Maple, birch or ash: which wood bat is better?
Birch for a first wood bat and a younger player: it forgives mis-hits. Maple for a player who squares the ball up. Ash is lighter and flexible, and less common now. Who made it matters as much as the wood.
Maple
Dense and hard, the most common pro wood. Hits hard and holds up when the player squares the ball up; breaks rather than flakes when mis-hit. Quality varies a lot by maker.
Maple from a good maker is the best wood bat money can buy; maple from a cheap one is the worst.
Birch
Softer than maple and more forgiving of mis-hits; hardens with use. A good choice for a first wood bat and for younger players.
Ash
Light and flexible with visible grain; flakes over time. Less common now.
The rule
Maple for hitters who square the ball up; birch more forgiving; ash lighter and flexible (Louisville Slugger). Pat's view: maple quality varies by maker.
Where this comes from
- published Any: Louisville Slugger - How to Choose a Wood Bat
- Our explainer: Maple
- Our explainer: Birch
- Our explainer: Ash
Every rule, with its source, is on How the fit works.
More in bat guides
- What size bat for a 7-year-old?A 7-year-old usually swings a −13 to −12 bat.
- What size bat for an 8-year-old?An 8-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for a 9-year-old?A 9-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for a 10-year-old?A 10-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for an 11-year-old?An 11-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat, or −8 for a bigger, stronger player.
- What size bat for a 12-year-old?A 12-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat, or −8 for a bigger, stronger player.
- What size bat for a 13-year-old?A 13-year-old usually swings a −5 bat.
- What size bat for tee ball?A tee-ball bat is 24 to 26 in long with a 2-1/4 in barrel, at a drop of −14 to −10.5, and carries the USA Baseball tee-ball mark: it is only for use with approved tee balls.