What equipment is needed to play baseball?

There are six main items you need to play baseball: a bat, a baseball, a baseball glove, batting gloves, cleats, and protective gear. Protective gear might include a hard helmet for batters, and sometimes arm guards and shin guards. Catchers wear a unique set of protective gear like body armor, a catcher's mask, throat guard, and catcher's mitt to avoid being hurt by fast-moving balls coming their way.

How do I choose the right baseball bat?

There are a few factors that go into buying a baseball bat. The first is age. If you're buying a bat for someone 6 years of age or under, they'll need a tee ball bat. Anyone 7-13 years old will likely want a USA or USSSA bat, and anyone older will need a BBCOR bat. Look for these logos stamped on the bat to help you get started. Next, the bat should be arm's length from the middle of your chest to the end of your fingertips. It should also not feel so heavy that you might drop it when you swing. Lastly, the material of the bat will depend on how much you want to spend and how often you'll be using it. Alloy bats require no break-in time, are durable, and have a smaller sweet spot, but are more affordable. Composite bats take 150-200 hits to break in, have a larger sweet spot, and are more expensive.

Can I return items to an online baseball store if needed?

Yes! Most stores allow you to return new and unused items as long as it's in the specified return window (usually 30-60 days). Some retailers even let you return gear if you've used it: they know it's hard to gauge the performance of a product if you aren't playing baseball with it. Make sure to read the baseball store's return policy online before checking out.

What type of baseball glove should I buy?

Do you throw with your right or left hand? This is the first factor in what type of glove you'll need. The best thing to do is try different gloves on before ordering online to see what feels comfortable. If your friend has a glove, you might try playing catch to see how it feels. You could buy that particular brand or one comparable. Regardless of the mitt you buy, it will take time to break in. You'll have to use it a few times before it's flexible enough to be "game ready".

Who can play baseball?

Anyone! When boys and girls are small, they often start out playing tee ball, where they aren't batting from pitches from another player. This helps them learn hand-eye coordination and have an easier time at bat. As you get older, women typically play softball and men play baseball, but the sport is available and fun for everyone!

Is baseball equipment expensive?

The price of baseball equipment depends on what you're buying and its quality. By the time you purchase everything you need from top to bottom, you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars. Cleats could be expensive if you buy a name brand, but the only other items that might cost you a pretty penny are your glove and bat. If you want them to last a long time and have optimal performance, you'll want to go high-end and get the best type of leather and a composite bat. However, if you're buying baseball gear for a child or to use recreationally, you could save a few hundred dollars by getting more practical, less fancy items.

If I have questions about what baseball equipment to buy, what do I do?

Some online baseball retailers have a chat box that allows you to connect right away with an expert from their customer service team. They can help you find the right sizes and products you need without you even having to leave your house. If this isn't an option, you could reach out to their customer service team by email or phone and talk to someone who can walk you through everything.

Does the type of baseball equipment I buy have a lot to do with my performance?

It can. If you've been playing baseball for years, you'll know the difference between good quality products and cheap, off-brand ones. A perfect-fitting mitt and a bat that feels comfortable could make all the difference in your game. If you're using flimsy equipment, you likely won't play as well regardless of your skill level. Finding an online baseball equipment retailer with good reviews and top-of-the-line equipment will make a big difference for you.

Better Baseball Review for April 2026 | Best Baseball Equipment Stores

Item: Better Baseball Review
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Wednesday, April 22nd We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Baseball Equipment Store Reviews

Where is the best place to buy baseball equipment? Sports fans know that when the game is on the line, having the right equipment can make the difference between striking out and hitting a grand slam. Online shopping has made it easier than ever to get just what you need delivered right to your door in time for the big game.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Better Baseball

Prices from $34.99 to $499.99 for bats, fielding gloves, and cleats
454 bats online with over 80,000 in stock
Both youth and adult gear sold
Casual and pro gear offered
Softball gear available
Free shipping on all orders
Price match up to 30 days post purchase
Returns permitted up to 365 days
"A+" rating from the BBB
In business since 1999

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Better Baseball website

Calling themselves "America's Baseball Superstore," Better Baseball is based in Marietta, Georgia, where they have an in-person location. However, baseball fans across the United States are able to take advantage of their selection and pricing by visiting their online shop.

