The 2016 line of best BBCOR Bats is released and our mission statement is to “Get you the best bat”. To be clear, we simply strive to guide you through the bat buying process, by providing all of the information necessary to make an informed decision. We will not try to convince or persuade you to buy the most expensive model.
There is no rule of thumb with regards to which one is the best. The right choice will be based on the requirements of the player, such as age, height, and skills. It is also important that the bat is made with the right materials, which will have an impact on its sweet spot and swing performance, among other things. It is never enough that you choose on the basis of price alone. You should read reviews from other people and learn from their experiences.
This page is staffed by former college baseball players. We know how BBCOR bats are tested. We understand that performance is all that matters. We will guide you through the process of selecting the bat that is perfect for you. Are you looking for the best BBCOR bats 2016? If you are, keep on reading and we will help you make the right choice. We will have a quick look at this kind of bat and three of the best options that are available in the market, making it easy for you to come up with the right choice.
Table of Contents
What Are BBCOR Bats?
BBCOR stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution. These are bats that have been rigorously tested and passed the minimum standards that have been set, which also means that they are qualified for use in collegiate and high school baseball games. They are approved by NCAA and NFHS. To be sure that the bat is certified by the latter, look for the .50 BBCOR stamping that is embedded in the bat.
The BBCOR bats have been created as a replacement for the BESR bats. The latter has increasing offensive performance and is also prone to safety issues, especially when swung in high speed. Some of the characteristics of BBCOR bats include barrel diameter that does not exceed 2 and 5/8 inches, length to weight ratio that does not exceed -3, and not being longer than 36 inches.
List of 6 Best BBCOR Bats 2016 Reviews
1. 2016 Easton MAKO XL
2. 2016 Rawlings VELO
3. 2016 DeMarini Voodoo RAW
4. Easton 2015 BB15MK MAKO COMP -3 BBCOR Baseball Bat
This is one of my favorite BBCOR-certified bats available in the market today. It comes with 2-5/8-inch barrel and 31/32-inch composite handle, which makes it pass the standards for BBCOR certification. From my experience, there are no vibrations and sting. This makes it excellent when it comes to comfort of the user. However, it should be pointed out that this is meant to be a youth baseball bat. It is also a well-balanced bat. This means that younger users will not have a problem in handling the bat.
Some bats do not have the right balance, which results into making it awkward to handle, and hence, can negatively impact performance. The bat also comes with a solid and comfortable grip. Even when it is used in lengthy practice sessions, players will surely not complain. Since it is comfortable to hold, you can concentrate better.
A lot may despise this bat because of its expensive price. Personally speaking, however, I believe that it is not going to be an issue. It can be considered as an investment for baseball players or for parents teaching baseball to their kids. It is not only long-lasting, but can also deliver impressive performance.
5. DeMarini 2015 Voodoo Overlord FT BBCOR Baseball Bat
Also, I have used several bats in the past that made my hand prone to blisters. With this knob, on the other hand, I believe that there is no need for you to be worried about having blisters. The outstanding pop and swinging speed of this model is also impressive. It does not matter whether you are a power hitter or not. From experience, I can say that it is going to be an exceptional pick.
More so, I was also impressed with the overall construction of the bat, which is one of the things that its competitors will find hard to rival. It is made from X12 alloy. The latter is a combination of various alloy agents. Its combination results into structural integrity, even in the bats thinnest points. For sure, this baseball bat will be able to withstand the test of time.
6. Marucci Cat 6 BBCOR Baseball Bat
This BBCOR bat comes with a one-piece alloy construction. This is a traditional construction, which connects the handle to the barrel, as against the two-piece construction where there are two separate parts. The materials that are used in the bat are lightweight, making it easy to handle. One of the innovative features that I personally loved about this bat is the anti-vibration technology.
The latter is an exclusive technology, which, as the name implies, will lead into the elimination of vibration. This is made possible by the professional design of the knobs. Aside from the knob, it is also worth mentioning that it comes with micro-perforated grip, which is soft to the touch. Holding the bat, even for an extended period, will not lead into any form of discomfort.?
There are other technologies hat have been integrated in this BBCOR baseball bat. For instance, it comes with ring-free barrel technology, which enhances its performance. More so, it also has optimized barrel-end wall thickness, which helps improve swing speed.?
What the heck is BBCOR?
This is a hot-button question in the game of amateur baseball today. Even though BBCOR has been around since 2010, there hasn’t been much information provided to the public about what it stands for and the reasoning behind it. Most believe that it is just another marketing scam by major bat companies to get more money out of the pocket of everyday Americans. The truth about BBCOR is that it stands for Batted-Ball Coefficient of Restitution. One, that is a mouth full and two, what does that mean? Below is a passage taken out of the NCAA protocol on bat certification, put into effect in January of 2011.
