Find a mentor. And work your way up to a regulation size bat.
Turn a couple of carving mallets, then turn a couple of minutes bats about 12” long.
Once the mini bats begin to look like a real bats you are ready to go for a regulation size bat.
Some leagues don’t allow wooden bats
the first project I do in a beginning bowl class is a carving mallet.
Tools used are spindle roughing gouge, 1/2” spindle gouge
Can be done all between centers and saw off the ends with a small handsaw.
Or one end can be held in a chuck.
after roughing round I have my students use the area where the handle will be to practice a row of beads. Turn them off with the roughing gouge. If there is room practice more beads. Then shape the handle a bit with the roughing gouge getting it to a diameter that feels good in the turners hand. Turn the head profile with the spindle gouge. Turn a bead where the handle starts and shape the handle.
size from 3 to 5” diameter. The cherry one was parted off at an angle to make a concave face to stand on end, the hickory on is sawn off on the face and will stand on end too. The cherry one is over 20 years old and has been stipples with thousands of whacks on spur drives.
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