Do Heavier Bats Hit Farther? Let’s End Up The Debate

Did you know, as a baseball batter, you can’t just pick a random bat and get the best output? Though your skills pay off, you know what? Components are important.

So, it’s crucial to pick the right bat with the right weight to get the best outcome. As a consequence of this, many of my students in my baseball coaching ask, “do heavier bats hit farther?” A very complicated question, no doubt.

Why? Because the answer is both “yes” and “no.” Though for the sake of debate, I agree that heavier bats hit farther, there are many things that won’t let you make a fixed decision that easily.

By the way, no worries. I will explain whether a heavier bat hits farther. I will also try to keep things interesting so you won’t be bored with some technical discussion. So, with no more ado, let’s find out the answer to the question.

Table of Contents

The Science Behind Hitting a Baseball: What Factors Impact The Distance

I am not good at physics and was not in elementary school or in college too. However, this pesky physics has come here. But yeah, I will explain the science in generic language so that you can understand the facts, not the technical terms. So, let’s understand the very basics of the hitting aspects.

Aspects of Physics That Are Related to Hitting a Baseball

Hitting a baseball means transferring the energy from the bat to the ball. The more the energy, the more distance it will go.

However, there are several physical aspects related here to complete a hit. They are as follows.

Bat Speed: The speed of the bat with the time in between that hits the ball from the initial point to contact with the ball.
Ball Speed: The speed that balls come with from the hand of the pitcher to the bat of the hitter.
Mass of the Ball: The mass of the ball impacts the distance creation.
Sweet Spot: The area on the bat that ensures the maximum power transfer while contacting the ball.
Hitting Angle: The optimal angle that creates a great hit.
Mass of the Bat: Heavier bats and lighter bats have different impacts in hitting the ball according to the swing speed.

Explanation of How the Physics Behind the Hitting Work

To get the answer to the question “do heavier bats hit farther?” you have to understand how the science behind the hitting works. Without knowing the entire procedure, the answer to this question won’t be clarified.

Because the heavier bats are not the only catalysts to create powerful hits that can send the ball far.

Fundamentally, several facts impact the velocity of the batted ball that I mentioned in the previous discussion. Now let’s see how they actually work.

1 Pitching Speed

The pitching speed isn’t constant. It changes with every pitch the pitcher throws. So, it impacts the velocity created at the contact of the bat and the ball.

2 Mass of the Ball

The mass of the ball in a single match remains the same. Though different masses create different pitching velocities, in a single match, the constant mass doesn’t impact that much. The impact remains almost the same.

3 Swing Speed

Swing speed is one of the biggest catalysts to impact the hitting distance. To put it simply, the faster you swing your bat, the more you can send the ball away.

That means faster swing speed ensures more energy transfer in a short time. So, it creates a long hitting distance.

Want to learn about swinging a bat correctly? You can check my guide on “How To Swing A Baseball Bat Correctly.”

4 Bat’s Contact Point

When the contact point is mentioned, the sweet spot comes. The sweet spot is the area of the bat that ensures the maximum energy transfer from the bat to the ball. As a result, if the ball hits the center of the sweat spot, the ball will go farther.

5 Bat Angle:

The angle that the bat hits the ball impacts the exit velocity of the ball and how long it will go. The best bat angle is between 10 to 15 degrees above horizontal.

If the bat angle remains more than 15 degrees, that means too steep, it can create a high fly ball. Or this can be a pop-up. So, this won’t go that far.

Contrarily, if the bat angle remains less than 10 degrees, it will be too shallow to create a powerful hit. This will end up the hit with a ground ball. So, no farther distance is resulted in.

So, you see, there are a lot of facts that impact the hitting distance. Till this point, you should understand that heavier bats don’t mean a farther distance.

But how do the heavier bats play their role here? Question remains. Let’s clarify the impact of the heavier bats in creating farther distance. This will entirely clear your confusion.

6 Relationship Between Bat Weight and Swing Speed

I already mentioned that the faster the swing speed, the farther the distance the ball will go. But, there is a relation between the bat swing speed and bat weight.

The relation is as follows.

It is a rule of thumb that if you increase the bat weight, your swing speed will decrease.

Okay, see here. If the bat weight increases, and you can’t overcome the mass with your swing speed, the heavier bat won’t help. The hit will not create the farthest shot.

On the other hand,

If you choose a heavier bat
Everything is constant, like the ball speed, bat angle, sweet spot, and mass of the ball.
You overcome the weight of the bat with your swing speed;

Then the answer to your question, “do heavier bats hit farther?” is YES.

Let’s see some more realistic examples.

Example 1:

Suppose a hitter picks a bat of 27 oz, and he creates a swing speed of 85 mph. When he picks another bat of 31 oz, then his swing speed drops to 75 mph.

So, what happens here? He can’t create such a powerful hit that can send the ball farther. So, the answer to the question “do heavier bats hit farther?” is a NO here.

It is because the rotational power/acceleration is lessened, which is greater than his picking-up mass. The picking number is 4 (31- 27), but the drop-off acceleration is 10 (85-75).

Example 2:

Now, let’s take the same example again for another hitter. The hitter can create a swing speed of 85 mph with a 27-oz bat. But when he picked a bat with 31 oz, his swing speed decreased to 83 mph. What will happen here? Can you guess?

Yes, now the heavier bat will hit farther. But why? Because the picked-up weight is 4 ounces here, whereas the drop-off acceleration is 2 mph.

7 Verdict on the “Do Heavier Bats Hit Farther?”

So, what is the final verdict, ultimately? Do heavier bats hit farther? The answer is yes and no; both are explained. So, which bat should you pick? A heavier bat or a lighter bat? Let’s see.

If you are a hitter who can’t handle the mass of the bat, don’t go for a heavier bat. Both in baseball and softball, go for a balanced weighted bat. Don’t just try to be exceptional, and be yourself.
If you understand that you can handle a heavier bat and can overcome the mass with swing speed, go for the heavier bat. Now it will work and help you to create farther distance with the hits.

Additional Factors to Consider When Choosing a Right-Weighted Bat

Now we know the impact of the bat’s weight on hitting speed. We have also seen that several factors, along with the bat weight, play crucial roles in creating the proper hit.

So, keep the following factors in mind to choose the right weight for the baseball or softball bats.

1 Understanding the Importance of Choosing the Right Bat Weight

First, you need to understand the importance of choosing the right weight. Because the right weight optimizes your hitting performance.

As I already mentioned, a heavier bat will reduce your swing speed. So, it will reduce the hitting distance as well.

On the other hand, a too-light bat will decrease the power and balance of controlling the bat. So this will also result in a decreased hitting distance.

So, it’s crucial to pick the right weight that can balance your swing speed along with the bat’s weight.

2 Role of Player Size, Strength, and Skill Level

The size, strength, and skill level of the players also impact choosing the right weight of the bat. For example, a physically strong and more experienced player can handle a heavier bat more efficiently.

Conversely, a young, less experienced, and physically less strong player should go for a lighter bat. It is because he will be benefited from developing his bat control and swing mechanics from a lighter bat.

So you see, the type of individual’s capability is a big factor in choosing the bat weight.

3 How to Determine the Appropriate Bat Weight for Your Body Type and Playing Style

Another important fact is considering the level of comfort. With the picked bat, you must feel comfortable. Also, you have to ensure that you have the ultimate control over the bat.

To ensure this, you have to test different weighted bats. This helps you to pick the optimal weight of the bat in the most efficient way.

4 Other Bat Features That Impact Hitting Distance

Other facts to consider are as follows.

