are tested at multiple points along the barrel to measure exit velocity. In order to get the required league certification stamps (USA, USSSA, BBCOR) it can perform up to but not exceed the performance ceiling required for that stamp.
During the development process of metal bats, Warstic submits multiple bat submissions throughout the testing process. Our bats are approved for production when they meet the performance ceiling but do not exceed it. That is true for any of the major competitors as well. So while there is such a thing as an 'un-hot' bat, you should feel confident that the performance for all major bat brands are AT the legal performance ceiling. If a bat truly is 'hotter' than that, it will go into review and be banned by the leagues. Anyone that tells you otherwise, isn't being honest about their product.
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BAT LEAGUES:
We produce bats for the 3 major governing bodies in baseball. For youth metal baseball bats, there is USA (teeball age and up) & USSSA, for high school and college athletes there is BBCOR. Each of these stamps have a unique performance standard and they require evaluation from an independent testing facility to be approved. All approved bats are clearly marked with the league logo for the standards they meet.
If you don’t know what league you are in ASK YOUR COACH. They will be able to tell you what type of bat is required for your team.
