Because 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. For this eason we have provided you with some basic bat buying information as listed below.

 
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. An Atwater Youth Baseball, Little League, or Youth League baseball bat, generally cannot measure more than 32 inches long. 

Baseball Bat Weight
A player's age, height, weight, strength, and hitting style determine bat weight. Generally, players in Atwater Youth Baseball, 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.

• Baseball bat manufacturers 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. 
  • Bigger, stronger players generally prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft and swing power.
  • Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing
  • Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control--great for singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury

Baseball Bat Shape
Look at the shape of a bat, taking its barrel, taper, and grip into consideration.

• Barrel: The barrel is the wide portion of a bat that strikes a ball. Atwater Youth Baseball, Little League, and most other Youth League baseball bats cannot measure more than 2.25 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.
  • You may prefer the feel of a bigger bat taper, which can also reduce the sting when a ball isn't struck on the sweet spot
  • Some players like a narrower taper for the lighter weight and to rotate their wrists & "sqauring up" faster when hitting.
• 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.

Baseball Bat Vs. Softball Bat

Is it possible to play softball with a baseball bat? Yes, as long as you understand you would be using a bat (baseball) somewhat shorter than the game (softball) your playing and the bat (baseball) is a heavier weight bat. Performance, when compared to the latest softball bat would suffer to some degree, it would compare more favorably to an older lower performance softball bat.

Is it possible to play baseball with a softball bat? Yes, as long as you were willing to replace the bat (softball) in a very short period of time as cracking or potentially even breaking the bat (softball) is probable. Simply put softball bats are not designed to withstand the stress of impact from a harder object (baseball).

Is it possible to play fast-pitch softball with a slow-pitch softball bat? Yes, but its probable you would not like the decrease in performance (yours, not the bats) due to the heavy weight thereby reducing your swing speed and making it more difficult to hit a fast-pitch ball.

Is it possible to play slow-pitch softball with a fast-pitch softball bat? Yes, but most likely you would damage the bat and be forced to discard it.

Baseball Bat Materials 

The world of bats now offers a large variety of choices in materials. These can be broken into three primary categories: aluminum, graphite/titanium lined, and wood. Each provides its own unique characteristics and advantages for today's players.

Aluminum

• Aluminum is lighter in weight, which increases control and bat speed. Balls travel farther with aluminum over other metals.
• Despite generally higher costs than other materials, aluminum is durable and not prone to crack or break
• Aluminum bats come in a variety of alloys, each with a different weight
• Generally, lighter aluminum alloys are thinner and more durable. The one thing these have in common is that they are all different combinations of Zinc, Copper, Magnesium and Aluminum. The following is a list of the different alloys and their benefits.
  • 7046: This is the standard aluminum alloy used in most bats
  • CU31/7050: More durable than 7046, due to increased levels of zirconium, magnesium, and copper
  • C405/7055: Increased Zirconium content than 7050, giving higher strength
  • C555: 7% stronger than C405, has traces of scandium, which increases strength
• Lighter weight bats also increase the "sweet spot," the hitting zone on the bat's barrel that gives the maximum place to put metal to ball
• Aluminum bats, and those enhanced with other alloys, also come in single-layer or double-layer construction
• Double-layer bats offer more durability and power, since the ball rebounds off the bat with more authority
• Cryogenically treated aluminum--Alloy is frozen and reheated to provide greater durability, less vibration and 2-4% greater distance

Graphite/Titanium lined

• Technology has enabled bat makers to use lighter, stronger materials. Graphite and titanium are just two of these.
• Both are usually added to thinner-wall aluminum bats, enabling bats to be lighter and increasing a player's swing speed
• These materials also increase durability and the batter's sweet spot
• Graphite and titanium also help reduce vibration and the sting of ball shock, the tingling feeling sent to the hands usually when you miss hitting the ball in the bat's sweet spot

Wood

• Wood bats offer a classic feel and sound
• Look for a grain that is long and wide, which indicates a tree's age and density
• Wood bats offer more choices in shape and taper that can be customized to a player's swing
• Wood has three big disadvantages:
  • Bats crack and break
  • Reduced sweet spots on the barrel
  • Far less hitting power than metal bats

Bat Performance Factor (BPF) & Some Legue Regulations

An effort by some of governing bodies in Baseball and Softball (NCAA, NHSF, USSSA, NSA) to regulate the performance of a bat has lead to the establishment of a method of measuring how a ball jumps off of a bat compared to how a ball rebounds off of a wall at a controlled speed.

BPF (Bat Performance Factor) is simply the increase in the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall (i.e., 20% faster rebound = a BPF of 1.20).

Beginning with the 2009 season, non-wood bats used in divisions of play Little League (Majors) and below must be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) rating of 1.15 or less.

Beginning with the 1998 playing season, USSSA and NSA league play must use a bat bearing a permanent marking indicating that the bat does not exceed a 1.20 BPF rating.

The NCAA/NFHS have dictated a "3 Prong" set of rules for bats to be legal for 2000 and beyond.

• The bats can have a diameter no larger than 2 5/8"
• The bats can be no lighter than 3 ounces less than the length (i.e. 32 in/29 oz)
• The bats can have an exit speed no higher than 97 MPH off the barrel of the bat. The bats must have a "BESR" logo on the barrel of the bat, designating that the bat meets the Ball Exit Speed Requirement

In July of 2003, the ASA changed their performance test method and standard. They refer to their new test as a "high speed test." This method determines the outgoing speed of a ball after an impact at 110 miles per hour. Past tests have had impact speeds of 60 mph. The new standard calls for an outgoing ball speed of no greater than 98 mph. All bats need to pass this test to be used in ASA play from 1/1/2004 and beyond.

• Bats manufactured after passing this new test will have a new "ASA 2004" logo on the barrel.
• Those that pass the standard will be placed on the ASA's website on an ASA 2004 legal bat list.
• Bats on this ASA list will be legal for play whether they have the 2004 logo or not.
• ASA umpires will have a copy of the ASA list and will use that list to determine if a bat is legal for play or not.

Senior League - Big Barrel Bats

There has been a lot of recent confussion over the term  "Senior League" bats which are also referred to as "Big Barrel" bats. The word "Senior" is not intended to mean senior citizen, it comes from "senior little league" for which these big barrel bats were originally designed. These bats have a 2 5/8" or 2 3/4" barrel and are designed for use by players from ages of 10 - 15. Senior League bats are NOT approved for Atwater Youth Baseball, Little League, Dixie, Babe Ruth, or AABC play.