How Whichbat Works
To take the mystery out of the bat buying process, we've integrated all of the data and analysis into a bat matching algorithm that we make available to you here on our website. The steps below should help you understand how to use the site to help you in making your next baseball bat purchasing decision.The overall process, detailed further below, is as follows:
- Create an account;
- Gather some information about the player to be matched;
- Purchase Whichbat Bat Matches;
- Run a Whichbat Bat Match;
- View and analyze the results; and
- Go purchase the perfect bat.
Step 1
Create an account
The very first thing you need to do is create a Whichbat account. You can accomplish this task by clicking here and following the link to "Create One" or by clicking on the link at the very top right of the screen.Your account will allow you to come back and view the results of any Whichbat Bat Matches you've run previously, as well as purchase and run new Whichbat Bat Matches.
Step 2
Gather player information
Now you need to gather some information about your player. This is the information that will serve as the input to our algorithm.We have made a handy worksheet that you can download and print HERE. You will find it easier to use this and then have it with you when you move on to actually running a Whichbat Bat Match.
Step 3
Purchase some Whichbat Bat Matches
Whichbat Bat Matches are how we deliver to you the list of bats that match up to your player. In order to run a Bat Match, you must have first purchased one.You may purchase up to ten Bat Matches in a given one year period. You may wonder why anyone would want to run more than one Bat Match. It could be that you are a coach, you have multiple players in your household, or your players play in multiple leagues, utilizing multiple bat certifications at the same time. Regardless of the reason, you may purchase more than one should you wish.
Should you require more than ten in a year, you may Contact Us, providing further information as to your need so that we can determine whether to enable your account to purchase more.
Step 4
Run a Whichbat Bat Match
Here is where the magic happens. Using the information you collected in Step 1, now click on the "BAT MATCH" link and fill out the form. Each piece of information you collected will correspond to a field on the form.One thing to note here is, as stated on the worksheet, don't worry too much about your player's results on the strength factors (pushups, situps, squats). While important, small variances here won't greatly affect the results. Make sure their form looks passable, write down the results, and move on. The algorithm takes their height and weight into account, so there is no "better result" on the strength tests, and the goal is just to be representative of the player generally.
Step 5
View and analyze the results
After submitting your Bat Match, the Whichbat engine will deliver an ordered list of bats, ranked from first to last, matching your player. The bats are ranked according to "Player Fit." This is a rating of how that bat matches up specifically to the player entered. That is, the bat's Player Fit rating will be different for different players and one person's rating means nothing with respect to a different player unless that other player's stats match exactly.The Player Fit is BY FAR the most important factor in terms of how the bat will perform. The top ranked bat in your list will always have a Player Fit rating of 100 - the rest of the bats on the list are scored with regard to that best fit bat.
When you click on a bat in the list, more information will be revealed, including the recommended length. Two other scores are also delivered. "Forgiveness" is a determination, from 1 to 100, of how forgiving the bat is compared to its peers. Factors included in this are the size and length of usable barrel on the bat, and the consistency of exit velocities along the same.
The last rating provided is the "End Loading" of the bat. This is a function of how the bat will feel to the player, where 100 means a very end loaded bat and a lower number means less end loading.
Additional information provided about the bat includes the make, model, year, model number, and price. The price provided here is the suggested retail price of the bat - so you may find it for a different price depending on where you look.
