Keep baseball contact away from the end of the barrel and avoid hits toward the handle. Hits on the handle, often known as "being jammed," will not only increase the likelihood of your wood bat breaking, but will also hurt your hands like never before. The best way to prevent your bat from breaking is to not hit with it. If you must hit with it, then keep the ball in play and limit your swings. The more you use your bat, the more likely it is that it will break. Bats can be made of many different types of materials for different levels of play. In general, though, bats are rated by their maximum weight allowable according to league rules. Bats that are too light may not provide enough resistance to the ball, while heavy bats are more likely to cause injury. A medium-heavy weight is ideal for most players. As far as length goes, this is another factor that determines how much damage you can do with your bat. Longer bats tend to have more power than shorter ones, but they are also harder to control. If you are new to batting, start out with a short bat so that you can learn how to manage its power. As you get used to the game, you can add some length to it.