The baseball bat is a simple concept but a pretty complicated object. Here are some baseball bats facts to enlighten you about its interesting history and design. The more you know about baseball bats, the more you will find yourself in love with this fascinating sport. It's essential to get a grip on the bat's most basic concepts before you make a buying decision. So, without further ado, here are some interesting baseball bats facts:

A baseball bat is essentially a smooth "rod" that the batter uses to hit the ball thrown by the pitcher, signaling the other players to run around the bases and ultimately try and score a homerun. The thickest part of the bat, the part that is supposed to hit the ball, is called the "barrel" and the best part of the "barrel" for hitting the ball is called the "sweet spot." The barrel ultimately gets thinner and thinner until it forms into the handle. On metal bats, rubber may wind around the handle for good grip. The "knob" is at the very opposite end of the barrel's tip and helps a batter to hang onto the bat so that it doesn't fly away! Think about this before purchasing that cheap bat that no one else seems to care for.

In the early days of baseball, younger players were most prevalent and the majority of bats were handmade, so sizes and shapes varied wildly. But as baseball became more of an official, regulated sport, so did the baseball bats. In 1859, rules were made about the diameter of the bat, and to this day every kind of league has their own individual rules. Therefore, be sure you are clear on your league's rules on baseball bat measurements. Although all bats look very similar to each other, there are minuscule differences that are not obvious to the human eye. I hope these historic baseball bats facts were useful!

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Jeremy Tang is a big baseball fan and loves to write about baseball bats. Check out his thoughts on little league baseball bats and blemished baseball bats.

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Baseball bats can be made from many materials, but two of the most popular materials for wooden bats are hard rock maple and northern white ash. Rock maple bats are known for their durability and heavy hitting power but are heavy and can get to be a bit expensive. The white ash bats are more of a lightweight bat but won't stand up to every pitch the way a maple bat will. Each baseball player has his own preference as to which type of bat will help him hit that home run.

A hard rock maple bat is less likely to split when batting. Since maple is a hardwood it is quite dense giving the bat it's holding power. As with anything, however, the way the bat is made has a lot to do with whether or not it will hold up. With a rock maple bat, you want to make sure it is manufactured from wood that has a straight grain. Not all manufacturers adhere to the same quality standards and some may not pick the straightest wood to build their bats from.

While they might not be as durable as a harder wood, many prefer the lighter weight and cheaper price of northern ash. Northern white ash bats are popular because they are not as heavy as the rock maple bats. While the northern ash bats are more cost effective, they are not as durable and probably will not last as long as a hard rock maple bat. Having said that, I will say that you can get good use and longevity out of a northern white ash bat if don't swing at poor pitches. Those foul balls that hit the bat are hitting it on a part that causes vibrations in the bat that can cause it to crack.

Most professional bats are made from white ash. Todays players like a lightweight bat and modern manufacturing methods have come up with methods to make bats even lighter such as scooping wood from the end of the barrel. With a lighter bat, you can swing faster and drive the ball further. Although many prefer the white ash, some are trying out the heavier maple bats as well. You just need to experiment with both to find the bat that is best for you.

Bats are sold in standard sizes and you can buy anything from a light version, to medium even distribution to a heavy head bat. Some dimensions you might find include 29/32 inches, 2 5/8 inch thin; 15/16 inches thin and 2 3/8; 1 inch medium 2 1/2 inch; 13/16 inch thin 2 3/16 inch. Colors include natural, red, black, green, walnut and blue.

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In professional baseball, metal bats are not allowed. Wooden baseball bats are standard; heavy wooden bats in fact. If a player fills a wooden bat with cork so as to decrease its weight, he would be violating the rules. Before aluminum there was always wood. There is no doubt that key advantages come into play when swinging with wooden baseball bats.

Wooden baseball bats are actually safer than metal bats anyhow, because metal bats send the ball out at a greater velocity and thus increase the risk of injury to anyone who may get in the way. These proffered baseball bats of the pros are made from ash and other types of wood, especially maple wood (record-setting hitter Barry Bonds used a bat made out of maple wood). Wooden bats really haven't changed much over the past hundred years. Besides from being more catchy to the eye, these types of bats still rely on tested and proven principles that continue to manifest today.

