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Senior League - Big Barrel Bats

Recent confusion over the term "Senior League" bats which are also referred to as "Big Barrel". Senior League / Big Barrel youth baseball bats have a 2 5/8in or 2 3/4in barrel and are designed for baseball players age 10 - 15. The word "Senior" comes from the "senior little league" for which these big barrel bats were originally designed. Senior League bats are NOT approved for Little League, Dixie, Babe Ruth or AABC pl

COLLEGE & HIGH SCHOOL (ALUMINUM / METAL ALLOY) BATS

The section above covers a great deal of information which is basically the same whether its little league or college/high school baseball bats your talking about. This section is geared specifically for the college/high school baseball player.

Remember, lighter in relation to the batters ability to effectively and efficiently swing the bat is better. If the tendency, when purchasing a little league bat is to buy a bat to heavy for the player, this tendency becomes more prevalent as the player matures.

Most Major League Baseball players today, unlike players of the past, subscribe to the lighter is better philosophy. The reason for this change in thinking among MLB power hitters is a lighter bat is easier to control. The proof is you can hit a ball harder and farther with a lighter bat than with a heavy bat because your bat speed in noticeably quicker swinging the lighter bat. It's all about the speed of the bat at the moment of impact; the faster the striking instrument is moving the farther the struck object will go.

The NCAA and the NFHS (and other high school sports governing organizations) came to this realization in the late 90's prompting them to change their rules as it relates to baseball bats. For safety reasons they instituted the -3 drop rule which states the ratio of length to weight can be no more than -3, in other words if a bat is 30 inches long it can weigh no less than 27 ounces effectively maximizing the players swing speed which has the effect of reducing the speed at which the ball rebounds off the bat.

What is the most important factor in selecting a baseball bat. It must be comfortable to the player who is going to use it, not to his friend, parent or coach. The player is the one who will be using this bat on a consistent basis and expecting consistent performance from himself and his bat. Maximum performance can never be achieved if the player is not comfortable with his bat.

Below is a chart providing guidelines to help you select the correct bat. Regardless of whether you purchase the bat on-line or in your local sporting goods store make sure you have a chance to feel the bat, hold the bat, swing the bat and in general do everything you can to determine how comfortable you feel with your prospective new bat. While it may not be the same exact model, a friend, coach, or your team is bound to have a bat or bats you can check out for length and weight. Once you've established the proper length and weight, you can begin to look at various (brands) bats to determine the features most attractive to you.

COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL BAT PRICING

You will discover a very broad range of prices when shopping for an adult (College/High School) metal bat. Generally, prices range from a low of around $129.00 to a high of $299.00 with most of these bats in the $179.00 to $229.00 range. Bat manufacturer's make "new" model bats and begin marketing them months prior to the actual season they have been designated for. For instance bats earmarked for the 2006 season are actually marketed in mid-2005. Sometimes the only thing "new" about next years model is the paint job (and the price). It's best to read the specifications carefully, comparing the newest model against previous years models. Sometimes you can find last years model at a reasonably discounted price with a performance rating which is as good as or perhaps better than the "new" model. Caveat Emptor (Latin for "let the buyer beware") is certainly good advice when making an investment in a metal or composite baseball bat. Its not necessary to be afraid, it is important to be informed.

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Recommended Bat Length by Weight and Height   Your height (inches)
Your weight (pounds) 36-40 41-44 45-48 49-52 53-56 57-60 61-64 65-68 69-72 73+
Bat length (inches)
60 or less   26in 27in 28in 29in 29in
61-70 27in 27in 28in 29in 30in 30in
71-80   28in 28in 29in 30in 30in 31in
81-90   28in 29in 29in 30in 30in 31in 32in
91-100   28in 29in 30in 30in 31in 31in 32in
101-110   29in 29in 30in 30in 31in 31in 32in
111-120   29in 29in 30in 30in 31in 31in 32in
121-130   29in 29in 30in 30in 31in 32in 33in 33in
131-140   29in 30in 30in 31in 31in 32in 33in 33in
141-150     30in 30in 31in 31in 32in 33in 33in
151-160     30in 31in 31in 32in 32in 33in 33in 33in
161-170       31in 31in 32in 32in 33in 33in 34in
171-180           32in 33in 33in 34in 34in
180+             33in 33in 34in 34in

The information in this chart is a generalization and meant only as a guide in helping you choose the correct length and weight bat for your unique circumstances. Make sure before you actually purchase any bat you take the time to feel it and swing it, that your comfortable with your choice. An old general rule of thumb is hold the bat in your lead hand (i.e. a right handed batter would hold the bat in their left hand) and while holding the bat extend your arm out as far as possible holding this position for at least 10 seconds. If you can't do this the bat is too heavy. It may not be the brand you intend to purchase and that's ok as long as it is the length and weight you've decided is correct for you.

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THE RIGHT BAT FOR YOUR GAME

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.

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COMPOSITE BATS

Although composite bats have been around for almost two decades, due to several technological advances they are enjoying a revival of significant proportions in todays baseball bat market and are considered by many to be the "bat of the future."

Amateur Baseball continues to transition from its roots in wood materials, to dominant aluminum alloys, and more recently to composite hybrids, and most recently to all composite baseball bats.

All the major bat manufacturer's as well as several smaller ones have a few, if not many, composite bats in their catalog. These days composite bats come is a wide variety of state of the art materials including, but not limited to, graphite, carbon fibre, glass fibre and Kevlar.

Todays composite bats come in several "different flavors" including all-composite bats, bats with composite handles and aluminum barrels, bats with composite outer shells over aluminum barrels, and all-composite double-wall bats.

