About the Old Hickory AJ99 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat
The Old Hickory AJ99 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat has a medium barrel and a thin to medium handle that runs to a flared knob, with an end loaded feel. It comes in a matte cherry barrel with a matte black handle. It is turned from rock maple, cut to a -3 target weight and sold in adult baseball lengths from 32 to 34 inches, including half sizes.
The AJ99 Profile
- Barrel: medium
- Handle: thin to medium
- Knob: flared
- Feel: end loaded
- Stock finish: matte cherry barrel, matte black handle
The AJ99 is the end loaded model with a medium barrel. The other end loaded bats in the lineup use a large barrel; the AJ99 gets its end loaded feel from a medium barrel, so it keeps weight working through contact without the bulk of a big barrel. The thin to medium handle sits between whippy and solid, and the flared knob gives the bottom hand a firm stop.
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 AJ99 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 AJ99 comes in 32, 32.5, 33, 33.5 and 34 inch lengths, so hitters between sizes can order a half inch:
- 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 AJ99 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Is For
- High school, college and adult baseball hitters who want an end loaded feel with a medium barrel
- Hitters stepping up from a balanced bat to an end loaded bat
- Hitters who like a thin to medium handle and a flared knob
- Players who want a matte finish
How the AJ99 Compares
Old Hickory groups its Steel Pressed stock models by feel: balanced, semi-end loaded and end loaded. The AJ99 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
- 25BB: large barrel, thin handle, standard knob with slight flare
If the AJ99 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 AJ99 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Specifications
- Brand: Old Hickory
- Model: AJ99
- Wood: rock maple
- Finish: Steel Pressed
- Stock color: matte cherry barrel, matte black handle
- Barrel: medium
- Handle: thin to medium
- Knob: flared
- Feel: end loaded
- Lengths: 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
Does the AJ99 come in 31 inches?
No. The AJ99 Steel Pressed is sold in 32, 32.5, 33, 33.5 and 34 inch lengths.
Is the AJ99 end loaded?
Yes. It is end loaded, but with a medium barrel rather than the large barrel used on the MO28, MH23 and 25BB.
What does -3 mean?
It is the length to weight ratio. The AJ99 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.
