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Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 Natural Baseball Bat
Quick Summary:
The Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 has long been known for being the best baseball bat for those who are just learning the sport. and also has enough middle-of-the-road functionality for someone who
This bat also has enough middle-of-the-road functionality for the higher-skilled player as well.
It’s strong, feels great on the swing, and creates a perfect, “thok” sound when you hit the ball out of the park.
If you’re looking for a well-rounded stick playing baseball, then the Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 baseball bat will suit your needs perfectly.
Selecting from the Best Baseball Bats
The best baseball bats will last for years and there’s no more of an iconic line of baseball bat than the Louisville Slugger. The Louisville Slugger brand name originates in the year 1905 when the trademark was registered by the Hillerich and Bradsby Company. Since then, the name has become synonymous with baseball; with millions of people buying new Louisville Sluggers every year.
There’s only one game that is considered to be America’s pastime; baseball. The game has been played for well over a hundred years and has spread to other areas of the world as well, including Japan and many parts of South America. Finding the best baseball equipment that won’t wear out too quickly can be a bit difficult. Some balls will get destroyed after only a few hits and some bats don’t have the durability and flexibility to not break after extended swings.
Baseball Bat Construction
To get right to the point, a bat is only as good as its construction and the Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 is an excellent bat when it comes to its composition. Many players prefer this type of bat to other types because of the natural feel behind each swing. It simply feels great when you’re on the plate and waiting for the pitch. Let’s take a look at why the Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180’s construction is so top-notch.
- Ash vs. Maple – Of the wood bat variants, most players either pick maple or wood. Maple is a very strong wood, but it has a tendency not to flex with impact, which means that if you swing hard enough, a maple bat will snap cleanly in half. The Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180, on the other hand, is made of ash, which is incredibly strong but will also flex on impact. This means that when you hit the ball, the bat will flex with the contact so that you don’t lose the bat. This flexing will also add force to your swing as well.
- Weight – Ash wood is very light when compared to maple as well. This bat has a fairly lightweight; it only weighs about 32 ounces in totality. This means that you can get a lot of swings out of this bat when you’re on the plate; without being concerned about losing force due to fatigue. The Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 baseball bat is also one of the most well-balanced bats available; it simply feels great on the swing.
- Sweet Spot – As a result of the ash composition, this bat has a very forgiving sweet spot. This means that because of its inherent flexibility if you hit the ball at an off-center position, the bat will still provide enough opposing force to send the ball where you want it to go. Since maple isn’t quite as flexible, you’re more likely to send the ball into foul territory if you don’t hit the precise sweet spot of the bat.
- Strength – Northern white ash is one of the most dependable and durable woods available. It’s also very common, which brings the price down a bit with this bat. This wooden material is also known for one other thing: it’s nearly unparalleled strength. Simply put, ash wood is pound for pound the strongest timber that’s available.
Ability to Take a Hit
This bat can easily stand up to the majority of the pitches that it intercepts. It’s important to note that there is a weak area and a sweet spot with this bat, so it’ll be important to hit the ball with the right part of the bat. You can tell where the weak side of the wood is because it is where the company placed its famous logo. This means that before the swing, if the MLB and Louisville Slugger logo are facing you, then you are leading your swing with the strongest side of the bat.
Available Dimensions
You’ll be able to choose from three different lengths with this version of the Louisville Slugger. These include 32 inch, 33 inch, and 34-inch options. The body of the bat has a 2 ¼ barrel diameter, which is relatively standard.
Why Professional Players Tend to Prefer the Louisville Slugger Series
This product illustrates why this brand of a baseball bat is so popular; it has a degree of implicit dependability that you rarely see in some baseball equipment. It’s the type of middle ground product that can take a ton of hits and keep coming back without splintering or breaking at inopportune times. Add to this the fact that it has such great balancing, and you realize that the Louisville Slugger series is so popular for a reason.
Considerations when Buying a Baseball Bat
One of the most important considerations when purchasing this bat is that the Louisville Slugger name isn’t quite the same as it was in decades past. The brand was bought up by a Finnish company several years ago, so if you’re purchasing it as a piece of certifiable Louisville, Kentucky Americana, then those days have unfortunately passed.
Functionality-wise, these bats flex but they aren’t unbreakable. If you hit the ball in the wrong area or you simply overtax the bat, there is always a chance that it will break. Also, the whorl of the wood’s natural composition can lead to the bat the break unexpectedly; this is just because wood can naturally have cracks and splits in it.
Also, the bat only has varnish about halfway up its body; this means that the bat can seem a bit rough on certain parts of its construction. This is probably just a cost-cutting technique that the manufacturer employed to bring the price down a bit for players.
Finally, there is no grip on this bat. This means that after extended use, there is a chance that you can get splinters when you use this bat. I find that it’s a great practice to bind the handle of the Louisville Slugger WB180BB-NA 180 with something like Lizard Skins; these add a lot of grip to a bat and also will protect your mitts from the excess splinters that can form in any bat.