While metal bats are all the rage with younger players and are even required for certain leagues, the old-fashioned wooden bat will not be fading out anytime soon. The simple fact of feeling that wooden grip makes all the difference. After all, it is because they are so much more challenging to use than aluminum bats and the like, that they are so popular. Baseball bat manufacturer Hillerich and Bradsby even purchased Larimer and Norton, Inc., a lumber company, so as to keep their wooden baseball bats in efficient supply. This is a clear indication that we can only expect to see the wooden baseball bat industry grow with increased force.

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Jeremy Tang is an author and has written several pieces on baseball bats. You might want to check out what you wanted to know about blemished baseball bats and the advantages of wood baseball bats.

Baseball was a very young sport in the mid-eighteen hundreds, so batters usually made their own bats. This led to a lot of experimentation with the shape and size of the baseball bat. It didn't take long for players to learn that the best bats were those with rounded barrels. With all the shapes and sizes being used, some rule had to be established about the bat. In 1859, it was established that baseball bats could be no larger than two and a half inches in diameter, though they could be any length. After ten years, a restriction of 42 inches was put on the length of the baseball bat, but still no regulations governing the shape.

1884: The Louisville Slugger is Born

Baseball bat's most popular name, still to this day, is the Louisville Slugger. Seventeen-year-old John Hillerich watched Pete Browning break his bat at an 1884 Louisville game. John observed as Pete Browning got frustrated, and after the game offered to make him a new bat. Pete Browning joined John Hillerich at his father's woodworking shop, where Pete supervised the construction of his new bat. Browning went three for three with his new bat. Word spread quickly, but not as quickly as the demand did once everyone knew about these bats. It wasn't long before each baseball bat that John and his father constructed was slapped with the famous Louisville Slugger trademark.

Evolution of Regulations

In the 1890s, bats could no longer be flat at the end, according to the rules committee. They increased the diameter by a quarter of an inch as well, making the maximum diameter two and three quarters of an inch. In the early nineteen hundreds, one of the greatest players, Honus Wagner, was the first player paid to have his name burned into Louisville Slugger bats. Despite the continual evolution of the regulations regarding the size and shape of bats, the bats of today look much like the ones of a hundred years ago, the biggest difference being that today's bats are much lighter and have thinner handles.

The Rise of Aluminum

William Shroyer patented the first metal baseball bat in 1924, though they were not seen in baseball until introduced by Worth in 1970. Worth soon produced the first aluminum one-piece bat, and the first little league aluminum bat. Easton introduced a much stronger bat in the late ‘70s . These skyrocketed the popularity of aluminum bats, though they were not allowed in major league games. In 1993, both Easton and Worth introduced titanium bats, and in 1995 Easton and Louisville Slugger introduced the lightest grade of aluminum bats available to date. Continuing developments include double walled bats, and scandium-aluminum bats.

No matter what kind of baseball bat a player uses today, the sport remains one of the world's favorites. Not many can resist the sunny days and cool nights in the stands, with the cracking sound, fans on their feet, and the smell of hot dogs in the air.

Billy is a contributer to Big Show Baseball: The MLB Blog which includes a section with information on Buying Baseball Bats and Baseball Bat Facts

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You wouldn't send a right-handed kid out to play hockey with a left-handed stick, or expect a child to play soccer with basketball. Choosing the right equipment is necessary for fair and fun play, and for safety and success. Buying the right baseball bats for kids is every bit as important as selecting proper cleats, glove and batting helmet.

The right bat can directly impact how well kids perform at the plate. The wrong bat, on the other hand, can leave your child struggling on the peewee team. Buying the proper baseball bats for kids is important, but choosing the right one can be a little difficult.

Every player has a personal preference, and every sports "authority" will tell you something different. Some will say to buy a heavy bat for extra power, and expect your child to adjust his or her style and abilities to the added weight. Others insist that buying a long bat and telling kids to chock up on the grip will allow them to manage the few extra inches.

Don't expect to say a prayer and have the right bat magically appear. If it didn't work for Charlie Sheen in the movie Major League, it certainly won't work for you. The key to buying the right baseball bats for kids is in the consistent response of baseball experts: both weight and length are equally important.

