2026 Rawlings 318 Player Preferred Ash Wood Bat Review
The 318-turn Player Preferred in ash — a balanced, traditional-feeling wood bat with the lighter, springier character ash hitters grew up on.
Prefer the 2024? The 2024 318 Player Preferred Ash is a very similar bat → $69.99Price just dropped $32 — that's 34% off and a great deal right now!
Check today's price →The Score
How we score ↗The grade, density and grain of the billet — slope-of-grain, ink-dot certification, and whether it’s a true pro-cut. The headline for a wood bat. A primary driver of the overall score.
Barrel size and the turn-model profile (110/243/271/I13 and the like) — how much hitting surface and forgiveness the shape gives you.
How the wood feels and sounds at contact — the flex/stiffness of the handle, and the crack off a quality billet.
How well the wood holds up — density and grain quality (and, for composite wood, engineered toughness). Far more important on a wood bat than on alloy.
How hard the ball comes off for a wood bat — real, but a lighter factor here since wood isn’t about chasing max exit velocity.
Quality per dollar versus comparable pro-grade or composite wood. Shown for context; NOT factored into the overall score.
Why this score: Balanced ash earns good feel and swing-ease scores; density limits power and durability versus maple; value is good at the sale price.
Our Review
The Player Preferred 318RAW is a clean, mid-priced ash bat built on the 318 turning model: a balanced profile with a medium barrel and a thinner handle that keeps it quick to the zone. Ash gives it a lighter feel and a bit more flex than maple, with a softer sting on mishits, which a lot of hitters specifically prefer. As with all ash, it is less dense and more prone to flaking than maple, so it trades some durability and top-end power for that forgiving, traditional feel. At the sale price it is an easy recommendation for a hitter who likes ash and wants a balanced gamer without paying maple-gamer money.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Balanced 318 turn is quick and easy to control
- Ash flex gives a lighter feel and softer sting than maple
- Reasonable price for a real-wood gamer, better on sale
Cons
- Ash is less durable than maple and can flake over time
- Lower density means less raw power than a maple equivalent
Full Specifications
| Brand | Rawlings |
|---|---|
| Model | 318 Player Preferred Ash |
| Model Year | 2026 |
| Certification | Wood |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Construction | Ash, 318 turning model |
| Model # | 318RAW |
| Drop | -3 |
| Barrel | Medium |
| Swing Weight | Balanced |
| MSRP | $94.99 |
Where to Buy
2026 Rawlings 318 Player Preferred Ash Wood Bat — FAQ
Is the 2026 Rawlings 318 Player Preferred Ash a good Wood bat?
We rate it 6.9/10 (Grade C). The 318-turn Player Preferred in ash — a balanced, traditional-feeling wood bat with the lighter, springier character ash hitters grew up on.
What drops does the 318 Player Preferred Ash come in?
The 2026 318 Player Preferred Ash Wood comes in -3.
How much does the 2026 318 Player Preferred Ash cost?
MSRP is $94.99. We've seen it for $62.99. We list the lowest price across CheapBats and Amazon on this page.
New to buying bats? Read our bat sizing guide, certifications explained, or browse all guides.
You May Also Like
Sources: CheapBats — Rawlings 318 Player Preferred Ash 318RAW