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Bats are the cheapest upgrade that changes how you throw. A bat is a removable plate that pins onto the wheel head. You throw on it, lift the whole bat off with the pot still sitting on it, and set it aside to dry. No more squashing a fresh bowl while you slide it off the wheel.
The right pottery wheel bats depend on three things: your wheel's pin spacing, the size of what you throw, and the material, which decides whether pots release on their own or need wiring off. This guide covers the best bat in each material, a bat system that saves shelf space, and a fix for wobbly bats.
We haven't tested these bats ourselves. Picks are based on maker and retailer specifications, studio supply guidance and recurring potter feedback.
Quick picks
- AMACO Plasti-Bat 14 in: Best overall. Best for Brent owners and anyone who wants a tough, long-lasting bat.
- Speedball 14 in Round Universal Bat: Best plastic bat for mixed pin spacing. Best for owners of more than one wheel, including wheels with 9-inch pins.
- HydroBat 14 in: Best wire-free release. Best for bowls and plates that need to dry evenly.
- Speedball 14 in Round Medex Bat: Best wood-fiber bat. Best for affordable bats that release clay better than plastic.
- Penguin Pottery 14 in Bat System: Best bat system. Best for throwing many small pieces without storing many full bats.
- Xiem BatMate: Best bat stabilizer. Best for wobbly bats and wheels without pins.
Where to buy: HydroBats are sold through ceramic suppliers, not Amazon. Every other pick here is listed on Amazon.
Comparison table
| Bat | Best for | Material | Sizes listed | Pin fit | Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMACO Plasti-Bat | Durable everyday bat | Rigid high-impact plastic, 1/4–3/8 in | 12 in, 14 in, 9 in square | 10 in, one oblong hole | Wire off |
| Speedball Universal Bat | Mixed pin spacing | Injection-molded ribbed plastic | 14 in round (line also has 7.5 in square, 12 in) | 10 in or 9 in versions | Wire off |
| HydroBat | Even drying | Hydro-Stone (gypsum-cement) | 6 in to 28 in | 10 in (sizes under 12 in need an adapter) | Releases without wire |
| Speedball Medex Bat | Affordable, good release | Medex (water-resistant MDF), 3/8 in per Speedball | 14 in (12 in and 16 in also made) | Check listing | Releases readily |
| Penguin Pottery Bat System | Many small pieces | Medex MDF | 14 in bat, five square inserts | Check listing | Inserts lift out |
| Xiem BatMate | Wobble, no pins | Bonded mat | 12 in, 14 in | No pins needed | Not a bat |
The best pottery wheel bats, reviewed
AMACO Plasti-Bat 14 in: best overall
Who it's for: anyone with a 14-inch head, and especially Brent owners, since a Plasti-Bat comes in the box with every current Brent wheel (see our Brent pottery wheel review).
AMACO makes the Plasti-Bat from rigid, high-impact plastic 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick that resists water and most chemicals. The pin-hole version has one oblong hole, which AMACO says gives a better fit on AMACO and Brent wheels, and the holes won't wear oversized with use. Nasco lists the holes as 10 inches apart. It comes in 12-inch and 14-inch rounds plus a 9-inch square.
Plastic doesn't absorb water, so you'll cut pots off with a wire before they dry, and the base can dry more slowly than the rim. In return, a Plasti-Bat lasts for years. Store bats flat or in a slotted rack: AMACO warns that even a slight obstruction can make them warp.
Pros
- Tough, water- and chemical-resistant plastic
- Oblong hole helps the bat seat without rocking
- Holes don't wear oversized
- Same bat AMACO ships with Brent wheels
Cons
- Pots need wiring off
- Doesn't help pots dry evenly
- Can warp if stored on an uneven surface
AMACO Plasti-Bat 14 in
by AMACO
Speedball 14 in Round Universal Bat: best plastic bat for mixed pin spacing
Who it's for: potters who own or share more than one wheel, and anyone whose wheel has 9-inch pin spacing.
Speedball's injection-molded plastic bats have ribs underneath for strength. They're made in two universal spacings: 10-inch, marked with three dots on the edge, and 9-inch, marked with one dot. That marking system is handy if you own or share more than one wheel. Speedball says the rim design lets you lift pieces off the wheel in one smooth motion, and it makes them in the USA. The Amazon listing is the 14-inch round, also sold in packs of two to four, and a 12-inch three-pack is listed too.
Speedball also makes a 7.5-inch square, the size to stock up on for mugs because squares pack tightly on a drying shelf. Every new Speedball wheel comes with one 7.5-inch and one 12-inch bat. Check which pin spacing the listing ships before you order.
