Best Metal Baseball Bats: Top 5 Brands Most Recommended By Experts

The days of wooden bats in anything other than professional baseball have long passed. The ‘crack’ of the bat has been replaced with a clank on baseball diamonds across the country. Metal and aluminum baseball bats are light and powerful and make for exciting hits. So, whether you play baseball or have kids in little league, it pays to know your options for the best metal baseball bats. 

And, according to a recent study, playing baseball or participating in other youth sports and activities is very beneficial for kids. Researchers from the University of South Australia found that kids who spend time after school playing sports or participating in activities such as music or clubs are generally happier and healthier than those who go straight to devices and screens. Overall, the study found that children’s well-being improves when they participate in extracurricular activities but drops when they spend time on social media or using screens. 

This makes sense to anyone who grew up playing outside as their primary means of entertainment. Regardless, baseball is one of those sports that you either want to play or watch in person, live at the ballpark. Some of the best memories you can make involve taking the family to a major league ballpark to see the pros play in person. However, a recent study found that casual baseball fans might be priced out of watching their favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs compete in 2023 and beyond. 

The survey of over 1,000 MLB fans also looked at the average worker’s salary in each MLB team’s market and compared it to the rising cost of going to a game today. The poll found that 35 percent of MLB fans would not be buying tickets to see their team play in 2023. 

Home run! StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 sports review sites in an effort to find the best metal baseball bats available on the market today. Our list is comprised of the five most frequently recommended brands from across these sites. As always, feel free to share your picks with us in the comments section below! 

image of metal baseball bats hanging from the fence
Baseball bats hanging on a fence (“Baseball bats” by PMillera4 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.)

The List: Best Metal Baseball Bats, According to Reviews 

 

1. DeMarini Voodoo One Baseball Bat 

The Voodoo One baseball bat is truly a one-of-a-kind baseball bat that performs as well as it looks. Experts agree the Voodoo One baseball bat from DeMarini is clearly one of the best metal baseball bats available on the market today.

DeMarini 2023 Voodoo® One Gold
DeMarini 2023 Voodoo® One Gold

“When discussing the one-piece DeMARINI Voodoo One BBCOR Bat, we have to start with the iconic imagery and collection of DeMARINI logos decorating the gold X14 Alloy Barrel. It makes an unbelievable first impression and leaves a lasting impression once hitters realize its merciless power and unparalleled pop. Deciding to swing the Voodoo One Gold sends a clear message: I’m the best. I always finish first. Do not challenge me,” writes Baseball Savings

Baseball bat technology has come a long way since many of us played little league baseball during our childhood“Composed of lightweight composite materials to enhance bat speed while maintaining powerful barrel performance. It features an X14 barrel made of alloy, allowing for a powerful hit along with a tracer end cap, which enhances speed and overall performance. What allows this bat to enhance the strength of the swing is its one-piece construction. This allows for maximum stiffness, ultimate bat speed, and an ultra-responsive feel. There is no doubt that this is one of the best baseball bats for 2023,” explains Baseball Bat Reviews

The DeMarini Voodoo One baseball bat is also one of the most popular bats. Perhaps the most inviting feature of this metal baseball bat is its lightweight feel that offers hitters an excellent combination of control and power. “[We] must admit it is a great bat… It’s also consistently the most popular bat in the BBCOR space, and few can keep it in stock. In any case, if you want a great bat with a light swing the 2023 Voodoo One is a top end choice,” adds Bat Digest

2. Marucci CATX Baseball Bat 

Marucci produces some of the best metal baseball bats you can buy and the CATX is one of their top products. The Marucci CATX was a staple across the sites we referenced and this bat is loved by experts for a range of reasons. 

Marucci CATX Baseball Bat 
Marucci CATX Baseball Bat

“The Marucci CATX BBCOR Bat gives hitters every advantage at the plate with more surface area, a wider sweet spot, and higher overall performance. It’s a traditional one-piece bat, but the liquid-gel added into the knob reduces vibrations for an incredibly smooth, solid feel at contact. To further enhance the feel, Marucci completes the bat with a micro-perforated soft touch grip,” explains Baseball Savings

The liquid gel-infused knob all but eliminates those annoying stings in your hands when you make contact with the baseball on a chilly day. And the micro-perforated grip offers additional stability and feel for a powerful swing. “Due to the lightweight of the bat, even the smaller players manage to hit some good shots. That helped it to be in this list of best BBCOR bats. Also, we have seen that the lightweight build of the bat produces great exit velocities when the ball is hit. Most importantly, the ring-free barrel construction permits more barrel flex and ensures improvement and consistency in the performance,” explains The National Pastime Museum.

Fancy bat technology aside, experts agree that this bat simply feels great in your hands. Anyone who’s ever stepped in the batter’s box knows that feeling when a bat just fits. “I had the chance to try out the Marucci CATX at a batting cage last week, and I loved it! The bat felt light but not flimsy, with great pop. It has a thinner barrel than previous models and a lighter swing weight, which makes it perfect for players who want the power of a one-piece alloy bat without feeling weighed down. I would definitely recommend the CATX to any player looking for a top-of-the-line BBCOR bat,” raves Baseball Bible.  

