Best BBCOR Bats of All Time
Every hitter is looking for a bat that will complement their skill set and give them the best batting experience possible. For the high school and college game, BBCOR bats are becoming extremely popular, and for good reason.
Below we’ll break down why these bats are becoming so popular and provide some recommendations for the best BBCOR bats on the market.
What Are BBCOR Bats Made For?
The BBCOR standard was created to protect players and balance bat power. BBCOR measures the relative speed before and after its hits the bat. Every BBCOR bat must have a speed ratio of .50 or lower, meaning the maximum speed of the ball after being hit with the bat is 50% the speed of the pitch.
Additionally, BBCOR bats have a maximum barrel diameter of 2 ⅝”, a maximum drop weight of -3 and a maximum length of 36”. The - 3 drop weight means every 32” bat will weigh 29 oz, every 31” bat will weigh 28 oz, and so on. Drop weight refers to the ratio between bat length and weight.
Who Created the BBCOR Standard and Why?
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) created the BBCOR standard in 2011 that every bat must be BBCOR compliant.
The main reason these baseball governing bodies implemented these new restrictions was for player safety purposes. These restrictions reduce the ball speed off the bat by about 5%. The previous bat standards also resulted in more home runs, so pitching became more difficult.
As you move up the ladder in the baseball world, you’ll need a bat that fulfills the requirements of your league. Even junior baseball leagues are beginning to adopt the standard that composite bats need to meet BBCOR standards.
What does BBCOR stand for?
BBCOR stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution. In layman’s terms, the BBCOR is a number that reflects the trampoline effect of the bat or how much energy is lost when the bat makes contact with the ball.
If a bat meets the 0.50 BBCOR standard then that means the bat did not have a ball speed ratio higher than .5 after the bat makes contact with the ball. The bat is tested at multiple pre-determined spots to ensure that no sweet spot exceeds this standard. Also, every BBCOR bat has a -3 drop weight, meaning a 31” BBCOR bat will always weigh 28 oz.
Overall, BBCOR bats are designed to keep everyone safer and the game more competitive.
With the background out of the way, let’s look at our top 10 best BBCOR bats.
Top BBCOR Bats
1. DeMarini Voodoo One
This lightweight bat from DeMarini has some key features that make it an excellent bat that fulfills BBCOR standards. It’s a lightweight alloy bat that was designed to increase the batter’s swing speed and give you more control over your swing. Keeping the weight down, the lightweight Tracer End Cap also improves bat speed and barrel performance. Not only will the ball pop off your bat, but the bat also pops with its unique Skully design.
Features:
- Alloy barrel
- One piece design
- Available in 6 sizes: 29", 30", 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Made of lightweight composite materials
- Lightweight (ex: 31” bat weighs 28 oz.)
This is one of our favorite bats for good reason. The tapered design will reduce hand sting when you’re swinging for the fences, and the lightweight design is excellent for hitters who want to maximize swing speed.
2. Victus Vandal Gold
This sleek, simple black bat comes in six sizes. It is a high-end product that has a ringless barrel design made of multi-variable wall thickness, making it incredibly durable. The one-piece bat design is also lightweight and made to maximize bat speed. The flexible sweet spot and soft grip are also great plus points that make it one of the best bats out there.
Features:
- Aluminum hybrid bat
- Available in 6 sizes: 30", 31", 32", 33", 33.5” 34"
- Pro-tapered handle with micro-perforated touch grip
This is Victus’s best BBCOR bat and was designed with thought and care. It’s a great bat if you want to make a bigger investment and get the results that you expect out of a pricier bat.
3. Marucci CAT9
This bat is made with an AZR Alloy that undergoes a three-stage thermal treatment process that leaves it with an amazing finish. The alloy construction creates a more responsive bat that is strong and a top-performer compared to other BBCOR bats. Marucci also boasts their unique knob technology that reduces hand sting in one-piece bats. It’s a comfortable and stylish buy for any ballplayer.
Features:
- Available in two sizes: 32” / 29 oz, 33”/ 30 oz
- Longitudinal Groove System (LGS) within the barrel of the bat increases flexibility
- Anti-vibration knob
If you’re after a versatile bat that can be used by contact or power hitters, then this bat deserves a second look. With its patented technology, you’ll have a comfortable, powerful swing.
4. Easton ADV Hype
Of Easton’s BBCOR bats, this is the lightest bat in their range. At the same time, it has a massive sweet spot and barrel, providing a nice balance that results in a powerful bat. Furthermore, it maximizes energy transfer while still meeting BBCOR standards by having a stiffer feel on contact. To reduce hand vibration, it’s injected with Nitrocell foam which will give you a more comfortable swing.
Features:
- Available in 5 sizes: 30", 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Power Boost Soft Knob Technology: reduces vibration, provides more leverage
- Stiff carbon handle
- Thermo composite technology
Easton designed this bat for a smooth swing and well-balanced swing. Thanks to its high quality you’ll get a great swing out of the box and be ready to swing for the fences.