The bat you choose for your child should be light enough to swing easily. Don't expect that your kids will develop Popeye forearms and a Babe Ruth swing just because you arm him or her with a heavy bat. And don't let coaching old-timers convince you or your child that heavy bats bring out-of-the-park hits. Kids can actually hit the ball harder and farther with a lighter bat, because they are able to swing the bat faster. If you're looking for proof, consider the fact that both NCAA and high school officials have passed prohibitions on baseball bats. These rules dictate that the bat may not weigh 3 ounces or more lighter than the bat's length in inches. Therefore, if a bat is 34 inches in length but weighs less than 31 ounces, it cannot be used.

Length is also an important consideration when choosing baseball bats for kids. Little League rules require bats to be less than or equal to 32 inches in length. Their barrels may not be more than 2.25 inches in diameter. Of course, you don't want to push the limits for kids in the "Farm" league (age 7 to 8), and a shorter bat of 26 to 27 inches will do just fine. Junior Minors (age 8 to 9) should try bats from 27 to 29 inches in length. Senior Minors (age 9 to 12) do well with 28 to 31-inch bats, and Majors (age 10 to 12) can easily swing a 29 to 32-inch bat.

Ultimately, it's not about the kind of bat, or wallop at the plate. Kids having fun is what counts most. If your child loves to play ball, you can make the game more fun and more satisfying by knowing what to look for in buying baseball bats for kids.

Christopher Johnson enjoys writing for several popular web sites, on recreation and travel and sports and hobbies topics.

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Everyone loves to save money, but compromising quality and your personal performance for the sake of a saving a little cash just doesn't make sense.

For many athletes, choosing discount baseball bats can be a strike out.

This is not to say that you can't find a deal on a good quality bat. Just make sure you're buying the best when you buy discount baseball bats. It's entirely possible to get the same quality and top-notch selection from a discount wholesale or online vendor, as you would find at an expensive sporting goods store or specialty shop. The key for consumers is to be able to acknowledge quality bats among the sea of so-so equipment available on the market.

Buying a baseball bat is a very personal process. You need to give your choice of bat the same consideration that you would when choosing golf clubs. The bat you choose should be the right fit for your particular arm length, grip, height and style of swing. You wouldn't pick a driver at random and expect to march up to the tee and land a hole-in-one. You would make sure that your driver has the right feel to meet your sweet spot and help you land the ball at 300 yards. The same rule holds true for baseball bats. You want the bat that will let you step up to the plate and drive the ball right over the center field fence.

Aside from your personal requirements, consider the barrel size of the discount baseball bats you're shopping for. The barrel size involves the top part of the bat, and incorporates measurements of both the barrel diameter and the barrel length. A longer barrel will help you find your sweet spot on the bat. The general rule of thumb is; a longer barrel delivers a larger sweet spot. However, common practice shows that many players tend to choose bats with smaller barrels and a lighter weight to provide a faster swing speed. Standard bats have a diameter of about 2.5 inches. Standard fast pitch softball barrels are slightly bigger, at about 2.75 inches.

The second measurement of importance in choosing a bat is the taper, or the diameter of the bat at its handle. A typical baseball bat has a taper of 31/32 of an inch. This size varies, nonetheless, depending on the weight of the bat. Some players claim that a narrower taper on a lighter bat allows them to rotate their wrists faster, while others insist that a bigger taper helps lessen the pain when your sweet spot doesn't connect with the ball.

Shopping for discount baseball bats doesn't necessarily mean compromising quality. You can indeed find a good deal on a great bat. Just be aware of what you're looking for and make sure the bat comes from a known manufacturer.

Barbara Moore contributes to several web magazines, on recreation tips and sports and hobbies themes.

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Ash is called a ring porous hardwood because early in the growing period the tree makes big cells. Then later on the cells become much smaller and denser. The zone of big cells each year is in reality the weakest portion of the wood--large cells mean a lot of void space and poor strength. (Oak is also a ring porous wood.) Well, if you develop the ash too slowly, then there can be a larger proportion of large vessels, which means the wood can be weaker; too fast means too weighty as there will be too many dense, small cells. So, it is critical to find the right growth rate that maximizes the properties of the wood.

