There are hundreds of baseball bats to choose from, which can cause confusion when buying one. Usually, buyers see bigger barreled bats and fawn over the power potential it has. While that may be true, does a bigger barrel on a bat make you a better hitter?
Putting the Ball in Play
When a bat has a larger surface area, it’s easier to put the ball in play, making a bigger barreled bat more appealing to many hitters. While that notion is accurate, it also has its detractors. A larger barrel puts the ball in fair territory more than a smaller one, but weak contact usually leads to outs. A smaller barrel will foul off these tough pitches, giving you another crack at it instead of meekly grounding out to the pitcher.
Weight Distribution
How much a bat weighs is integral to a hitter’s success. You want to swing through the zone with ferocity and confidence. A large barrel’s bat design is unique in how it unevenly distributes the weight throughout the bat. This distribution gives the hitter more bat speed, leading to a better exit velocity. For this reason, players of all ages gravitate towards larger barreled bats.
Developing Bad Habits
We’ve touched on a few downsides of having bigger barreled bats and what it all boils down to is losing control and developing bad habits. The bad habits happen because the wider barrel covers up mistakes in your swing. If you’re making contact consistently, it’s easy to assume that you’re becoming a solid hitter, especially at the youth level. Yet, developing a powerful swing is difficult when a bat is more forgiving. A thinner barrel is easier to control and can help you develop good techniques to ensure you become the best hitter you can be.
Are You Better?
While hitters fawn over the bigger barrel bats, and it does have its benefits, it does not turn you into an elite hitter overnight. So, does a bigger barrel on a bat make you a better hitter? No, it does not. You may see more positive results, but those bad habits could be covering up any faults in your swing. You can explore big barrels when your swing is sharp and sound. Until then, you’re better off sticking with standard bats.