Bat performance is specified by using the BBCOR (Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution), which is calculated using the inbound and rebound speeds of the ball: All the scientific babble aside, basically the NCAA wanted metal bats to be safer and to act more like wooden bats. BBCOR measures how much energy is lost when the ball makes contact with the bat. The higher the number, the greater the “trampoline” effect will be.
Prior to 2011, metal bats were measured by BESR. The “trampoline” effect being produced by BESR bats was allowing 5’7” 160lbs second basemen, to hit the ball out of the park. Scoring and injuries were at all time high. The NCAA decided they needed to do something about it, so they came up with BBCOR. For a bat to be BBCOR certified, the bat must meet the .50 ratio for “trampoline” effect, which is only slightly higher than that of a wooden bat.
How to Choose the Right BBCOR Baseball Bat
Whether you are a player, coach, or parent, you need to be aware of the various conditions wherein a BBCOR bat is warranted. Generally speaking, all of the high school and college baseball players in the US will need a BBCOR bat in their games.
Before joining any competition, it is important to be familiar with the rules or talk directly to any representative from the organizing committee to be sure about the bat requirements. Even for practice, it will be good if BBCOR bats are used so that players will be accustomed with such.
Price
We all know that price is a determining factor when picking out a BBCOR bat. It would be nice to have the money to buy whatever bat you like and if you don’t like it, buy another one. However, this is not a reality for most. That is why the BBCOR Bats HQ staff has created this website to provide all of the information to make an informed decision and to hopefully save money.
If you go to the Ultimate BBCOR Bat Guide you will see a chart that can be organized by brand, make, barrel material, lengths, features, rating, and even the lowest prices listed through Amazon. Our goal is to provide you with the information needed to get the perfect bat for the perfect price.
Types of BBCOR Bats
BBCOR bats come in all different makes, models, and sizes. To cipher through all of the information it comes down to three questions:
- Composite vs. Alloy
- 1-Piece vs. 2-Piece
- Price
Composite vs. Aluminum/Alloy
The barrels of BBCOR bats are made out of two different types of metal; composite and aluminum alloy. Ultimately there is no right or wrong answer to whether you should buy a composite or aluminum bat. It all comes down to personal preference.
However, we have provided you with a comparison of composite and aluminum bats below. So that you can make a decision based upon which one you think will be a better fit for your abilities and price range.
Composite Benefits:
- Lighter
- Balanced Feel
- Absorb the Sting
Composite bats are made out of woven fibers of carbon kevlar, graphite, fiber glass, or carbon fiber. Composite tends to be lighter and stronger allowing the bat maker to create a bat with a longer barrel(larger sweetspot) and lighter swing speed.
However, if you go with a composite bbcor bat, you will need to “break it in”. Lucky for you, we have a complete guide on how to break in a composite bat. This will allow you to get the maximum performance from any composite bat.
Aluminum Alloy Benefits:
- Stiff/Responsive
- Durable
- More Affordable
- No Break In Time
Aluminum bats are made out of different alloys or types of metal. These vary depending upon the different bat companies.
Aluminum bats tend to be more stiff and responsive. Meaning that when you make contact the bat is going to flex minimally and you will be able to feel whether you made hard contact or “just missed” it.
Aluminum bats are also very durable and allow you to get great bang for your buck. It is also important to mention that aluminum bats do not require a break-in period. They can be taken right out of the box onto the playing field, unlike composite bats.
1-Piece vs. 2-Piece Bat
Now that you have determined what type of material you want your barrel to made out of, it is time to decided if you want a 1-piece or 2-piece bat. Each one offers unique performance improvements. Just like deciding between composite and aluminum alloy, there is no right or wrong answer here. Ultimately it is the players preference.
1-Piece Benefits
- Stiff/Responsive
- More for Power Hitters
1-Piece bat is made out of either composite or aluminum alloy. 1-Piece bats tend to be stiffer and stronger. This means that when the bat makes contact with the ball, little to no energy is lost in the process. It also means that you have to be fairly strong to swing these bats through the zone, they have a little higher swing weight, but also drive the ball further. If you are strong and are a power hitter, I would recommend a 1-piece.
2-Piece Benefits
- Lighter Swing Weight
- Flexes
- Increased Bat Speed and Power
2-Piece bat is composed of a handle and a barrel that are bonded together. They can be made out of different materials. For instance the Easton Mako has a composite handle and a composite barrel, but the Easton S2 has a composite handle and an aluminum barrel. The materials of the barrels differ by bat companies. The 2-Piece design allows for the bat to flex during the swing, which will result in increased speed and power. The 2-Piece is more tailored to contact hitters that want a quicker bat speed and lighter swing weight.
Conclusion
In sum, the best BBCOR bats 2016 may not be easy to find. With the abundance of the brands and models that are available, it is important to be responsible and have the time to differentiate one option from the other. To make things easier, refer to the products that we have earlier recommended.
We took a look at what others have to say and thoroughly evaluated their features. With confidence, we can assure you that thee baseball bats can provide the best value for your money.
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