Bat Digest
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
fastpitch-bat-review
best-softball-bat
best-baseball-bat
baseball-bat-review

Disclaimer: This site uses affiliate links. Learn More.


<< All Bests

Best Aluminum Metal Bat | Baseball & Softball Metal Sticks

Updated August 4, 2022

By Bat Digest

We’ve curated this best aluminum bat list from our other best bat lists.

We’ve taken, roughly, the winning aluminum bat from our best BBCOR, best USSSA, and best USA bat lists and put them in this list. We think The Goods in BBCOR, the CAT 9 in USSSA, and the Slugger Select series are the best aluminum baseball bats around.

Updated August 4, 2022

We updated the list in late July 2022.

3. 2022 Anderson Rocketech

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: Fastpitch

Sizes: 31, 32, 33, 34

Barrel Size: 2 1/4

Drop: 9

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: ARTFP2022

Original Price: $270

Release Month: January 2022

3. Best Aluminum Fastpitch Bat

2022 Anderson Rocketech Fastpitch Drop 9
Fastpitch
2022 Anderson Rocketech

$270

Original Price

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

There is nothing quite like the 2022 Anderson Rocketech. It’s a dual-walled ally bat in the fastpitch space that performs well. It’s a fantastic cold weather bat, and although it swings heavily really can generate the power of the other fastpitch bats if it is swung hard and well. Smaller kids with lower impact speeds will not like this bat. But big hitters who play in cold weather should have the Anderson Rocketech in their bat.

2. 2021 Marucci CAT 9

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: USSSA

Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32

Barrel Size: 2 3/4

Drop: 8

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: MSBC98

Original Price: $280

Release Month: October 2020

2. Best USSSA Aluminum Bat

2021 Marucci CAT 9 USSSA Drop 8
USSSA
2021 Marucci CAT 9

$280

Original Price

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

1. 2022 DeMarini The Goods

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: BBCOR

Sizes: 31, 32, 33, 34

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

Drop: 3

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: WTDXGIC22

Original Price: $400

Release Month: October 2021

1. Best BBCOR Aluminum Bat

2022 DeMarini The Goods BBCOR Drop 3
BBCOR
2022 DeMarini The Goods

$400

Original Price

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

4. 2020 Louisville Slugger Select

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: USA

Sizes: 30, 31, 32, 33

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

Drop: 5

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: WTLUBS7B520

Original Price: $300

Release Month: September 2019

4. Best USA Aluminum Bat

2020 Louisville Slugger Select Drop 5 USA 2020 Louisville Slugger Select Drop 5 USA
2020 Louisville Slugger Select USA Drop 5
USA
2020 Louisville Slugger Select

$300

Original Price

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

Recommended Video

Best Aluminum Metal Bat | Baseball & Softball Metal Sticks

2

2021 Marucci CAT 9

2. Best USSSA Aluminum Bat
CAT 9 Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2021 CAT 9

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

Specs

Certification: USSSA

Barrel Size: 2 3/4

Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32

Drop: 8

Serial Number: MSBC98

Release Month: October 2020

3

2022 Anderson Rocketech

3. Best Aluminum Fastpitch Bat
Rocketech Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2022 Rocketech

There is nothing quite like the 2022 Anderson Rocketech. It’s a dual-walled ally bat in the fastpitch space that performs well. It’s a fantastic cold weather bat, and although it swings heavily really can generate the power of the other fastpitch bats if it is swung hard and well. Smaller kids with lower impact speeds will not like this bat. But big hitters who play in cold weather should have the Anderson Rocketech in their bat.

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

Specs

Certification: Fastpitch

Barrel Size: 2 1/4

Sizes: 31, 32, 33, 34

Drop: 9

Serial Number: ARTFP2022

Release Month: January 2022

Our Review:

1

2022 DeMarini The Goods

1. Best BBCOR Aluminum Bat
The Goods Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2022 The Goods

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

Specs

Certification: BBCOR

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

Sizes: 31, 32, 33, 34

Drop: 3

Serial Number: WTDXGIC22

Release Month: October 2021

4

2020 Louisville Slugger Select

4. Best USA Aluminum Bat
Select Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2020 Select

Amazon

Buy Used from SidelineSwap

Specs

Certification: USA

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

Sizes: 30, 31, 32, 33

Drop: 5

Serial Number: WTLUBS7B520

Release Month: September 2019

The Research

Why do Pros Not Use Metal Bats?

Pros most likely don’t use metal bats because (1) that’s the rule in professional baseball; (2) although BBCOR standards keep the bat from performing better than a ‘wood’ bat, the swing weight and sweet spot size give a big advantage to a metal bat; (3) it has long been tradition to swing a wood bat in the pros and if baseball is anything, it is about tradition.

Are Metal Bats Legal?

Yes. The vast majority of metal bats are legal. Some governing bodies from BBCOR and USSSA have banned some bats. But, in recent memory, metal bats are perfectly legal in baseball, fastpitch and slowpitch. Be sure, though, to make sure the bat’s approval type is in your league.

The Difference Between Aluminum and Metal Bats

In short, there is no difference between bats referred to as aluminum or metal. In today’s market, every metal bat on the market is made of aluminum. This aluminum is manipulated to perform better by additional chemicals. The addition of these elements within the aluminum, like scandium, is why many officially call aluminum bats aluminum alloy bats. But, at its core, aluminum bats are simply metal bats just like composite bats are simply plastic bats.

There are a number of general benefits to aluminum metal bats when compared to composite and wood bats. We discuss that here. Also, you might find it helpful how some vendors make their bats sortable by aluminum metal only.

Are metal baseball bats better?

Aluminum metal bats provide the distinct advantage of a hot out-of-the-wrapper performance—meaning, there is no work in period like composite requires. That hot out of the wrapper performance provides confidence from swing one that you are getting the most out of your bat. As well, aluminum bats almost always cost less than their composite counterparts.

On the other hand, alloy bats (another name for aluminum bats) struggle to swing light–especially when used for younger age groups. It follows that manufactuers need to keep the barrel profiles smaller than composite bats so growing kids can swing them as well.

How We found the Best Aluminum Metal Bats

We have tested every performance bat since the genesis of this blog in late 2014. Those tests involve both simple approaches and more complicated ones. Measuring the swing weight, comparing it to previous models and seeing where the bat fits in the grander scheme of things, and discussing the aesthetics of the bat constitute more of our superficial approaches. We also use the bat in games and practices, as well as have multiple player feedback on each bat.

More recently, we have driven ball exit speeds and barrel size testings on our bats too. This more quantifiable data gives added insight to which bats really do perform best. Add that information to conversations with real players, an obsession for reading real reviews on a bat’s performance and dialog with major vendors and manufacturers, and we start to formulate data on what the best aluminum metal bats actually are.

What is the Right Bat Size

As always, the best bat is the one that fits the best, not a particular model. So, pay particular attention to the right bat size. You can see more details on getting the right size bat here.

Bat Rumors

Download our data.