Pros
- 9-inch and 10-inch spacing versions, clearly marked
- Ribbed for strength
- Multi-packs listed on Amazon
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Plastic means wiring pots off
- No sizes beyond 14 inches
- Pin spacing isn't always clear on the listing
Speedball 14 in Round Universal Bat
by Speedball
HydroBat 14 in: best wire-free release
Who it's for: throwers who want pots to pop off without a wire, and who make bowls and plates that crack if the base dries slower than the rim.
HydroBats are made by The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia from Hydro-Stone, a US Gypsum material containing cement and crystalline silica, not standard pottery plaster. The bats absorb water, so pieces release without cutting, and the base dries along with the walls. Hard rubber grommets are cast into the underside for standard 3/8-inch bat pins. They're sold from 6 inches up to 28 inches.
Check spacing by size. The standard sizes from 12.5 inches up fit 10-inch pins. The 8.5- to 11-inch bats have grommets 6 inches apart and the 6-inch mini 4 inches apart, so they need The Ceramic Shop's 10-to-6 adapter. The maker advises unboxing them right away so residual moisture can escape. The Ceramic Shop also notes that plaster-type bats are more fragile than plastic or Medex.
Pros
- Pots release without a wire
- More even drying for bowls and plates
- Cast-in rubber grommets
- Huge size range
Cons
- More fragile than plastic
- Smaller sizes need an adapter
- Must be unboxed promptly so residual moisture escapes
Where to buy: HydroBats are sold by The Ceramic Shop and other ceramic suppliers, not on Amazon. We found no plaster-type bat on Amazon whose specs we could verify. The closest Amazon option for easier release than plastic is a Medex bat, such as the Speedball one reviewed below.
Speedball 14 in Round Medex Bat: best wood-fiber bat
Who it's for: potters who want an affordable bat that releases clay better than plastic, and who are willing to keep it reasonably dry.
Medex is a water-resistant MDF. Speedball makes 3/8-inch Medex bats in 12, 14 and 16 inches, and describes them as made with no added formaldehyde from 90 percent recycled wood fibers. The 14-inch round is the one listed on Amazon. Speedball's listing title doesn't state the pin-hole layout, so confirm it matches your wheel's spacing before ordering.
Like hardboard bats, Medex releases clay more readily than plastic, which makes it a studio staple. The trade-off is water. Prolonged soaking can make wood-fiber bats swell or warp, so wipe them down and let them dry. Ceramic suppliers such as The Ceramic Shop also carry Medex bats from New England Hardboard with a hole and a slot, which forgives small differences in pin spacing.
Pros
- Releases clay better than plastic
- No added formaldehyde, mostly recycled fiber, per Speedball
- Affordable enough to buy in quantity
- 12, 14 and 16 inch sizes in the line
Cons
- Can warp with prolonged water exposure
- Needs wiping and drying after each session
- Pin-hole layout not stated in the listing title
Speedball 14 in Round Medex Bat
by Speedball
Penguin Pottery 14 in Bat System: best bat system
Who it's for: potters who throw lots of small pieces and don't want a stack of full-size bats.
A bat system uses one adapter bat that stays on the wheel and small inserts that pop in and out. Penguin Pottery's Amazon listing pairs a 14-inch bat with five square Medex MDF inserts, aimed at small pieces such as mugs and small pots. For mugs and cups, five inserts take up far less shelf space than five 14-inch bats.
The listing doesn't give the insert size or the pin spacing in its title, so check the product details against your wheel before buying. Medex inserts need the same care as any wood-fiber bat: wipe them and let them dry. If you want more inserts, dealers sell other systems, such as the StudioPro SpaceSaver with eight 6-inch inserts.
Pros
- One adapter, several small inserts
- Saves drying-shelf space
- Medex releases clay better than plastic
- Sold on Amazon
Cons
- Inserts limit you to small pieces
- Five inserts, so busy sessions may need more
- Insert size and pin spacing not stated in the listing title
Penguin Pottery 14 in Bat System with 5 Square Medex Inserts
by Penguin Pottery
Xiem BatMate: best bat stabilizer
Who it's for: anyone whose bats rock on worn pins, and owners of wheels without bat pins, such as many budget models.
The BatMate isn't a bat. It's a bonded mat that sits between the wheel head and your bat, sold in 12-inch and 14-inch diameters. You dampen it, lay it on a dry wheel head and set the bat on top. Retailers describe it as a fix for bats that jitter or are slightly warped, and for trimming bowls and plates. The Ceramic Shop says many customers use HydroBats with a BatMate on wheels that have no pin holes.
