Bat
An implement used to strike the ball, from the willow blade of cricket to the rounded baseball bat and, in British usage, the table-tennis paddle.
Definition
A bat is a hand-held implement used to hit the ball, and its form depends on the sport. A cricket bat is a flat-faced willow blade on a cane handle, a baseball or softball bat is a rounded, tapering club of wood or metal, and in British usage a table-tennis bat is the small paddle used to strike the ball.
Each bat is regulated by its sport for dimensions and materials so that it stays within fair limits of performance. The way a bat is weighted and balanced affects how quickly a player can swing it and how much power and control they can generate.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Cricket
- A flat-faced willow blade on a cane handle used to strike the ball.
- Baseball
- A rounded, tapering club of wood or metal swung to hit the pitched ball.
- Table tennis
- The small paddle, also called a racket, used to hit the ball (British term).
Where you’ll hear “bat”
Sports that use this term:
Cricket
A bat-and-ball team sport where sides take turns to bat and to bowl and field, scoring runs.
Baseball
A bat-and-ball team sport where two sides alternate between batting and fielding to score runs.
Table Tennis
A fast, low-impact indoor racquet sport that sharpens reflexes and is easy to start.
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Equipment
- Table tennis batA small wooden blade covered with rubber used to hit the ball in table tennis.
- Baseball batA smooth, rounded club used by batters to hit the pitched ball in baseball and softball.
- Cricket batA flat-fronted wooden bat used by batters to hit the ball in cricket.
- Tennis racquetA strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
- Pickleball paddleA solid, flat paddle used to hit the perforated plastic ball in pickleball.
Sport categories
Skills Academy
- Object-control skillsHandling a ball or implement — controlling, receiving, passing and moving it with intent.
- Racket-sport skillsThe core skills of racket sports — serving, returning, rallying and controlling the net.
- Team-play skillsThe skills that make a team work — combining, covering and communicating through the ball.
- Ball-sport skillsThe skills that recur across ball games — control, passing, dribbling, shooting and defending.
Skills
- ServingThe skill of putting the ball or shuttle into play to start a point or rally.
- ThrowingThe skill of propelling the ball accurately and with control using the arm.
- CatchingThe skill of cleanly securing a ball travelling through the air or off the ground.
- Net playThe skill of controlling points close to the net with volleys and touch shots.
- Ball controlThe skill of receiving and settling the ball quickly so it is ready to use.
Learning paths
- Learn Table TennisA structured, educational learning path for table tennis — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn TennisA structured, educational learning path for tennis — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn CricketA structured, educational learning path for cricket — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn BaseballA structured, educational learning path for baseball — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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