Best Pottery Wheel Bats
Updated How we research
A bat is a removable disc that attaches to your wheel head so you can lift finished pieces off the wheel without touching or warping them. For home potters, bats are what make throwing sessions productive, since you can move a wet plate or wide bowl aside and keep working instead of waiting for each piece to stiffen. The main choices are material and system: plastic bats are cheap and durable, wood composite offers gentle release, plaster wicks moisture for easy removal, and insert systems let you swap small squares instead of full discs. Check your wheel head's pin spacing before buying, since ten-inch spacing is common but not universal. This guide compares the options by material, size, and value.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.3 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:PATIKIL 2 Pack 14" Pottery Wheel Bats, 1/3" Thick Round Pottery Bat System, Pre Pin Holes 10" Apart with Stainless Steel Screws. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Pottery Head Pottery Bats for Pottery Wheel - Set of 3 Round 12" Pottery Wheel Bats with Guiding Lines. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Speedball 12 Inch Round Universal Pottery Wheel Bat, Brown, for Ceramics and Clay Work. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:Speedball 14 Inch Round Universal Pottery Wheel Bat, Orange, for Ceramics and Clay Work. Features score of 7/10, overall 8.1/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
PATIKIL 2 Pack 14" Pottery Wheel Bats, 1/3" Thick Round Pottery Bat System, Pre Pin Holes 10" Apart with Stainless Steel Screws
PATIKIL's 2 pack of 14" round bats, 1/3" thick, with pre pin holes 10" apart and stainless steel screws.
Our score8.6/10Budget
Pottery Head Pottery Bats for Pottery Wheel - Set of 3 Round 12" Pottery Wheel Bats with Guiding Lines
Pottery Head's set of 3 round 12" pottery wheel bats with guiding lines for centering and throwing in batches.
Our score8.4/10Budget
#1PATIKIL's 2 pack of 14" round bats, 1/3" thick, with pre pin holes 10" apart and stainless steel screws.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pre pin holes 10" apart match a very common wheel pin spacing
- + Stainless steel screws are included for fitting pins without rusting
- + 1/3" thick bats feel rigid enough for large, heavy pots
- - Wheels with a different pin spacing will need extra drilling
- - 14" bats are bulky to store compared with smaller sizes
#2Pottery Head's set of 3 round 12" pottery wheel bats with guiding lines for centering and throwing in batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Guiding lines help beginners place clay near center before throwing
- + Set of 3 bats keeps a throwing session moving without waiting
- + 12" diameter works for most everyday bowls, mugs and plates
- - Newer brand with less track record than Speedball or U.S. Art Supply
- - Confirm the pin spacing matches your wheel head before buying
#3Speedball's 12 Inch round universal pottery wheel bat in brown, for lifting finished pots off the wheel without distorting them.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Universal pin pattern fits many common wheel heads, not only Speedball
- + 12 Inch round size handles bowls, plates and medium platters
- + Lets you remove a freshly thrown pot on the bat instead of cutting and lifting
- - Single bat, so throwing several pieces in a row needs more bats
- - Confirm your wheel head pin spacing before ordering
#4Speedball's 14 Inch round universal pottery wheel bat in orange, a large bat for platters and wide forms.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 14 Inch diameter supports wide platters and big serving bowls
- + Bright orange color makes the bat easy to spot on a busy shelf
- + Rigid universal bat helps keep large pieces flat while drying
- - Larger bat may overhang smaller wheel heads and splash pans
- - Only one bat, so large production runs need extras
#5U.S. Art Supply's set of 2 durable, balanced 11" round plastic pottery wheel bats for spinning clay and ceramics.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Set of 2 lets you throw a second piece while the first one firms up
- + Balanced plastic bats spin true without wobble on the wheel head
- + 11" size is a versatile middle ground for bowls and mugs
- - Plastic does not absorb water, so pieces release more slowly than wood
- - Pin hole fit varies by wheel, so check compatibility first
#6Pottery Head's set of 4 square 7" pottery wheel bats with guiding lines for batch-throwing small pieces.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Set of 4 square bats is ideal for throwing mugs in a row
- + Guiding lines make centering small pieces more consistent
- + Square bats stack neatly on ware boards while pieces dry
- - Needs a compatible outer bat or adapter to hold square inserts
- - 7" size will not fit wide bowls or plates
#7Speedball's 7.5 Inch square universal pottery wheel bat in brown, sized for mugs, cups and small bowls.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Square 7.5 Inch shape fits inside a bat system and stacks neatly to dry
- + Small footprint suits mugs and cylinders you throw in batches
- + Universal design from a familiar pottery brand
- - Square inner bats usually need an outer adapter bat to mount on a wheel
- - Too small to support wide bowls, plates or platters
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Wheels with a different pin spacing will need extra drilling (PATIKIL 2 Pack 14" Pottery Wheel Bats, 1/3"...)
- Newer brand with less track record than Speedball or U.S. Art Supply (Pottery Head Pottery Bats for Pottery Wheel -...)
- Single bat, so throwing several pieces in a row needs more bats (Speedball 12 Inch Round Universal Pottery...)
- Larger bat may overhang smaller wheel heads and splash pans (Speedball 14 Inch Round Universal Pottery...)
- Plastic does not absorb water, so pieces release more slowly than wood (U.S. Art Supply - 11" Round Plastic Pottery...)
- Needs a compatible outer bat or adapter to hold square inserts (Pottery Head Pottery Bats for Pottery Wheel -...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among pottery wheel bats?
PATIKIL 2 Pack 14" Pottery Wheel Bats, 1/3" Thick Round Pottery Bat System, Pre Pin Holes 10" Apart with Stainless Steel Screws is our top overall pick. PATIKIL's 2 pack of 14" round bats, 1/3" thick, with pre pin holes 10" apart and stainless steel screws. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Pottery Head Pottery Bats for Pottery Wheel - Set of 3 Round 12" Pottery Wheel Bats with Guiding Lines is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Pottery Head's set of 3 round 12" pottery wheel bats with guiding lines for centering and throwing in batches.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Pottery Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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