Know its limits. Potclays warns that large amounts of clay can pull a bat free, so it suits small to medium pieces. One buyer review notes that the blue dye can stain sponges. If you own a wheel without pins, like the ones in our VEVOR pottery wheel review, the BatMate is the cleanest way to use bats.
Pros
- Stops worn or slightly warped bats from rocking
- Lets you use bats on wheels without pins
- Useful for trimming as well as throwing
- Two sizes
Cons
- Not for heavy lumps of clay
- Dye can bleed onto sponges
- Needs to be damp to grip
Xiem BatMate
by Xiem
Buying guide: how to choose pottery wheel bats
Measure your pin spacing first
Most US wheels have pins 10 inches apart, center to center, and that's what most bats are drilled for. Some wheels differ because of age, size or country of origin. Measure center to center before you buy. If your pins are 9 inches apart, Speedball makes a 9-inch version. If your bats rock slightly, a bat with a slot or an oblong hole (Plasti-Bat) helps.
Match the bat to your wheel head
A bat can be larger than the head, but a small bat must still reach both pins. For 14-inch heads like the Brent B, C and CXC, the 12- and 14-inch rounds are the workhorses. Tabletop wheels with small heads, such as the Shimpo Aspire, use their own bats. Shimpo includes two with the Aspire. See our mini pottery wheel guide for small-wheel options.
Choose the material for the job
| Material | Releases pots | Drying | Durability | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Wire off | Base dries slower | Very durable | Waterproof |
| Medex / hardboard | Releases readily | Some absorption | Moderate | Warps if soaked |
| Plaster-type (HydroBat) | Releases without wire | Most even | Most fragile | Absorbs by design |
Many potters keep two kinds: plastic or Medex for everyday mugs and cylinders, and plaster-type bats for wide bowls and plates that need even drying.
Square or round
Square bats pack more tightly on shelves. Round bats work better for plates and wide bowls and are easier to center visually. For mugs, squares win.
How many to buy
Count how many pieces you throw in a session, then add a few. Pots usually stay on their bats until leather-hard, which can take a day or more. If you throw 10 mugs at a time, a bat system with inserts is more practical than 10 full bats.
Bat pins and care
Bat pins wear, and loose pins cause wobble. AMACO sells a Brent bat pin kit. Keep pins tight, store bats flat, and scrape off clay before it dries hard. Our wheel throwing for beginners guide shows when to lift a bat off, and our trimming tools guide picks up when the pot is leather-hard. For the rest of your throwing kit, see our pottery tools picks.
How we chose
We didn't test these bats hands-on. We compared maker and retailer specifications (AMACO, Speedball, Penguin Pottery's Amazon listing, The Ceramic Shop, New England Hardboard via NM Clay, Clay-King, Potclays), The Ceramic Shop's material guidance, and the bat problems potters raise most often in pottery communities, such as rocking, warping and release. We list only sizes and specs the sellers publish.
FAQ
What are bats used for on a pottery wheel?
A bat is a removable disc or square that attaches to the wheel head. You throw on the bat, then lift the bat off with the pot still on it, so the fresh pot is not distorted by cutting and lifting it by hand. The pot can dry on the bat while you put another bat on the wheel.
What is the standard bat pin spacing?
Most US wheels use bat pins 10 inches apart, center to center. The Ceramic Shop notes that some wheels differ because of age, size or country of origin, and Speedball sells plastic bats in both 10-inch and 9-inch spacing. Measure your wheel's pins before buying.
Are plastic or plaster bats better?
It depends on the job. Plastic bats such as AMACO's Plasti-Bat are durable and water resistant, but you usually need to wire pots off. Plaster-type bats like the HydroBat absorb water, so pots release without a wire and dry more evenly, but they are more fragile than plastic or Medex.
How do you use a bat on a wheel without bat pins?
Press a thin, even pad of soft clay onto the wheel head, score it with a few rings, then press a slightly dampened bat on top and tap it to center. A bat mat such as the Xiem BatMate, dampened and placed between the head and the bat, is a cleaner option for small to medium pieces.
How many pottery bats do I need?
Enough for one session's work plus drying time. Many home potters start with six to ten. Pots usually stay on their bats until leather-hard, so if you throw eight mugs in a session, you need eight bats or a bat system with eight inserts.
Verdict
For most potters, the AMACO Plasti-Bat is the best pottery wheel bat to start with: tough, accurate on the pins and long-lasting. Add HydroBats from a ceramic supplier for bowls and plates that need even drying, or Speedball's Medex bats if you want better release on a budget. If you throw lots of small pieces, a bat system like Penguin Pottery's saves shelf space. The Xiem BatMate is the fix when your bats rock or your wheel has no pins.