Biggest selection of gloves from best in the game

The self-designated one-stop-shop for America's pastime, Better Baseball has been in the Atlanta area since 1999. They provide thousands of products for baseball and softball, with equipment from the biggest names in the business, including Wilson, Rawlings, Marucci, Louisville Slugger, Easton, New Balance, Adidas, DeMarini, and Mizuno. They boast over 80,000 bats in stock as well as the largest selection of gloves, plus closeout equipment at significant discounts.

Easy to shop on this website

The Better Baseball website is colorful and easy-to-navigate, with clearly labeled product features, discounts, and warranty information. If you need help with your order, there are multiple ways to receive it - from the "Ask an expert" button which sends an email to the staff, to the phone number, to an extensive FAQ page. They will even provide expert advice to help you choose the best bat.

Competitive prices for bats and gloves

To more accurately compare prices at Better Baseball with other retailers, we focused on three key items: baseball bats, fielding gloves, and cleats. Here's how they stacked up:

For the bats, there are products for all diamond sports and all budgets. Prices range from $34.99 for a Louisville Slugger softball bat to $499.99 for high-end baseball or softball bats from Easton, Louisville Slugger, and Rawlings. While the website listed 454 general results, they also can filter to show types of bats such as BBCOR, youth, USSSA, wood, or fastpitch (which can be further refined as needed to show features like balanced, mid-loaded, barrel-loaded, and exclusive).
For the gloves, we found 652 results in our general search, which were priced as low as $39.95 for a Rawlings youth glove and as high as $499.99 for a Mizuno adult infield glove. As with the bats, gloves may be further sorted to position, throwing hand, size, color, and more.
For the cleats, Better Baseball has a small selection online of 23 options ranging from $49.99 for New Balance youth to Marucci adult at $180.

In general, the prices are competitive and at the overall average, though they had a small selection of cleats which were priced on the higher end of what we saw among retailers. While they state specifically on their website that they do not offer coupon codes, Better Baseball is committed to providing deeply discounted prices and free, fast shipping, plus BB Bucks on all orders (keep reading for more on that).

Custom uniforms at a discount

If you're looking for custom team uniforms at a discount, Better Baseball may be the place to get them. They offer a dedicated account manager, guaranteed turnaround times, and in-house graphic designers - all for no additional cost to their customers. Additionally, they specialize and manufacture their own line of protective screens, offering custom-created screens to fit your needs at competitive prices. Better Baseball is also the home of the original 9-Hole Pitchers Pocket.

Rewards don't expire

If you like being rewarded for your purchases, Better Baseball allows you to earn BB Bucks on every online or in-store order. Unlike some stores' rewards credits, they never expire and can be spent on any Better Baseball order. Signing up is free, and BB Bucks are earned with no exclusions. (This is so much better than some rewards "cash" programs which quickly expire or exclude certain brands to redeem).

They'll match that lower price

Shop with confidence at Better Baseball knowing you are finding the best price available. Their price match policy says they will beat any qualifying retailer's price and give you BB Bucks. Items to be matched must be available in the exact model, size, and color; sold by a manufacturer-approved seller; above their cost from the manufacturer; and at pricing that is available for anyone, not select groups. If you find something that meets those criteria, contact them to get the price matched. They will even honor the best price up to 30 days post purchase, providing you a refund. Easy peasy.

Free, fast shipping on all orders

Better Baseball offers fast and free shipping for all their online orders. An estimated delivery time is offered to you at checkout, depending on your distance from their Marietta, Georgia, location. Typical delivery time is one to five days. Online reviewers mentioned receiving items quickly and packaged carefully with gloves shipped to keep the shape and offering "a really cool bag" for storage or transporting the glove.

