7 Best Wood Bats In 2023 | Bats That a Coach Selected

Last Updated on January 17, 2023

If you have read any of my blogs on baseball bats then you must know my love for wood baseball bats. I always stay updated about the best wood bats.

From my childhood, when I first learned to hold baseball bats, I have loved wood baseball bats. For a first timer in the field or a toddler who is going for his/her first practice, a perfect wood bat can curve the way for him/her in the future.

My father made my first wooden bat with my help. It was a wonderful gift and if you are interested in making one yourself, then you can read how to make a wooden baseball bat and make it yourself. If you cannot, it’s not a problem. You can just buy a good bat for yourself or your loved one. Making it takes a lot of time and materials which is a hassle sometimes. 

Without further discussion, I would like to present to you the best wood bats in 2023.

7 Best Wood Bats in 2023

The best wood bats in 2022 are those bats that you can handle easily, they do have a perfect barrel for your hand – whether it is a medium barrel or large barrel, the bat control is perfect for you and the material is light or heavy enough to match your body.

It does not mean that you need to buy a maple wood bat that is heavy or a bamboo bat that is lighter, just the best one that goes with you.

A durable bat that matches your own playing comfort is the best wood bat for you. For kids, you can read my blog on the best tee ball bats in 2023.

I have compiled a list of the 7 best wood baseball bats in 2022. Those are good wood bats, have good extended sweet spots and many major league-level players use them. Besides, I also tried to consider the value of each bat and compare them accordingly.

1. Louisville Slugger MLB Prime Wood Bat (Editor’s Choice)

Louisville slugger is the top name in wood bats for Major League level.

Most of their bats are MLB approved and you can just pick them up for your next big game without hesitation.

MLB Prime is one of their big names for MLB games and you can find the bat customizable according to your wish.

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Ashwood, Maple Wood, or even Birch Wood, you can have the best wood for this 271 turning model. The Maple wood baseball bat comes in a classic black color.

Contact hitters find the bat very comfortable. I tried it myself and enjoyed every moment of playing with it.

The bat has a thin handle and 2.5-inch barrel. This is the definition of just the baseball bat you want for MLB when it comes to wood bats.

It has a more balanced swing weight than other wood bats as the bat is slightly end-loaded, not balanced.

Besides the end, the cupped design is perfect for elite hitters who look for a great bat in the field.

All the key features including long taper and end loaded feel with extended sweet spot made this Louisville slugger bat one of my best choices as a wood bat.

Pros

• The bat is originally intended for MLB games, giving access to all league games
• Ash wood, Birch wood, or Maple wood, you can have the wood bat customized with the same quality design
• Power hitters or contact hitters, both type of players can enjoy the comfort
• 271 model with a thin handle as well as a long taper
• Extended sweet spot with perfect end cupped design.
• As the weight and design are perfect, any player who wants to can easily switch to metal bats in regular games

Cons

• Slightly end loaded feel not a balanced bat for new players who are using a wood bat

Comment on price

Depending on the size or wood type, you can get the bat under $250. Which is a very reasonable price to pay for a great bat.

2. Rawlings Pro Label MM13PL Manny Machado Wood Bat (Climate Adapter)

This is a top-quality maple wood bat which is a Manny Machado model.

Rawlings is already a big name in the baseball bat industry and they have a long series of bats for kids and adults.

This particular bat is a great bat for contact hitters with a medium handle and a big barrel.

The bat is very light and it is good to play in all types of climates.

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To ensure the quality, it comes directly sealed from the factory. It does not need any kind of break-in time.

The color and finishing look very bold. With a big barrel of 2 3/8 inches, it gives you a good force on impact.

That is why power hitters like Manny Machado like this Maple wood bat.

Pros

• High quality Maple bat
• Large barrel for hard hitting
• Sealed from factory to ensure quality
• Good for power hitters
• Passed ink dot test
• Above all, a preferred bat from the renowned player Manny Machado

Cons

• Thin handle
• Not a small barrel for balance

Comment on Price

You can also get this bat under $250. This is a good large barrel bat for baseball league games like the Louisville Slugger Prime.

3. Old Hickory Mike Trout Bat (Best Hitting Bat)

Old Hickory has a good name for their products and their Mike Trout preferred wood bat is called MT27.

This is a 243-style bat with rock maple woods.

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The barrel is a large 2.5 inch and it is certainly a better bat than birch bats and any hickory bat.

Power hitters as well as contact hitters can benefit from that bat. You can see it in Mike Trout’s performance.

A traditional knob with a thin handle gives it the same quality as the Louisville Slugger Prime.

Although there are similarities in the key features, both bats are different in their own way.

Pros

• 243 style bat with thin handle and big barrel 2.5 inch
• Good to resist ball deep
• Standard knob, not a slightly flared knob
• Swing weight is good with extended sweet spot
• Good finishing
• Passed ink dot test
• More durable than other bats used by power hitters
• Has a good pop
• Preferred bat by Mike Trout

Cons

• It would be better if it was end loaded perfectly
• Key features do not include possible customization
• Available only for adults

Comment on Price

You can get this bat for under $200. Good choice if you have a lower budget.

4. Chandler Signature Series CB271A Wood Bat

This is a very lightweight and classic-looking black wood bat from Chandler bats. Certainly, their signature series will not disappoint you.

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The maple wood bat has a length-to-weight ratio of -3, making it a perfect bat to try in the field.

The barrel is 2.48, technically a larger barrel. But with a lightweight ratio and thin handle, the bat control is perfect on the field.

You should try it at least once.

It has a slightly flared knob and the swing weight is balanced.

Altogether, you can get an extended sweet spot. The bat is a balanced bat. Not an end-loaded bat. That makes it perfect for those who struggle with control.

The previous version CB271 was not this balanced.

Pros

• Thin medium handle and larger barrel, 271 turn model
• Black and golden outlook
• The flared knob makes it different from other bats
• Balanced swing weight
• Dense wood for better durability
• If you want, you can have no cup or cupped in the end

Cons

• Too lightweight, exactly -3 drop weight

Comment on Price

The wood bat will cost you less than $220. It is a good bargain. There are other options available to customize the bat. You can take a good advantage of that. I personally like the Black & Gold color look best.

5. Marucci AP5 Wood Bats

At the fifth place on my list, I have the best wood bats from Marucci, AP5 bats. They have adult and youth versions of the same bat. I like both of the versions.

I am personally a big fan of Marucci metal bats. You can see my blogs on metal bats for more information.

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Among their wooden bats, I got other good bats over the time but this one really did a score on me.

It has an end loaded feel and you can do regular hard-hitting with it.

The finish gets a bone rub which is very important for the long-lasting of the bat.

Like the other bats I have shown, this is also an ink dot certified bat which is okay for league games.

You can take the bat for practice, on your high school field as well as in big-league games.

Pros

• High quality maple wood bat
• Youth players can use the youth version while big league players can use the pro version
• Ink dot certified wood bats
• Big barrel for hard hitting
• Smooth bone rub finishing

Cons

• You must find the wood baseball bat version that should match your body weight. Otherwise, as a hard hitting bat, it may break.

Comment on Price

The price is not that much. Like the other good bats, you can get it within $250-$300.

6. Marucci Josh Donaldson Bringer of Rain Wood Baseball Bat

I will mention another Marucci bat in the sixth place which has already established good popularity among pro players. Many power hitters like this bat.

This is a model developed for Joshua Donaldson from the Yankees and a good weapon for hitting hard and not breaking.

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The main difference between this wood bat with other bats is the handle. The handle is not as thin as other bats.

It is a thick handle and can give comfort to your hands. So, hitting hard can be easy for you.

But don’t get me wrong. It is head to toe a pro bat and you can use it in all the league games like Josh.

I bought one for my team captain last year and he still uses it in big games.

Pros

• Developed for hard-hitting power hitters
• Favorite for Josh Donaldson fans
• Thick handle the wood bat
• End loaded feel
• Large barrel with a tapered knob for hard-hitting

Cons

• Those who use 271 turn model bats may not feel comfortable as the handle is not that thin

Comment on Price

Comparatively, it has a lower price. You can get it for under $200.

7. Baum AAA Pro Model

Baum bats are composite wood bats. They have been making composite bats since 1993.

Composite wood bats are not approved for MLB and I am not personally a fan of them.

But for your information, I am letting you know about the best composite wood bat according to my honest choice for you.

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Best wood bats are made of one-piece wood. But composite wood bats are a compilation of different kinds of wood.

The AAA Pro Model from Baum is a BBCOR-approved bat. And this is my only choice for a composite wood bat.

Don’t get me wrong. There are other good composite wood bats from DeMarini and Mizuno but I do not personally recommend them.

If you want to practice as well as take them to your college games, you should use the Baum AAA Pro Model bat.

Pros

• The bat has a -3 length-to-weight ratio and is very lightweight to move around.
• It is an allowed bat for High School and College games
• NCAA, NFHS Approved
• Long barrel thin handle bat
• Balanced swing weight

Cons

• You cannot use it in any of the league games.

Comment on Price

As a longer barrel bat, the price is not high. You can have it for under $250. Like the other good wood bats.

Buyer’s Guide to Find the Best Wood Baseball Bats

First of all, you can use any of the one-piece wood baseball bats in any of the major league baseball games, they are allowed. So, you do not need to think twice about it.

Still, bats differ in many ways from one to another according to wood types. You need a guide to find the ideal wood bat for you.

• Material

A wooden bat is not like a metal bat. Metal bats are mostly made out of aluminum alloys and composite metals.

But wood bats are mostly made out of four kinds of wood.