5. DeMarini The Goods
Power hitters will be happy to hear that this bat is designed just for them. It has a massive alloy barrel designed specifically for top-level power hitters who want to add an edge to their game. The two-piece hybrid construction features both the alloy barrel and a stiff composite handle for maximum leverage and energy transfer. The end cap is designed with strong materials that improve both the bat’s durability and energy transfer.
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Two-piece hybrid construction
- Direct Connection - stiffer composite handle to the alloy barrel designed with power hitters in mind
- Lightweight performance alloy barrel
Power hitters will be pleased with the results they see with The Goods. It’s an elite BBCOR bat for elite power hitters.
6. Stinger Nuke 2
The name says it all, this bat was designed to destroy the baseball. Stinger accomplishes this by designing this bat the be slightly end-loaded with the company’s Power Loaded Barrel Technology. This gives the batter more control over their swing and optimizes exit velocity. It also has the maximum barrel size for a BBCOR bat with a big sweet spot designed for power hitting.
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Designed for power hitters
- Slightly end-loaded barrel
- Handle has a slight taper with an ergonomic knob shape
This sturdy bat from Stinger is a powerful piece of equipment. But, not only do you get power but also style with the black and neon yellow design.
7. True Temper HZRDUS
Another 1-piece hybrid bat, True Temper deploys its AXENIC Technology which makes this bat a winner. The technology improves durability and reduces the weight and bat lag, so hitters will have a lightweight, yet sturdy bat to use. The composite carbon fiber handle reduces the vibration felt by your hands and balances out your swing.
Features:
- Available in 7 sizes; 31", 31.5”, 32", 32.5”, 33", 33.5” 34"
- Smartply composite handle
- EVMAX alloy barrel
- One-piece bat
- Industry’s first one-piece hybrid bat
True Temper is an innovator on the market, especially with this bat. You also can buy the bat in half sizes whereas most others on this list are only available in full sizes.
8. Axe Avenge Pro Hybrid
Axe designed this bat to be its best 2-piece BBCOR bat, and it shows. The MX8 Alloy + barrel is hot out of the packaging, giving you the confidence to hit with this bat in-game as soon as you buy it. Every square inch of this bat is optimized for durability, power, and performance. Like others on this list, it’s designed for power hitters, but it still gives a nice balance of power and speed
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- 2-piece hybrid bat
- Red and gold design
- HyperWhip Composite Cap – lightweight for a better swing
- Shock Suspension technology – reduces vibration at the point of connection
- Power Axe Handle – balance of power and speed
It’s a lightweight BBCOR bat designed for power hitters, an absolute top-of-the line product for any batter.
9. Louisville Slugger Meta
Louisville Slugger is a household name, and it lives up to its reputation with one of its latest BBCOR bats, the Meta. It provides a balanced swing, so it’s designed for all types of hitters, both contact and power. Somewhat uniquely to this list, it has a three-piece design. The centerpiece of the three-piece design is the 3FX Connection System, which gives a stiffer feel to it than other similar bats and dramatically reduces vibration.
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- EKO Composite Barrel – designed for a balance of speed and power
- Premium end cap that extends the barrel length
- Three-piece design
This is an elite bat for elite players, but it’s well worth the asking price as you’ll be certain of the quality of this bat.
10. Rawlings Quatro Pro Max
In our opinion, this is Rawlings’s best BBCOR bat thanks to its extended inner barrel. This design feature increases the exit speed of the bat giving you the most power when you make contact with the ball. Compared to other Rawlings bats it has a 30% stiffer handle, so if you’re a Rawlings fan you should go for this bat.
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Collar construction that increases durability and reduces vibration
- Lizard Skins grip
- Removable Blast Motion Sensor Point
What sets this apart from other bats is the removable Blast Motion Sensor Point. This allows you to collect swing data and analyze your swing to help you improve on the field.
11. Easton Maxum Ultra
Easton has made an excellent one-piece bat with a huge barrel and a nice, balanced swing. It is great for both power and contact hitters who want a bat with a sleek design. It has one of the largest barrels of any one-piece bat on the market.
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 31", 32", 33", 34"
- Carbon construction with a stiff feel
- XXL sweet spot
- Flow-Tack grip – great cushion
This is a great combination of a large barrel with a balanced swing that makes it stand out compared to its peers on the market.
12. DeMarini CF
You can tell we’re big fans of DeMarini’s line of BBCOR bats. This is a two-piece composite bat that was redesigned to have a better weight distribution for a more balanced swing. It’s excellent for contact hitters due to the reduced hand vibrations and excellently balanced swing.
