WHAT’S A FUNGO BAT?

A fungo bat is a specialized bat, traditionally used by coaches. The origin of its odd name is fairly unknown and debated. Fungos are used to hit balls to fielders during practice or a while warming up before the first pitch. They are lighter and thinner than your traditional game bat. But like game bats, fungos are made out of the same types of wood such as maple, ash, birch, or beech. In some cases, they are made from poplar or bamboo, two materials that are not approved for MLB play.

Fungo bats are usually classed into infield and outfield sizes. Outfield fungos are used mostly for hitting fly balls and are offered in 34, 35, and 36-inch sizes. Infield fungos are used for hitting grounders and are usually 32 or 33 inches in length.

One recent trend I’ve been seeing around the diamond is “Fungo Golf.” It’s a fun and creative way for teammates to bond. Two or more players create makeshift golf holes around the field. Most shots are swung like a normal baseball swing, but depending on the distance, players may decide to putt. It’s scored just like golf; lowest number of strokes gets you the W.

At M^Powered Baseball, we offer a full range of fungo bats in a variety of colors and stains. As always, we will add your personal engraving free of charge.

Get your fungo on.