When choosing a baseball bat, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration, including level of play, size of the batter, cost and comfort.

Aluminum / composite baseball bats are generally preferred to wooden bats due to their light weight and high strength (note: pro players are allowed to use wood bats only). Lighter bats are generally preferable to heavier bats as they allow the hitter to generate enough speed to put some "oomph" into it (although there are restrictions about bat weights at most levels). Additionally, aluminum bats can provide more "pop" of the baseball off the bat, and are much more durable (therefore cost effective) than wooden bats. Bats today are becoming increasingly high tech and expensive - with youth bats reaching $200+ price levels.

The comfort of the baseball bat to the hitter is the most important factor in choosing a bat. As with any piece of sports equipment, be it your baseball glove or hockey skates - the more comfortable you are the better. Take a few swings with the bat and try to picture yourself in a game. Better yet, borrow a bat from one of your teammates and see how it feels - a swing in the store doesn't always feel like a swing at the plate! When choosing a bat for younger players, make sure they can swing the bat without struggling - we've all seen the young players struggling to swing bats that are far too big for them.

Size of the Bat (Length and Weight)

Another important factor in choosing the right sized baseball bat is the height of the batter. In general, tall batters should use longer bats. Below are two tables with general guidelines for choosing baseball bat length.  Here is a link to a website with bat buying guidelines.