Features:
- Available in 32” size
- 3Fusion Connection – greater control and reduced vibration
- ReAction End Cap – built with a blend of strong and light materials
- Aluminum construction
With this two-piece bat, you get a great barrel construction that will give you a strong and balanced swing. It’s a favorite of contact hitters.
13. Louisville Slugger Select PWR
Another top-of-the-line Louisville Slugger bat that will get the job done. The other Louisville Slugger on this list is a 3-piece, but this one is a more standard 2-piece construction. It extends a half-inch further than most other BBCOR bats, so you’ll have a bigger sweet spot and barrel. The end cap also helps maximize the energy transfer every time you make contact with the ball
Features:
- Available in 32” size
- Two-piece construction
- PWR End Cap
- Premium LS PRO Comfort Grip
This bat maximizes energy transfer and comfort, making it an excellent buy for a contact hitter or a power hitter who’s looking to minimize hand vibration.
Buyer’s Guide for BBCOR Bats
Choosing the right weight and size for your BBCOR bat
We’ve run you through our top BBCOR bats, but once you’ve chosen the bat for you, you still have different size and weight options to choose from.
One thing that the BBCOR standard has done is restricted bat manufacturers, so as you see the bats fall in the same size and weight range. All the bats on our list range from 30” to 34”, but there are still options within those ranges.
Most bats do full sizes and the most common are 31”, 32”, 33”, and 34”. These bats are suitable for high school and college age players, which makes sense because the BBCOR standard is approved by the biggest high school and college athletic organizations.
If you’re looking for a bat with the most size/weight options, the True Temper HZRDUS has the most sizes on our list. Unlike other bats, it is sold in half sizes, so you can get exactly the size and weight you are looking for.
The drop of a BBCOR is required to be -3, so a 32” bat will always be 29 oz. Therefore, it’s most important to consider the length when you are buying first. If you choose the right length for you, then you will have maximum momentum and power when you swing your bat.
Material / Construction
Much like the size and weight, there are lots of similarities between BBCOR bats, but there are still several choices you can make in this area.
While BBCOR bats can be made of wood, almost all of them are made of composite or aluminum. The majority on our list are composite bats as these are the most popular.
However, our favorite aluminum bat is the Victus Vandal Gold as it has an excellent balance between barrel size and still has a lightweight feel that meets BBCOR standards. In general, aluminum bats are slightly cheaper than composite, and they almost always come in a one-piece construction.
Composite bats offer a little more pop to the bat; hence they are the favorite of hitters who need a BBCOR bat. They typically have a larger sweet spot, a boon to power hitters. Our number one recommended bat is a composite, the DeMarini Voodoo One. Its headline features keep its weight within the BBCOR standards without sacrificing on power or speed.
One thing to keep in mind with composite bats is they often require a little break-in period before they really pop. The online reviews of some bats like the Axe Avenge Pro Hybrid are very favorable because they overcome this downside of composite bats by coming out of the package with plenty of pop and ready to go for a game.
One piece vs Two piece
While this may seem like a small difference when you’re scrolling online looking for a new BBCOR bat, the different types of construction are favored by different types of players.
Simply explained, a one-piece bat is as it sounds constructed without any fusing together of separate pieces. This makes a one-piece bat cheaper to make, but also stiffer and with more ability to transfer energy upon contact.
Typically, power hitters prefer this type of bat construction because it maximizes power on contact. Since power hitters are stronger, they also have more control over the bat and get the most out of the stiffer construction. Power hitters are also more likely to be willing to withstand the increased vibration in two-piece bats compared to one-piece bats as they are swinging for the fences.
The Victus Vandal Gold, Marucci CAT9, and True Temper HZRDUS are all one-piece bats that power hitters have gravitated towards.
On the other hand, two-piece bats are made by two pieces being fused together, a more expensive process. Contact hitters typically prefer this bat construction as the hand vibration is often significantly reduced. The bats also have more flex in them and tend to be maximized for bat speed over power.
Demarini makes excellent two-piece bats including both The Goods and their CF bat.
Of course, every hitter had their own preferences, and it’s not so simple as every contact hitter needs to buy a two-piece bat and every power-hitter a one-piece bat. So, try out several types of bats to get the feel for what you like in a bat, then you’ll be armed with both experience and knowledge to make a fully-informed decision on your next bat.
Conclusion
For most players at the high school and college level, a BBCOR bat is a must-buy because you need to meet the requirement set out by the athletic governing body in your league.
That does not mean that you have to sacrifice on quality, power, or bat speed. Since the BBCOR was introduced, bat manufacturers have been making immense innovations to ensure that hitters are given the best bat they can within the requirements.
This has resulted in lighter end caps, stiffer handles, and bigger barrels that compensate for the required -3 drop weight.
Whether you’re after a one-piece or a two-piece bat, there’s a bat for you in our top bat list. And if you’re not sure what exactly is the right bat for you, test run some similar -3 drop weight bats in this size range and you’ll soon find the exact feel you’re looking for.