Bat Models
O’Brien Bats currently offers 7 stock models. Explore our models below. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Fill out the contact us form at the bottom of the page and ask about a custom model.
OB271
The OB271 is the most popular bat in all of baseball. It is characterized by a medium handle thickness with a large knob taper, as well as a long taper to the barrel and a medium sized barrel. This is a very balanced bat and one that anybody can swing.
POB2
The POB2 is a relatively top heavy bat that flies through the zone. It is characterized by the thinnest handle possible, a large knob taper, as well as a short taper to the barrel and a large barrel. This is a bat made for anyone who wants to whip it.
RC11
The RC11 is similar in barrel diameter to the OB271 but has a longer barrel and shorter taper. This is the prototypical power hitter’s bat. It has a medium thick handle and a straight knob with no taper.
TC23
The TC23 features a large barrel and thick handle with a thick tapered knob. The barrel taper is relatively short. This is a slightly top-heavy bat geared towards power hitters.
JH28
The JH28 has the largest barrel of any of our bat models. That being said, it has the shortest taper to the handle of any of our bats as well. It has a thin handle and smaller knob. This is a perfect for a good hitter who really wants to stay inside the ball and shoot it into the opposite field gaps.
JK18
The JK18 pattern features a standard knob and our medium, most durable handle with a short taper in a medium barrel. An extremely well-balanced bat that has stood the test of time.
BB4
The BB4 model is our in house Youth Model. It features a medium barrel with a long taper from barrel to handle. The thick handle makes it stronger for younger players who are more prone to missing the barrel.
Wood Species
Sugar Maple
Following Barry Bonds’ record-setting 73 homer season in 2001 in which he swung a maple bat, maple began to grow rapidly in popularity among players. Currently it is the most popular species used for bats. It is characterized by it’s very hard and dense surface. Maple does not necessarily break down over time, rather, it will crack or shatter on a bad swing. For more info regarding maple, visit https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=acsa3
White Ash
For most of the modern history of baseball, ash was the only species of wood used to make wooden bats. It is known for its flex and the loud sound the bat produces when hitting the ball. Ash Has the largest sweetspot of any wood bat, however, with heavy use it wears down and begins to fray over time. For more information regarding ash, visit https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/fraxinus-americana/
Yellow Birch
A relatively new species when it comes to being used for bats, birch is becoming increasingly popular among today’s players. Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recently made the switch to birch. It combines some of the flex of ash with the density of maple. For more information regarding birch, visit https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BEAL2
Ink Dot
The Ink Dot is a requirement for bats that are used in Major League Baseball play. It is difficult to see the grain of Maple and Birch bats, so at 12″ on the handle, a drop of ink is placed on one of the face grain sides of the bat. This ink area is then sanded down a little until the ink highlights the grain making it highly visible. At this point, the angle or slope of the grain is measured with a protractor. If the slope is 3 degrees or less, the bat can be used in Major League Baseball. All of our Pro Maple and Pro Birch bats will feature an ink dot. Ash has very visible grain and is not subject to the same standards by MLB. Look for the shamrock outline on your bat that contains the ink dot. This guarantees that you are getting your hands on a pro-quality bat at an unmatched, affordable price.