3. Louisville Slugger Meta Baseball Bat 

Swinging into the third spot on the list of the best metal baseball bats is the Louisville Slugger Meta. Every baseball fan and player alike is familiar with this brand. Of course, Louisville Slugger produces some of the best wooden baseball bats, but its line of metal baseball bats is of the same highest quality, landing it on a convincing 60 percent of the lists we consulted.  

Louisville Slugger Meta Baseball Bat 
Louisville Slugger Meta Baseball Bat

 

“The Meta is a balanced, three-piece, fully composite bat. Its composite barrel makes it a great sounding, lightweight option with a huge barrel. Its patented 3FX Connection System gives it a stiff feel and reduces vibration in the hands. And, the barrel length is maximized with its Premium GT1™ End Cap,” explains Baseball Bat Reviews

The Louisville Slugger Meta is available in different models such as BBCOR, USSSA, USA, and youth models. Regardless of which one you need to match your game, experts agree that you can’t go wrong with this brand.

“The 2023 Louisville Slugger Mata baseball bat produces a uniquely pleasant sound whenever it throws the ball across the strike zone. Also, the bat has a balanced swing weight, yielding the most desirable combination of power and speed…. There are no durability issues with the 2023 Slugger Meta and it is gonna turn into a bomb hitting machine once you break-in it completely. It is the best composite BBCOR bat you can buy this year,” adds The National Pastime Museum

Louisville Slugger focused on creating a bat with great control and swing speed. The Louisville Slugger Meta checks both of those boxes. Experts can’t heap enough praise on the design and patented end cap on the Louisville Slugger Meta baseball bat. 

“This bat is all about swing speed, and to a slightly lesser extent, bat control. The brand’s trademark EKO Composite barrel delivers balance along with performance that most metal bats cannot match. Users compliment the light swing, and feel off the barrel from aerospace-grade carbon fiber. The sweet spot is plenty optimized, and the company’s own GT1 End Cap is the chef’s kiss on this model from a longtime maker of quality baseball bats,” furthers Baseball Scouter

4. DeMarini The Goods Baseball Bat 

The makers of the top baseball bat on this list, the Voodoo One, are back at it with this model. “The 2022 The Goods is a fantastic BBCOR bat. It swings a little heavy, so this is not for the faint of heart, but those who like the idea of a hybrid and want to hang trophies with what many consider the best BBCOR bat on the market for 2022 should look real close at The Goods,” explains Bat Digest

DeMarini The Goods Baseball Bat 
DeMarini The Goods Baseball Bat

A 2022 The Goods baseball bat is the same as a 2023 model and likewise. Why? As Baseball Scouter explains, it’s because DeMarini was so confident that The Goods baseball bats were so excellent that they kept the 2023 model the same as the 2022 version. “This bat just stings baseballs well. The X14 Alloy barrel is big, and couples well with the hybrid design to especially attract power hitters. It also is priced decently at least compared with the higher-end 2023 models. We can’t wait to see what the 2024 version of The Goods will look like ~ if there even is an update by then,” writes Baseball Scouter

That’s some serious brand confidence and shows that DeMarini 100 percent believes in its product. As Just Bats explains, the DeMarini The Goods baseball bats are loaded with features that hitters just love. “Unbelievable pop with zero vibration, The most consistent barrel walls possible, End-loaded swing feel that’s perfect for power hitters, Supersized sweet spot,” lists Just Bats

5. Louisville Slugger Select PWR

Rounding out the list of the best metal baseball bats is another bat by Louisville Slugger, this time it’s the Select PWR. This baseball bat was a favorite among experts for a range of reasons but mostly because it’s designed to hit the baseball deep. The Louisville Slugger Select PWR appeared on half of the lists we referenced and was consistently ranked in the top 10. 

Louisville Slugger Select PWR
Louisville Slugger Select PWR

“If you’re mission is moonshots, you should take a serious look at the Louisville Slugger PWR BBCOR Bat, which features an EXD™ Premium Allloy Barrel that’s a half-inch longer than traditional BBCOR models, giving hitters an incredibly large, responsive sweet spot. It also features a powerful, heavier swing weight for increased momentum and maximum distance. So if you’re a strong hitter who can handle the extra weight, then by all means, let it rip. If you’re not a strong hitter, put this bat someplace safe, hit the gym, and bring it out when you’re ready to show the world your PWR!” writes Baseball Savings

Those are some powerful words about a baseball bat, no pun intended. Regardless of your strength, you can always practice with the Louisville Slugger Select PWR in the batting cages until you’re ready to use it in a live game

“The 2023 Slugger Select PWR comes with a premium LS pro comfort group which gives the players the added track and buffer to improve bat control and feel when hitting across the strike zone. Also, the barrel of this bat is made up of EDX premium alloy, which is considerably longer than other BBCOR models, thus giving the hitters an exceptionally responsive, larger sweet spot,” furthers The National Pastime Museum

It’s easy to imagine how the longer barrel and the presence of a larger sweet spot could impact your performance in the batter’s box. “The 2023 Louisville Slugger Select PWR BBCOR Bat features a hybrid design that provides you with the control and precision of an alloy barrel, while the composite handle offers maximum comfort and feel in each hit. The swing feel is perfect for contact and power hitters alike,” furthers Better Baseball

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Comments

  1. 2 and a half of the bats you listed aren’t even metal. A better title would have been best bbcor bats. But this list is a little outdated now.

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