How I got into testing baseball bats
So last weekend my nephew kept complaining about his cheap Walmart bat breaking during little league practice. Kid was all frustrated, saying his teammates had “cool bats” that hit further. Got me thinking – what actually makes a good bat? Said screw it, let’s find out properly.
Picking the bats to test
Went to Dick’s Sporting Goods and grabbed these five brands everyone talks about:
- Louisville Slugger – the classic wood bat everyone knows
- Marucci – fancy one with that honeycomb handle thing
- DeMarini – super light aluminum bat
- Rawlings – mostly know their gloves but their bat looked decent
- Easton – bright orange one that looked like a toy
Spent way too much money but figured it’s for science, right?
My testing setup
Took em to the high school field Saturday morning. Borrowed my buddy’s pitching machine to keep things consistent. Set up my phone to record slow-mo videos behind home plate. Wore my batting gloves for all swings. For each bat, I did:
- 10 practice swings to get the feel
- 15 pitches at medium speed
- 15 pitches at full power pitching machine setting
- Measured where the balls landed using big cones
My hands were legit throbbing after 5 hours of swinging. Still got the blisters to prove it.
What I noticed swinging them
Louisville Slugger: Felt solid like a real bat should. But man, when you miss the sweet spot? That vibration goes straight to your elbows. Ouch.
Marucci: Weirdest balance – felt heavy near the hands but super light at the tip. Swinging it was like driving a car that steers itself. Comfortable grip though.
DeMarini: This thing was lighter than my coffee mug. Felt like swinging air – great for quick swings but when you really connect? Sounded like a tin can getting crushed.
Rawlings: Felt “average” in every way. Not too heavy, not too light. Just kinda… there.
Easton: That neon orange finish looks ridiculous in sunlight. Weirdly sticky grip even with gloves on. Felt like swinging a giant Cheeto.
Where the balls actually went
After collecting all my cone markers:
- Marucci sent balls 10-15 feet further than others when hit right
- Easton had the most “lucky” hits – even bad swings got decent distance
- DeMarini fell apart on fast pitches – balls just died in the outfield
- Louisville Slugger made beautiful home runs… when you nailed it perfectly
- Rawlings? Every hit landed in almost the exact same spot. Boring but consistent
Checked the slow-mo videos too – Marucci and Easton had way less hand vibration on impact.
What I’d actually buy
If you’re just starting out? Grab that neon Easton – it forgives your crappy swings. But for serious hitters? Marucci’s worth the cash even though it costs more than my car payment. That balance helps you swing faster without tiring out. Rawlings is the safe “meh” choice – won’t wow anyone but won’t embarrass you either.
My nephew tried them all after my test. Kid immediately fell for the Marucci. Guess I’m buying my sister an expensive birthday present this year.
