How do you actually match a bat specifically to a player?
Science! We use the laws of physics and various testing procedures to identify all of the physical properties of the bats we test. Combining all of those measurements, we can paint a picture of what the bat looks like in numbers - numbers that we can use to identify how well it will match up with players of various shapes, sizes, and strengths.
By correlating performance of the bats against actual players, we've been able to correlate combinations of these various measurements and factors in such a way as to accurately predict which bat will perform best for a specific player. The engine driving this is the proprietary Whichbat matching algorithm, which we make available to you through this website.
How is this different than a bat fitting, or a club fitting in golf, for example?
Most of the time when you do an in-person bat or club fitting in the case of golf, the player is swinging a variety of instruments (bats or clubs) in an effort to see which one feels the best and performs the best for them. To even figure out which ones to try is generally a subjective matter based on your own or your professional's opinions. Whichbat is based in objective science and is predictive. That is, we don't need to see the player swing to tell you which bat is right for that player. In fact, it wouldn't even improve our results if we were able to see them swing. If you were trying to fit it into a traditional fitting scenario, we would tell you which ones to try before even swinging them to see which ones the player liked. The fact is, we already know - and give you our Player Fit rating as the indication of this preference.
Why do you charge for your service instead of just using ads?
We at Whichbat value our independence and objectivity more than anything else. We have no relationship with any of the manufacturers whose bats we test and buy all of the bats on the open retail market, just like you do. If we were to start serving ads or otherwise develop some sort of relationship like that, there could be an appearance of impropriety even if none existed. We continue to believe that this independence and objectivity is of paramount importance in making sure you get matched to the right bat, not the one that pays us the most. So, we charge a nominal fee to use the service to keep everybody in the right lane.
Who is Whichbat?
Whichbat is, at it's core, four people: 1) a coach and former player with degrees in biomedical engineering and law, 2) a former player and patent attorney with degrees in physics and law, and 3) a career select baseball coach former player. All four of us share the same passions for the game, the science behind it, and, most importantly, growing the game. We've all seen instances where having the wrong bat hasn't just kept a player from reaching their potential - we've seen it actually make players stop playing. This should never happen and is one of the driving forces behind us all coming together to create this solution.
Do you collaborate with the manufacturers of the bats you test?
No, we do not. Whichbat has no relationship with or to any of the manufacturers of the bats we test. We do not receive free samples of bats or anything like that.
Is there anywhere I can have my player test the bats in person?
Whichbat does not currently have any affiliations that would enable you to do so. The Whichbat Bat Match is actually so accurate that this is not required or even particularly helpful. However, we certainly understand the inclination to do so. We are aware of a couple of retail locations that allow for players to swing bats. If you are able to find one, our recommendation would be to run a Whichbat query and then use that to help you determine which bats to try out. We are certainly open to partnering with retail locations to enable this functionality, so if you operate one, please feel free to reach out at info@whichbat.com
What is the benefit of using Whichbat?
We believe there are several benefits to using Whichbat prior to your next bat purchase. You will spend much less time looking for the right bat for your player. You'll save money by finding the right bat for your player the first time. And, most importantly of all, your player will be able to go into the box finally knowing that they've got the right instrument in their hands. As Whichbat founding member Joe Morgan would tell you, that confidence as a batter is invaluable. Knowing that you have the right bat takes one of the elements out of the equation to success at the plate.
What is more important, the player's swing or the bat they're using?
The player's swing, period. The most important thing you can do to become a better hitter is continue to work on and perfect your swing mechanics and timing through proper instruction and practice. Whichbat can't fix that. What we can fix, however, is the player doing all of that and not having the level of success they could achieve simply by having a bat that matches up to them well. Using the right bat is a huge factor, but we're not going to argue that it's more important because that's simply not true.
Does Whichbat entertain opportunities for league, tournament, or team sponsorship?
We would love to! We're in startup mode right now and doing our best to continue to provide this service at a reasonable cost. So, right now we're not in a position to sponsor such things. However, we certainly hope to be able to do so in the near future, so feel free to reach out at info@whichbat.com.
Is Whichbat going to expand into softball?
Expanding to provide support to fastpitch and slowpitch softball is our number one priority once we are up and running. This is a new concept, so we thought we would approach it in baseball first. But, without a doubt, softball is the next thing on our radar. We anticipate making our first bulk purchase of softball bats in February 2021 and will be live with the data within a month from receipt of the bats. Stay tuned!
Is Whichbat open to business opportunities and partnerships?
Yes, of course! We are always happy to talk with other like-minded folks about opportunities which might synergize well with what we do. Reach out to us at info@whichbat.com and let's talk!