Most baseball coaches carry a fungo bat with them for practice, pregame warmups or “in and out.”
As a coach I think it’s important that you have a solid fungo game.
Why?
Because when you hit fungos people are watching. And yes, they are judging you! So you may as well get a good bat and learn how to use it!
If you just want to know our pick for the best fungo bat you can check it out here:
Think all fungo bats are the same?
Well you’d be wrong. They come in many different shapes and sizes depending on your individual preferences.
So let’s take a look at some of our favorite fungo bats!
Table of Contents
Marucci CS2
Our top pick for the best fungo bat goes to the Marucci CS2.
You can get this bat in lengths of 34”-36” and made of ash or maple.
The CS2 is constructed out of the same wood used in their pro model bats so you know you are getting a great piece of wood.
In the bat world this is often what sets one brand or bat apart from others. Starting with high quality wood makes a big difference that you can feel at contact.
It also allows you to get a lot more life out of your fungo bat!
Cheaper wood will start to chip, splinter and break much faster.
The reason we love the Marucci CS2 fungo bat is the high quality of wood and the superior construction.
This is no surprise as Marucci has been delivering some of the best bats since the company began. They are a great company and you won’t
SSK
I consider SSK to be the O.G. of fungo bats. It’s the brand I remember my coaches using growing up and was definitely the favorite on staff in the minor leagues.
Their fungos are made from Japanese popular wood which is lightweight and feel like butter at contact!
I prefer the smaller SSK fungo bats for no particular reason. I like their 33”-34” models. They are great for infield work and give you a lot of control.
If you are wanting to hit deep fly balls then you may want to consider something a little larger.
You can get a lot of their fungos in lengths up to 37”.
Mizuno Elite
- Chinese whitewood: great feel and lightweight design
- Infield fungo design: lightweight with 35'' length for better control in infield work
- Sanded handle: better grip and great feel
- Superior combination of lightweight and durable
Mizuno was a really popular bat when I was playing. Although I don’t see quite as many players swinging them now they still make a great fungo!
The Mizuno Elite is a great option. It comes in a 37” or their infield model which is 35”.
This fungo is constructed from Chinese whitewood which has such a great feel. It’s also very lightweight so you won’t have a problem hitting a lot of reps with this fungo.
One thing to note about the Mizuno Elite is the skinny handle. This is just a matter of preference but something to be aware of if you like a thicker handle.
Demarini Composite
- Composite frame for durability
- Wood barrel for traditional fun go feel
- End loaded for best ground ball and fly ball hitting
- 35 inch length
I was a skeptic of the Demarini Composite but I’ve actually been impressed with the performance and durability of this fungo.
It’s a great option for someone who is looking to get a lot of life out of their fungo. Even though traditionally these bats aren’t broken very often. I know some coaches that have been hitting infield with the same fungo for 20 years!
The Demarini Fungodelic fungo has a composite handle and a traditional wood barrel. The bat is end loaded so you get plenty of pop when trying to hit long fly balls.
The sound was definitely different than I expected when I first hit with this fungo but I got used to it after a while.
One thing that I did notice with this fungo I don’t feel like it is quite as forgiving as some I’ve owned in the past. It could be due to the lightweight composite handle, but you can definitely feel when you’ve miss hit a ball.
This isn’t a huge deal but something to think about if you are a traditionalist like me.
Ritchie Bat Company
I had never heard of this company up until a couple of years ago. We were playing in a tournament down in Florida and each coach received a custom fungo bat from the host. I have to say, it’s one of the best I’ve ever owned.
It’s a little longer than I usually like at 35” but I still feel like I have a ton of feel and precision.
I have put a beating on this thing and it hasn’t shown any signs of splintering or breaking.
Ritchie constructs their fungos out of light weight maple and they have a really solid feel when hitting with them.
If you like to check out new brands then I suggest you give the Ritchie Bat Company a try.
What Type of Wood Should You Choose?
For the most part fungo bats are made of ash or maple. You can find a few brands that make birch fungo bats as well.
Ash is going to be more balanced and feel a lot lighter when you swing it. I like this type of feel for infield work when I am trying to be very precise.
The drawback to ash is it can start to splinter over time. When this happens you will see some coaches use athletic tape around the barrel. This prevents further splintering and can help prevent breaking.
If you don’t mind putting tape around the barrel (some even think it looks cool) then don’t let that deter
Maple tends to be a little more top heavy but is really solid. If you like a longer fungo like 35” – 36” then maple may cause it to be significantly end loaded.
If you take a lot of swings during practice then you will be getting a serious forearm workout!
What Size Fungo Should You Use?
Sizing is purely a matter of preference. You can get great results no matter the length but it’s good to know what may work best for you.
Here are a couple of things to think about.
If you like to toss the ball close to your body then you may want to opt for a length of around 33”-34”. It will be tough to pull the barrel in and make solid contact with a longer model.
Some people really love to reach out and extend when hitting fungos. In that case, a longer fungo between 35”-37” may be the better choice.
A longer, heaver option may be the best bet if you will be using it to hit long fly balls. Something smaller just won’t have the same amount of pop.
If you want to best of both worlds then I’d stick to something around 35”.
To Conclude…
You really can’t go wrong with any of these fungo bats.
They would all be a great addition to your coaching arsenal!
What is your favorite fungo bat of all time???
For got Viper Bats R2 Fungo.
Well Don, as the founder of Viper bats I would hope you’d think so! We will have to check out your stuff it looks great. Love some of the customizations you offer!