maple, ash or bamboo?

[dukes26]

I am new to wood bats. I am playing in tournaments and would like to know the best bat to purchase.

[tdanielson]

The maple bat is the strongest of the three, and the best in my opinion. Bamboo is good too, but ash is week, and breaks easily

[Monarchs]

I use them all. Including birch and an oak from BWP. I prefer maple, however, I really like my Brett Bros. Gobon #5 bamboo bat. Otherwise, it is mainly maple from Old Hickory, Max Bats, and X-Bats. They will all break if you don't hit the ball in the sweet spot. Most people that are concerned about breaking a bat consider a thicker handle. I even know people that add fiberglass to the handle to help strengthen it. Personally, I prefer a 15/16" handle and if it breaks, oh well. I have used a fiberglass handled bat, but it was a little too thick for me.

[CPatt44]

Each wood has it's own specific properties. No one wood is more durable than the other.

Ash is the most flexible and pourus. Therefore, making it softer. It tends to flake with usage. Over 50% of MLB players still use ash to this day thinking the flex and whip it gives is the key to the long ball.

Maple is more dense and heavier. It is not pourus like ash and doesn't flex much at all. It tends to compress with use and the laces of the ball imprint easily in it. Maple caught fire for popularity only after Bonds used it to hit his 73 homers that year. He could have done it with ash too but chose maple. With performance enhancing drugs, it doesn't matter what type of bat you use.

Bamboo is a dense hardwood that is infused with other hardwoods and this is why some bamboo bats have warranties on them. When woods are pressed together, it gives the bat harder surfaces and properties making them tend to last a bit longer.

Birch is the new kid on the block. It has been found to be a good middleman between ash and maple. The saying is "birch has the flexibility of ash with the durability of maple." I have swung a few birch models and have found them very responsive. Haven't used one for an extended time however. Cannot give a real review.

My preference is maple. I have used it for the last 5 years playing in local leagues and have had good luck with them. I like the density and overall feel of less flex.

The key to durability of a wood bat is proper hit placement on the bat and having a thicker handle and transition from barrel to handle.

A 110 model has a 1" handle with a good transition phase. another "large handle bat" is a 161 model but is a big bat. One must have plenty of strenght to use this bat effectively. If you haven't used a wood bat before, I'd recommend to use a 110, 271, 141, or try a model with a longer barrel to more simulate an aluminum bat.

Hope this helps with your decisions.

[nmsbaseball]

I pefer ash to be honest with you. I feel that it gives better distance than maple does and it is cheaper. Ash does have its problems though. It flakes bad, and it breaks easier than maple in my opinion(but it does not matter if you hit it in the wrong place.) So really it all depends on preference.

[sefarm]

I had a Hoosier WoodForce 3-piece bat and was very happy with it. The handle is
Ash, the barrel hickory, and something else on the end. The Brett Bros. maple
was also excellent.

I bought some Louisville's Pro Stocks on EBay, but subjectively they don't quite have the
pop of the others.

my 2 cents...

[TallPaul]

I definitely prefer ash to maple, especially with all the problems in major league baseball of broken maple bats injuring people because of the way they break.

I have heard that hickory is starting to be used for bats, and I am especially interested in this ad for a red oak bat:

http://www.slambats.com/products.asp?cat=19

[batmaker06]

I think people are getting unnecessarily scared off from the maple lately. Please understand that if you are just switching to wood, the pitching velocity and the bat speed are not as high as in MLB. If you stick to standard models that do not have unnecessarily thin handles, I believe that maple lasts better. The Major Leagues are the most extreme conditions a bat can be placed in, and the maple bat has still caused an explosion in power stats and the players still want to use them. I agree that the maple bats break apart more violently, but in the average men's league (especially when we are not professionals and do not have access to the best Ash wood), the maple seem more durable and lasts a little better. Get a 110 or something with a reasonably thick handle and I think you'll be pleased with how well your maple bat lasts.

[Coach 10025]

It depends on what kind of hitter you are. If you're a true wood-bat power hitter, you will benefit from a maple bat. If you have quick hands and can hit line drives into the outfield gaps, try bamboo. (I'm particularly fond of the Mizunos for 14U and 15U.) Otherwise, I would recommend ash.

Be careful about how you categorize yourself, however. Many can hit for power with a metal bat, but very few can hit with consistent power with a wood bat. A metal-bat home run swing with a wood bat will usually just produce an easy fly ball, even if you hit it on the screws. It is very, very unlikely that you are a true wood-bat power hitter; if you are, you're probably being recruited for a national-level program.

Also, with a wood bat, you can't just blast away. You have to be able to HIT: Read the fielders and place your hits -- line drives into the outfield gaps or worm-burners through the infield.

So find a bat that gives you a quick, flat swing with good bat-lag. That's likely to be ash or bamboo.

[Monarchs]

I recently came across some interesting stats that I will share:

The average major league ash bats lasts 7 days.

The average major league maple bat lasts 30 days.

I wish they had numbers on birch.

[JasonOne]

i would recommend a maple bat, especially a rock maple bat if you can find them.
you would have to order them online, but they have the best pop out of any maple
bats, durability depends on the brand but ive had mine for 2 years with no problems,
and the cost is competitive (between $80-$100).. when it comes to brand there's
really no wrong choice it all depends on the type of bat you want

[MPH_Baseball_Academy]

I would stick to maple if you could. There is a reason most guys in the big leagues use it.POP!

[MPH_Baseball_Academy]

Stick with maple if you can.There is a reason most guys in the big leagues swing maple.POP!

[KILLIT]

IMO wood is fragile and temporary. Doesnt matter what kind. Your after results or you wouldnt be on here. Hand fit and swingability are whats important. Wood is costly, I'd rather be confidant in the box than worrying about what I'm paying for it. A small amount of costly wood is better than something the batter doesnt like. Swing thoughts change daily and so do preferences. Fit the batter and buy in small increments.