Bat selections change from competitor to competitor. It does not always depend on your power or particular muscle mass to figure which kind of bat is going to improve your performance at the plate.

Northern white ash baseball bats are the most well-received baseball bats because they are not as weighty as the popular maple wood counter parts. While maple is touted as having greater durability and longevity, northern white ash baseball bats are more cost effective.

The implement being only as good as its user, your northern white ash baseball bat will dispatch equally as long as the esteemed maple wood bats if you focus on the basics of what it takes to be a good hitter. Pro players will boast that they are able to get as many as 2000 hits off of one bat, and it would not be a northern white ash baseball bat.

It is feasible to accomplish the same endurance with a northern white ash baseball bat by not swinging at poor pitches. Foul balls are hitting a part of the bat that sends a wave of energy like an earth rocking tremor down the to the end of the bat, circling through the knob, and racing right back up.

All that activity is jarring the outer circle of the bat, not to cite how you as the hitter can sometimes even sense that uneven power come reeling up through your own nervous systems ganglia like a shocker. Your bat deserves better choices being made. As a hitter, you understand if you have to reach out for that pitch, it is likely to go out of control.

Each time your bat gets the g-force of a pitch outside its ideal center point for hitting, it is receiving a fissure splitting damaging wound. Northern white ash baseball bats will give you as much fulfilment and achievement on the field as any around, just be sure to make sound decisions before you swing!

Wood bats are typically made of Northern White ash, or Rock Maple. These woods are used because they are very powerful, yet they are also fairly light. Ash is still probably the most common wood, but rock maple is becoming more and more accepted because of its durability. some may dispute maple provides a little more pop. Selecting a good piece of wood is important to durability and to how well the ball jumps off of the bat.

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. William writes frequently on many subjects that may be of interest to all. Discover all the joys and secrets of baseball at Baseball's Holy Grail

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Until 2001, almost all wood baseball bats were made from the identical northern white ash that bats had been made from for over 100 years. That year, brought Barry Bonds, his incredible 73 home runs and an exceedingly quick switch in the wood bat market. Bonds' record smashing season brought attention to the reality that he was using one of a kind maple baseball bats

Hard Rock Maple Baseball Bats are the hitters preference for having a bat that is less likely to separate or break. Maple is a hardwood, which instantly in itself gives the upper hand of having a thicker, more compact baseball bat.

With all baseball bats, you want the maker to be choosing the best quality wood source obtainable. Merely finding a hard rock maple baseball bat is not going to inevitably guarantee that it is positively going to be the item that gets you on base by being more stable and less likely to divide or crack. Trees do not grow in compliance with a future as a baseball bat.

Hard rock maple baseball bats need to be crafted from wood billets that have completely straight grain systems. Maple trees do not always grow uncurved . Choosing the source is exceedingly critical for a producer of hard rock maple baseball bats, since any tree, maple or otherwise, do not always grow straight.

It may only be through knowledge that you will figure which producer is taking care to use only carefully selected billets for making their hard rock maple baseball bats. The standards in size for hard rock maple baseball bats will be across the board comparable as you look from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Generally, you will find a weighty head bat, the medium to light, medium even distribution, and small, very light versions are accessible in similar dimensions as these: 29/32 inches, 2 5/8 inch thin; 15/16 inches thin and 2 3/8; 1 inch medium 2 1/2 inch; 13/16 inch thin 2 3/16 inch.

Hard rock maple baseball bats Customarily will be accessible in a number of colors, including black cherry, black, blue, red, green, walnut and natural, where the finish is left off the handle, or completely natural.

For years bat makers were powerless to make baseball bats from maple due to the elevated moisture volume of the wood - despite the high strength it was simply too heavy to make into a baseball bat. In the late 90's technology came to the rescue and high tech wood kilns now remove enough moisture from the wood to make high quality, high strength maple baseball bats.

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. William writes frequently on many subjects that may be of interest to all. Discover all the joys and secrets of baseball at Baseball's Holy Grail

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