About the Old Hickory RA13 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat
The Old Hickory RA13 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat has a medium barrel and a medium handle that runs to a flared knob, with a semi-end loaded feel. It comes in a natural barrel with a black handle. 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 RA13 Profile
- Barrel: medium
- Handle: medium
- Knob: flared
- Feel: semi-end loaded
- Stock finish: natural barrel, black handle
The RA13 is a solid, dependable shape. The medium handle gives a fuller grip than the thin-handled models, and the semi-end loaded balance keeps a little weight in the barrel so the bat carries through contact. The flared knob gives the bottom hand a firm stop. This combination suits hitters who find thin handles too whippy but want a little more weight out front than a balanced bat gives.
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 RA13 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 RA13 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 RA13 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Is For
- High school, college and adult baseball hitters who want a medium handle with a little weight out front
- Hitters who find thin handles too whippy
- Hitters who like a flared knob
- Players who want a classic natural and black two-tone finish
How the RA13 Compares
Old Hickory groups its Steel Pressed stock models by feel: balanced, semi-end loaded and end loaded. The RA13 is a semi-end loaded bat. The other semi-end loaded models in this lineup:
- MT27: medium to large barrel, thin handle, standard knob
- TC42: medium barrel, thin handle, slightly flared knob
- BW11: medium barrel, thin to medium handle, flared knob
If the RA13 is close but not quite right, for a lighter, more even feel, look at the balanced models such as the KT30 and J7H; for more weight out front, the end loaded MO28 and 25BB.
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 RA13 Steel Pressed Maple Wood Baseball Bat Specifications
- Brand: Old Hickory
- Model: RA13
- Wood: rock maple
- Finish: Steel Pressed
- Stock color: natural barrel, black handle
- Barrel: medium
- Handle: medium
- Knob: flared
- Feel: semi-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
How is the RA13 different from the J7H?
Both have a medium barrel, a medium handle and a flared knob. The RA13 is semi-end loaded; the J7H is balanced.
What finish does the RA13 come in?
The stock RA13 Steel Pressed has a natural barrel and a black handle.
What does -3 mean?
It is the length to weight ratio. The RA13 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.
