How to Make a Wiffle Ball Bat

Get ready for some backyard baseball.

Grabbing a ball and bat and a few chums from the neighborhood to play a game of backyard baseball is as American as apple pie. Wiffle, the trademark brand for a plastic ball with eight oblong perforations invented by the Mullany family of Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1953, is the only real Wiffle ball. Designed not to travel far, Wiffle balls are easier to curve and harder to hit than traditional baseballs, according to Wiffle.com. Although there are Wiffle bats as well, playing with a wooden broom stick will suffice, as this is how the game began.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1/4- to 1 3/4-inch wood pole or broom handle
• Circular saw or hand saw
• Sandpaper
• Textured tape or cotton rope
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Cut the stick or pole to size with a saw. According to professional baseball bat size standards set in 1859, bats may be no longer than 42 inches with a maximum diameter of 2 3/4 inches. A junior bat by Wiffle for small children is 24 inches long with a 1 1/4-inch diameter. Wiffle's average bat size is 31 inches long with a 1 1/4-inch diameter.

2. Gently sand the bottom 12 inches of the wood pole to prevent slivers.

3. Sand along the top of the pole to soften and round the edges like commercially made bats.

4. Make a handle by wrapping a 6- to 8-inch portion of the pole where you will grip it. Textured tape, such as medical or cloth tape, or tightly wrapped rope work well. The tape may loosen after many swings with sweaty hands, so replace it when necessary.

5. 

   Use your team crest as the logo for your homemade bat.

   Draw a logo or trademark on the barrel of the bat. Historically, the trademark was branded into wood bats a quarter-turn from the "grain." If the batter kept the trademark up, the grain faced the pitcher, allowing the bat to make contact with the ball at the bat's most ideal spot. For tradition's sake, give your bat a logo, such as your initials or the date of the bat's first debut game boldly circled.

Tips & Warnings

• White ash is a strong, lightweight wood well-suited for making bats.

• Bats with a wider barrel have a better hitting surface. However, a smaller diameter means less weight to swing and better control, which is especially important for youngsters or small adults.

• Use caution when throwing your bat after hitting the ball as wood can be more dangerous than a plastic bat commonly used in Wiffle ball games.

• Avoid heavy, dense woods, such as hickory, for Wiffle ball bats. Their weight makes control difficult even when hitting a hard baseball.

References

• Wiffle: The Game and Rules
• New Jersey Wiffle Ball Association: The Bats of Wiffle Ball
• Steve the Ump: "Evolution of the Baseball Bat"; Bernie Mussill

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish