About the Old Hickory Byron Buxton 25BB Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat
The Old Hickory Byron Buxton 25BB Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat is built to the same model and the same Steel Pressed finish as Byron Buxton's game bat. Cut to the C243 profile, the 25BB has a huge barrel with one of the largest sweet spots of any bat profile made today, a medium taper to a thin handle and a standard knob with a slight flare. It is engineered to be end heavy to deliver maximum force at impact. It is turned from rock maple, cut to a -3 target weight and sold in adult baseball lengths from 31 to 34 inches, including half sizes.
The 25BB Profile
- Barrel: large
- Handle: thin
- Knob: standard with slight flare
- Feel: end loaded
- Stock finish: matte ebony barrel, matte cherry handle
The 25BB is built around its barrel. The C243 shape pairs a huge barrel with a medium taper down to a thin handle, and the size of that barrel is where the large sweet spot comes from. The weight is deliberately out at the end, so the 25BB swings heavy and hits heavy. For a strong hitter who can control the mass, that end load turns into force at contact.
What Steel Pressed Means
Steel Pressed is Old Hickory's proprietary process for its pro stock bats. The rock maple is compressed and compacted with steel, which tightens the wood grain and produces a dramatically harder, more durable wood bat than an untreated billet. A harder, more durable bat holds up longer to batting practice and game use. The 25BB is one of Old Hickory's stock models in the Steel Pressed finish, and Old Hickory backs every Steel Pressed bat with a 60-day warranty.
Sizes and Target Weights
Every Old Hickory Steel Pressed stock bat is cut to a -3 target weight, which means the weight in ounces is three less than the length in inches. The 25BB comes in 31, 32, 32.5, 33, 33.5 and 34 inch lengths, so hitters between sizes can order a half inch:
- 31 inch, 28 ounce target
- 32 inch, 29 ounce target
- 32.5 inch, 29.5 ounce target
- 33 inch, 30 ounce target
- 33.5 inch, 30.5 ounce target
- 34 inch, 31 ounce target
The easiest way to choose is to match the length of the bat the hitter swings now. Each half inch of length adds half an ounce of target weight, so step up only if the current bat feels light.
Who the Old Hickory Byron Buxton 25BB Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Is For
- Strong high school, college and adult baseball hitters who want a huge barrel
- Power hitters who want an end heavy bat
- Hitters who want a large sweet spot
- Players who want to swing Byron Buxton's model and finish
How the 25BB Compares
Old Hickory groups its Steel Pressed stock models by feel: balanced, semi-end loaded and end loaded. The 25BB is an end loaded bat. The other end loaded models in this lineup:
- MO28: large barrel, thin handle, flared knob
- MH23: large barrel, thin handle, slightly flared knob
- AJ99: medium barrel, thin to medium handle, flared knob
If the 25BB is close but not quite right, for a lighter, more even feel, look at the semi-end loaded or balanced models such as the MT27 and KT30.
Pair It With an Old Hickory Trainer
The Old Hickory HTA Adult Hands Trainer Bat comes in the same 31 to 34 inch lengths and builds hand and forearm strength for bat speed. The Old Hickory FT1 Flat Sided Trainer Bat shows a hitter whether the barrel is square at contact. Order the trainer in the same length as the game bat.
Caring for a Maple Wood Bat
- Hit real leather baseballs. Dimpled machine balls and rubber cage balls are hard on wood bats.
- Store the bat indoors, away from extreme heat, cold and humidity.
- Check the bat for cracks before each session.
- Do not use the bat to knock cleats or hit anything other than a baseball.
Old Hickory Byron Buxton 25BB Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Specifications
- Brand: Old Hickory
- Model: 25BB
- Player model: Byron Buxton
- Wood: rock maple
- Finish: Steel Pressed
- Stock color: matte ebony barrel, matte cherry handle
- Profile: C243
- Barrel: large
- Handle: thin
- Knob: standard with slight flare
- Feel: end loaded
- Lengths: 31, 32, 32.5, 33, 33.5, 34 inches
- Weight: -3 target (length in inches minus 3 = ounces)
- Warranty: 60 days, handled by Old Hickory
- Sport: baseball
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C243 profile?
C243 is the turning profile Old Hickory cuts the 25BB to: a huge barrel with a medium taper to a thin handle and a standard knob with a slight flare.
Does the 25BB have a big sweet spot?
Yes. The 25BB's barrel gives it one of the largest sweet spots of any bat profile made today, which is the main reason hitters choose it.
What does -3 mean?
It is the length to weight ratio. The 25BB is cut to a target weight three ounces less than its length in inches, so the 33 inch bat targets 30 ounces.
What is Steel Pressed?
Old Hickory's proprietary process that compresses and compacts the wood grain to make a harder, more durable maple bat.
What is the warranty?
Old Hickory covers Steel Pressed bats with a 60-day limited warranty. Warranty claims are handled directly by Old Hickory.
