Any opinions on what you guys think are the best wood bats?

Blond Hillerich & Bradsby R43 (Ash)

How about one that can be purchased today...

Louisville Slugger has many models on sale and may even have some R -43's floating around. It never hurts to ask your local dealer.

http://www.slugger.com/technology/wood.html

Sam's Bat and Old Hickory. EXCELLENT!!

You can even have them Custom Made

http://www.slugger.com/press/ads/TPX/2004/WoodBat.pdf

Sam Bat and Old Hickory

i really like the Mizuno bamboo, i've had it for almost 6 months and haven't broken it yet.

My team uses Brett bats. We all love them.

Go to www.bulletbats.com. This is a small company with only four models and two colors but you can purchase maple bats for $39.99 plus shipping. My son loves these bats.

I strictly use wood in my leagues and in the cage. I occasionally use metal.

I had easton send over a maple that I reviewed for my website. I'm working on a review that Old Hickory sent over. The Easton maple was nice but I have to say I really like the fell of the old hickory, it has a finger-joined insert of a different species of wood in the sweet spot. I'm taking some swings in the next day or 2 with it, my review should be posted next week.

We use the SSK maple and ash in our International tryouts, games and the Goodwill Series in Australia.

This is the same bat used by the Major League players.

There is a difference in Major League wood, minor league and amateur wood. It is the aging and selection of the billets.

The SSK fungo bat is used by all ML teams.

Bob Williams
<rwilliams@goodwillseries.org>

I agree with overthelights. For the money, BullitBats are the best buy out there. I've gotten everything from the cheapest bat out there to some of the highend bats like the Old Hickory (Which Look Like a Piece of Fine Furniture). The Bullit held up the longest. My son loves them and has used it over the last 2 winters at college.