The Best Bats for Pottery Wheel Throwing (2025)

Do you know what’s downright batty? That there existed a time before I was consistently throwing on a bat. I tried my hand at bowls, mini plates, and pitchers before I welcomed this much easier system in my life. Bats are surfaces placed on top of the wheel head that you throw directly on top of, and remove when you’re done. With a bat system, gone are the days of wiring under your piece and crossing your fingers as you do the old fashioned wet the wheel and slide method. Simply pop a bat off and on, and you’re in for a much smoother, uninterrupted throwing session.

Go to any potters site, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of potential bats to add to the cart. But which are the best bats for pottery wheel throwing? We’re ranking our favorites to help you go from a basic creator to a bat-powered production pipeline.

Speedball Bats for Pottery Wheel 

Part of bats’ appeal is a need for speed, so it seems only fitting that the brand Speedball is included in the mix. There’s a lot to love about this bat system. First, it’s dirt cheap. In a world in which a small jar of glaze runs you $30, Speedball offers a welcome break for your bank account. You’ll want a number of these bad boys at your disposal, so thank you, Speedball, for an affordable option.

A low price doesn’t mean poor performance—these bats work. Unlike wooden bats that may warp after a few uses, these plastic bats are durable and keep their form for years to come. They also come in multiple sizes and shapes—pick the size that fits your wheel, and choose the shape that’ll work for the pieces you’re throwing.

Personally, I’ve got my hands on a few 14” brown round bats, and a few 7/5” blue square bats. For larger pieces like bowls, round bats are my go-to. For less wide pieces, like mugs, the squares bats work just fine, and optimize space on my studio shelf.

I refuse to throw without these bats—they’ve saved me from warping and mishandling my pieces, completely elevating my end result. Speedball bats have earned their place as the #1 bat system in pottery.

The Ceramic Shop Snap Bat Throwing System

Now this is exciting—The Ceramic Shop just dropped a new bat system that’ll change the throwing game. Previous bats with snap in inserts were made of wood, meaning your bats would face the ultimate fate of warping and winding up in the garbage can. The Ceramic Shop answered our calls for a plastic snap bat system that’ll last you longer than 1-2 throwing sessions.

The snap bats allow you to quickly pop off a bat and keep working at unprecedented speed. Rather than having to lock your bat on the wheel with pins every time, this bat system has a groove to pop the insert out with your thumb. If you’re looking for a sleek system to up your efficiency, this is it. Plus, it comes with 5 plastic inserts so you can get the pottery party started ASAP.

The Ceramic Shop Hydro-Bats

Raise your hand if you’ve tried the wet the wheel and slide method to get your piece off the wheel. Raise your hand if you’ve ALSO had that piece stick to your bat when you got to lift it off after a few days. If you’re a potter and you’re NOT raising your hand, you’re a miracle worker. This tale unfolds all too often in my own studio.

But, I’m putting the threat of warping behind me, because hydro-bats have entered the chat.

Plaster bats are a potter’s best friend for even drying, and to be able to easily lift leather hard pieces. Plaster is a porous surface which draws out any excessive moisture from the clay. Basically, these bats are working overtime—they’re helping you speed up the throwing AND drying process.

Expert Tip: If you use a bat, do yourself a favor and pick up a Batmate. This little piece of cloth stabilizes your bat on the wheel head, foregoing wiggles and wobbles.

Wrapping Up: The Best Bats for Pottery Wheel Throwing

If you couldn’t tell, we’re the biggest fans of bats. Why? A huge perk for me is not worrying about warping my pieces as I slide them off the wheel head. Plus, being able to pop on a new bat and continue throwing has seriously improved my speed and efficiency. In our professional potter opinion, look to Speedball or The Ceramic Shop for the best bats for pottery wheel throwing. Whether you go for a cheaper option like Speedball or a more advanced system from The Ceramic Shop, we guarantee you’ll be bats for bats!