All-composite bats are attractive to the buyer because they are more durable than aluminum bats, much lighter than aluminum bats and allow the player to develop greater swing speed which translates into greater distance.

Baseball Features
Feature	Description
Baseball Size	Baseballs are 9 inches in circumference and weigh 5 ounces. Some baseballs designed for young players may be smaller and lighter.
Baseball Covers	Baseballs typically have either leather or synthetic covers that are glued to the windings and stitched together. The more expensive the ball, generally the better the cover and the process used to bond the cover to the windings. Leather covers are the traditional choice because they offer the best grip. Leather covers have consistent performance, durability, and shape maintenance. However leather covers will get dark with use. They will absorb water and get slippery when wet. Usually, the more expensive the ball, the higher the grade of the leather. Synthetic covers are usually vinyl and less expensive than leather covers. Synthetic covers vary in texture and grip depending on the quality. The high quality synthetic covers have a grip and feel that is close to leather. Synthetic covers resist dirt, maintain color well, and do not absorb water. However, like leather covered baseballs, they get slippery when wet.
Baseball Seams	Baseballs covers are stitched together to in such a manner to form raised seams, rolled or standard seams, or flat seams. Raised seam baseballs have the highest seams are typically used by age groups where pitching is being developed. Use typically starts with 8 or 9 year olds up and goes through 14 year old leagues. Raised seams grip the air well and offer the most control for developing pitchers. Fielders can also benefit by enabling a better grip on the ball. Raised seam baseballs are not well suited for machine pitch use. Standard or rolled seams are not as pronounced as raised seams. They are sometimes referred to as major league seams because these are the seams used on Major League Baseballs. Standard seams are used by all age levels and can be used in many pitching machines. Flat seam baseballs are rarely used in game play unless mandated by a specific league. Flat seam baseballs are ideal for use with pitching machines when neither pitching machine balls
Baseball Windings and Cores	Baseballs are traditionally constructed with wool or cotton thread wound tightly around a center core, although, some low end baseballs do not have windings but only have a solid composite cork and rubber center. The windings and core are the key to the performance and durability of a baseball. Usually tournament grade and higher baseballs have cushioned cork cores. Cushioned cork cores consist of a cork ball wrapped in a thin layer of premium rubber. Cushioned cork cores are the most dense and have the highest performance. Lower quality balls have cores made of either solid rubber or a composite of ground cork and rubber. Wool or wool blend windings are the most common. Wool windings have the highest compression and shape retention characteristics. The higher the quality of the ball generally the greater the percentage of wool used in the windings and the tighter the thread is wound around the core. Higher quality baseballs retain their shape longer and have higher performance.
Baseball Performance	Baseball performance is determined by all the materials and construction used to create the ball. As with most things, the better the components and manufacturing process, the better the baseball performs and the more it costs. With baseballs the key performance measures are how much "pop" the ball has and how long it keeps it, how well the baseball retains its shape, and the grip of the cover.
What's the Right Ball for You?	What's the right baseball for you depends on how the baseball is going to be used. For most people the youth league competition/game grade baseballs are the way to go. They have good performance and durability at a relatively low price and are great for game or practice. If you need something different, then check out the description of the features and the usage chart and pick the ball that best fits your application.

Baseball Type and Common Usage Chart
Type	Common Usage
Official Major League & Minor League Specification Baseballs	These are designed as game day baseballs for Major League Baseball or for leagues where the performance of a Major League baseball is required. These baseballs are the top of the line in component and construction quality and have the best overall performance. These balls are designed with wood bats in mind.
NFHS & NCAA College Baseballs	These baseballs are designed for high school and college game play. The general quality of the components and construction is the same as the Major League specification baseballs. However these baseballs are not wound quite as tightly and have a little less "pop" than Major League specification baseballs. These balls are designed with aluminum bats in mind. Please note that NFHS or NCAA specification baseballs are the same components and construction as the equivalent NFHS or NCAA Approved baseballs, but you must buy the Approved baseball if it is to be used in a NFHS or NCAA game.
Youth League Tournament Grade Baseballs	Tournament grade baseballs usually have the same quality leather cover as the high school and college baseballs with wool blend windings with a cushioned cork center core. These balls have less "pop" than the high school and college baseballs, but are considered high performance for youth league baseballs. These baseballs are designed with aluminum bats in mind. The materials and construction of these balls are the same from one league designation to the next for the same manufacturer. That is the Rawlings RSLL Senior Little League baseball is the ball as the Rawlings RBRO Babe Ruth League baseball, only the league approval stamp is different.
Youth League Competition or Game Grade Baseballs	Competition or game grade baseballs usually have the same quality leather cover as the tournament grade baseballs with similar windings and composite cork and rubber or solid rubber center core. These balls have less "pop" than the tournament grade balls and are the most popular youth league baseballs. This is the standard baseball used by most youth leagues. These baseballs are designed with aluminum bats in mind. The materials and construction of these balls are the same from one league designation to the next for the same manufacturer. That is the Rawlings RSLL1 Senior Little League baseball is the ball as the Rawlings RBRO1 Babe Ruth League baseball, only the league approval stamp is different.
Practice Baseballs	Practice baseballs come in both leather and synthetic covers with a variety windings and cores. Practice baseballs are generally less expensive than game grade baseballs and typically don't as much "pop" or as good a cover as a game grade baseball.
Safety Baseballs	Safety baseballs come in a wide variety of covers and performance levels. Safety baseballs are typically for youth players from tee ball up through age 8. They are designed to protect players who are still developing fielding skills.