Greater sweet spots are found in larger bats. It consequently increases the likelihood of a firm contact as well as hitting distance.
Another ideal component is the bat’s material. The hitting distance varies depending on the material—wood, composite, or alloy.
The comfort is influenced by the grip and handle design. The development of the swing mechanics will be aided if you are at ease using the handle and grip.

Bat Recommendation

Here are some of the bats I recommend with different weights. You may check them out if you already know the perfect weight of the bat you want to use.

Marucci CAT9 USSSA Senior League Metal Baseball Bat

Marucci is one of the market leaders in the baseball bat market. The CAT9 USSSA is made of aluminum. This one-piece alloy-made bat is found in -10, -8, and -5 drop weights. You will find the bat at different weights, ranging from 18 oz to 27 oz.

So, you will find your desired weight among the available ones. Since it is one of the most popular series, the comfort, sweet spot, control, hitting ability, and overall performance won’t disappoint you.

Louisville Slugger 2022 LXT Fastpitch Softball Bat

Louisville Slugger is the second top popular and used brand in MLB and other baseball and softball leagues. And I can say with responsibility that Louisville Slugger LXT is one of the most popular models in softball.

The bat is a three-piece designed bat made of composite material. It is featured with the drop weight of -11, -10, -9, and -8. The bat weights range from 17 oz to 26 oz. So, it’s a pretty reliable option to choose among the weight options.

Easton | GHOST ADVANCED Fastpitch Softball Bat

Easton is a great baseball and softball bat manufacturer in the market. The Easton Ghost Advanced is a great bat with drop weights of -11, -10, -9, and -8.

The bat has a wide range of weight options from 19 oz to 25 oz associated with the different drop weights. The composite-made double-barreled bat is a premium bat approved for ASA, USSSA Fastpitch, NSA, ISA, and ISF leagues.

So, you can choose from the multiple weight options and can dominate the diamond with this 2-piece vibration-less bat.

Louisville Slugger 2022 Meta (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat

Meta is undoubtedly one of the best creations of Louisville Slugger. It is a BBCOR-certified bat that is designed with a -3 drop weight. Also, the bat is designed with balanced weight distribution, which is best for contact hitters.

The EKO composite barrel and 3-piece construction give ultimate performance. Though the bat is for contact hitters, elite players, and skilled power hitters won’t be disappointed with its performance too.

MARUCCI CATX BBCOR -3 Aluminum Baseball BAT

Marucci CAT-X BBCOR is a new game changer in the market. The bat launches in November 2022 and has been outperforming its counterparts.

The handle is made of composite material, and the barrel is of alloy. The combination of composite and alloy ensures great responsiveness and performance.

You will

DeMarini 2022 The Goods (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat

Here comes one of the best end-loaded BBCOR bats in the market. Demarini is popular for powerful baseball bat construction, and the GOODS is their trump card.

The massive alloy barrel and Tremor end cap with optimized power make it one of the powerhouses for hitting. Power hitters love this bat due to its balance, power swing, and power hitting.

The heaviest version of this BBCOR bat is 33 ounces. So, if you love to play with power, Demarini the Goods is your power tool.

Victus Nox BBCOR -3 Metal Baseball Bat

Victus is one of the most used and most popular baseball bat brands. Particularly saying, the Victus Nox is its most edged model, which is loved by baseball enthusiasts.

Victus NOX BBCOR is another powerhouse with its end-loaded design. Thai hybrid 2-piece alloy bat is found with weights ranging from 28 ounces to 31 ounces.

So, if you want another alternative to DeMarini the Goods, Victus Nox could be your choice.

Conclusion

In summing up, we can say, “do heavier bats hit farther?” is a debatable topic. There are a lot of things that impact the hitting power and make the distance.

Ultimately, balance should be the main focus in choosing the baseball bat. Too heavy or too light a bat won’t serve the purpose. Choose the bat weight that suits you.

If you think a lighter bat will do your job, go for it. On the other hand, if you can control a heavier bat and overcome its weight with the swing speed, the heavier bat will do the best for you.