Custom Baseball Bats for Every Player

Ash has long been the preferred wood for baseball bats, particularly those produced by a Cincinnati bat company like CJ Bats. Ash bats are known for their ability to flex during the swing and upon contact, creating a distinctive “whippy” feel. However, they can flake along the grain before breaking. Overall, an ash bat is more forgiving if you make contact with the ball near the end or close to the trademark, making it a popular choice in custom bat making and for handcrafted baseball bats.

Maple is a dense wood that produces hard, durable baseball bats, making it a popular choice among players affiliated with a Cincinnati bat company like CJ Bats. These characteristics provide more pop compared to other wood species. As you continue to use your maple bat, the grain compresses, enhancing its hardness—similar to the traditional 'bone-rubbing' technique applied to the barrel. Among the three types of wood used for baseball bats, maple offers the hardest surface. In the world of custom bat making, there are two varieties of maple wood available: soft and rock maple. While soft maple is typically a lighter option, it retains many characteristics of rock maple, making it an excellent choice for handcrafted baseball bats and fungo bats.

Birch is a softer, more flexible wood, making it ideal for baseball bats. This flexibility allows for a unique flex in the swing, creating a ‘whippy’ feel that many hitters appreciate. In fact, players often describe birch as having the same feel as ash but hitting with the power of maple. At CJ Bats, a Cincinnati bat company renowned for custom bat making, we emphasize that birch bats will compress with use, leading to a harder surface over time, which means there is a brief ‘break-in’ period. This process is similar to the traditional ‘bone-rubbing’ technique used on the barrel. Although the overall softness of birch wood can result in slight dents during the break-in phase, the bat will increase in hardness with continued use. There are two types of birch wood available for handcrafted baseball bats: white and yellow birch. White birch is typically a lighter version but shares the same characteristics as yellow birch, making it perfect for fungo bats.