1. Ash bats

Ash bats do not weigh that much. As a result, they are easy to handle. They have good flexibility and grain lines. Besides, they are easy to obtain for less expense.

That is why, Ash is one of the most popular types of wood for making the best wooden baseball bats after the Maple wood bat.

If you want a lightweight wooden bat with good durability, ash bats are for you.

2. Maple bats

Maple bats are heavier than ash bats. And because of the density of the wood, it is very strong and powerful. Most of the hard hitters in MLB leagues like Maple wood bats.

In my list, most bats are made out of maple. The truth is, that 80% of today’s bats are made out of Maple. Other 20% of bats are made out of ash or birch wood. This is the most popular type of bat for big-league games.

Even most youth wood bats are Maple bats. Their grain is slightly different from Ash and can absorb water over time. Otherwise, they are heavier bats and have a good response to pine tar.

3. Hickory bats

Undoubtedly the Hickory bat is the most traditional bat when it comes to durable bats as well as heavy bats. If you look through the history of baseball bats, then you will find that in the old days, all the best bats were made out of Hickory wood.

But as Maple came with lightweight as well as strong bat features, the maple bats took the place of hickory bats. Compared to ash wood baseball bats and maple wood bats, these are at least 50% more heavier bats.

Besides wood grains can be found in different forms in Maple, which also reduced the popularity of hickory bats.

4. Birch bats

Birch wood bats need break-in time like composite bats. The bats are more flexible than any other type of wood. They are not hard wood. You can work with them quite easily.

Although not used by most of MLB players, these are good for college leagues or baseball players who are at a transitioning stage.

They are not expensive bats and you can find some of the best youth wood bats containing birch wood.

These are actually all the bats that are allowed in the MLB games. Besides league wood bat games, you can use Bamboo bats or Composite bats for practice.

5. Optional Mention: Bamboo & Composite Wood Bats

Bamboo bats are not one-piece wood bats. They are rather made with an advanced construction system and contact hitters often avoid them. But for practice, you can use them as they are extra light and comparatively durable.

On the other hand, composite wood baseball bats are made out of more than one kind of wood and are often avoided by professional baseball players. Still, they are good for exercise.

Size & Weight Drop

You should be always careful about choosing the size for your best wood bat.

Size should match your body and age.

While kids use -3 to -10 bats as they are less heavier, an older player must use a bat of -11 to -13 drop weight.

For a 5-7 yo a bat should be 24-26 inch while a 15-16 yo should use a 32-33 inch bat.

• Balance

A Balanced bat is a wooden bat that has a balanced weight or even weight distribution from handle to end. It can help to provide a balanced swing weight for a balanced sweet spot.

If the bat is slightly end-loaded then it gives an extended sweet spot for the player. Most custom bats offer extended sweet spots.

An end-loaded bat always throws the ball further if the impact is good at the barrel.

You should choose the balance of the bat according to your force.

• Handle, Grip, Barrel, and Knob

Handle can be thick or thin with or without a grip.

Longer barrel gives more drop weight and may get heavier for your hand. Big barrel or long barrel, it must be comfortable for your hand.

If you put the bat in your dominating hand and put it forward like marching, then you can judge the weight of the bat.

If you can keep it steady for more than 20-30 seconds, then it is a right bat for you.

The knob of the bat can be Standard, tapered or cone. You should choose according to your taste.

Standard Models

Due to production reasons, wood bats are often categorized in different models so that power hitters or youth players can easily differentiate them.

Some most popular standard models are 141, 243, 271 & M110.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which wood bats have the most pop?

The pop depends on the wood density and strength. Among the wood baseball bats, Maple wood bats have the better density and strength match. That is why most modern bats are made out of Maple. These Maple bats have the most pop.

What wooden bats do the pros use?

Professional baseball players mostly use Maple wood bats right now. Some of the pros use Ash bats as they are softer and lighter. Maple is rather heavier than Ash wood but stronger and more dense.

What wood bat is the most balanced?

There are different popular models like 271 or 141 models for wood baseball bats. Among the models, 271 has a thin handle with longer barrel. It is balanced or slightly end loaded depending on whether the end is cupped or half cupped or even no cupped. If you are interested on bat materials you can read What is Baseball Bats Made Of?

What wood bats do MLB players use?

MLB players are not allowed to use composite wood baseball bats or bamboo bats. They need to use one piece wooden bats. The bats made from one piece of Ash, Maple or Birch wood are used by MLB players. In the old times, bats were made from Hickory wood but right now their popularity is not enough.

Conclusion

A wood bat is the best gift for your child. Aluminum or composite bats do not have the same feel as a traditional wood bat. But not all the bats are suitable for a youth player or a major league player.

Medium barrel, long barrel, wood bat, thin or thick handle – all should be considered before buying the best wood bat for someone. The player must feel the comfort in his/her own hands. Otherwise, it is not a good choice for him/her.