Returns allowed for a year

If you change your mind, Better Baseball offers an incredible 365-day free return for unused items. (This is especially great for those of us who buy first and think about whether or not we truly need it later). Proof of purchase is required, and no returns are available on out-of-wrapper or used items. Just go to the online returns page to start a request and get a free return label. Oversized items are excluded from the free courtesy return label. Team orders and custom screens are subject to a 15% restocking fee unless the item received did not match the original order. Additionally, if there is an issue with a bat purchased under a manufacturer's warranty, Better Baseball offers links to help you submit a claim for your replacement, making it easy to take care of something that could be a true hassle.

Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive

While Better Baseball may not be accredited by the BBB, they have earned an "A+" rating for their company with zero complaints filed. Across online review platforms, the company has an excellent rating average of 4.2 to 4.9 out of 5 stars. One happy customer noted that the company has "bat experts who helped me pick out the right bat for our son. Customer for life!" Another said that the company offers "competitive price for premium service," while one more raved, "Five stars isn't enough for these wonderful people." One unhappy customer complained about being sold an expensive bat online only to learn the next day that it was out of stock - but negative reviews are sparse, making up just 3% of the over 600 reviews.

Top of the list

With their incredible customer satisfaction, generous return policy, and massive selection of baseball equipment at competitive prices, Better Baseball is the best place to shop online for your gameday essentials. Click over there ASAP to get your gear.

On the Better Baseball website

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Buy Baseball Equipment?

Sports fans know that when the game is on the line, having the right equipment can make the difference between striking out and hitting a grand slam. Online shopping has made it easier than ever to get just what you need delivered right to your door in time for the big game.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association's Topline Participation Report, the number of Americans playing the national pastime is almost 16.7 million. From casual participation to formal leagues, people of all ages are stepping up to the plate to take a swing for the fences. To be able to hit it past the fence, they will need to have the right equipment, which more and more shoppers are finding from online baseball retailers.

One major benefit to shopping for your sporting needs online is having specialty stores at your fingertips rather than across town. Savvy online consumers can browse websites for the best prices on top gear. That ability to easily compare products and prices from the comfort of your home 24/7 gives you freedom to shop when it suits your schedule.

Sporting superstores can offer expert advice and endless options at great deals so you can bring a competitive edge to your game. Custom items - from batting gloves to a personalized jersey - may not be available to you locally, but with the click of a button, they can be shipped to you. Some retailers offer expertise, like how to choose the best bat, that you might not get from a local big box store. Baseball-specific retailers feature the largest selection of the big-name brands in the sport, making it easy to get everything you want in one location at competitive prices.

There are many factors to consider when comparing online baseball equipment retailers. Here are the top ones on our list:

Cost. Why spend more than you need to for exactly the same piece of baseball equipment? Easily compare prices online to find the best one, keeping in mind that many reputable sellers will also price match to gain your business and keep you as a loyal customer.
Returns. While shopping online is convenient, often there are hassles when it comes to returns. Check out the retailer's policy for accepting new, unused products, and avoid those who make it difficult or even charge a restocking fee for something you realized did not meet your expectations.
Selection. It's much more convenient to get everything from one retailer, keeping shipping costs to a minimum (or even qualifying for free delivery). Do they offer all of the top brands or just some of the big names? Look for an online baseball equipment retailer who carries everything you need.
Customer satisfaction. Nothing is worse than finding the glove to make the winning catch - and having it arrive after the game. Check out the reviews to see which retailers have the happiest customers and which strike out.

At Top Consumer Reviews, we want to make sure you're prepared when the coach sends you up to bat, so we have evaluated and rated the best options to purchase baseball equipment online today. Before the big game, check out these retailers and make sure you're ready for the big leagues!

Better Baseball Review: Baseball Equipment Stores

2026 Baseball Equipment Store Reviews

Better Baseball

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