Finding the perfect bat for you is all about feel. But not all bats – even those with the same length and weight – will feel the same.
The weight distribution, materials, and shape of a bat can all influence how heavy it feels when you’re swinging it. This is what we call “swing weight,” and it can drastically change the results you get as a hitter and how comfortable you feel at the plate.
What Determines a Bat’s Swing Weight?
The standard for measuring swing weight is a metric called Moment of Inertia, or MOI. If you’re really into physics, you can learn how to calculate MOI here, but as a ballplayer, here’s what you need to know:
- Low MOI = Easier to Swing, More Bat Control
- High MOI = Harder to Swing, Less Bat Control
In bat parlance, bats with a low MOI are referred to as “balanced,” and bats with a higher MOI are referred to as “end-loaded.”
End-loaded bats are just that: a higher percentage of the weight is concentrated toward the end of the bat, around the sweet spot, which makes the bat feel heavier. Balanced bats have a more even weight distribution, which makes the bat feel lighter.
Should I Get an End-Loaded or Balanced Bat?
Another quick physics lesson: hitting the ball hard is all about generating force. Newton’s second law tells us that force is calculated by multiplying mass and acceleration. The formula looks like this.
F = m * a
Choosing a swing weight is all about maximizing the F by changing the m and the a. (Forgive us for the math.) It comes down to the old adage “know thyself.”
If you’re strong enough to maintain your bat speed while adding more mass at the barrel, where contact is made, then an end-loaded bat is going to generate more force. But you can also generate more force by increasing your bat acceleration with a more balanced bat. A balanced bat comes with other benefits too, like barrel control. If you’re consistently late on pitches, it could be that you’re using an end loaded bat when you should be using a balanced one.
If your offensive game is all about generating power and hitting for extra bases, you can try an end-loaded bat. For the prototypical leadoff hitters of the world, a balanced bat is best. A balanced bat will help a contact hitter cover all parts of the plate while emphasizing swing speed. This covers speedsters and gap-to-gap hitters as well.
Rawlings & Easton Bats: End-Loaded vs. Balanced
If you’re looking for a balanced bat, try out the 2023 Easton Hype Comp or the 2023 Rawlings Icon. The Hype Comp is made with a special composite that allows us to maximize the size of the barrel and still maintain an ultra-light feel with tons of pop. The Icon features Tuned Balance construction, so it’s designed to give a perfectly balanced feel to all kinds of swing styles.
For the power hitter in your life, try an Easton Alpha ALX or the Rawlings 5150. The 2022 UCLA Bruins tallied a 40-win season using the ALX. One-piece aluminum bats like this tend to be more end-loaded, and the FlyWall barrel design creates a bigger sweet spot. The Rawlings 5150 will give you a similarly stiff, end-loaded feel.
In fastpitch softball, things can be a little bit different. High-level players need a bat that can get through the zone quickly, since hitters need to recognize and react to a pitch that travels less than 40 feet. (It’s called fastpitch for a reason, folks.) Because of this, bats are much lighter than high-level baseball bats, spanning in drop weight from a -8 to a -11.
Due to an elongated barrel length, most softball bats will feature a fairly balanced swing weight, but both the Easton Ghost franchise and the Rawlings Mantra Plus+ offer options with a more end-loaded feel. Jocelyn Alo, the all-time NCAA softball home run leader, swings a 34-inch -9 Mantra Plus+. The Ghost Unlimited, Ghost Advanced, and Ghost Double Barrel all have -8 and -9 models made for power hitters.
When Is It Time to Switch to an End-Loaded Bat?
As players get bigger and stronger, many start moving toward more end-loaded bats, which is why many college players swing 1-piece alloys like the Alpha ALX or 5150. Ballplayers change over time, and so too does their ideal bat. No matter what age you are, go with what works for you. Finding the right bat always comes down to feel, and the only way to feel a bat is to swing it. So go hit the cages!
