Finding the right size bat...

[Whitesoxnut]

How do you go about fitting a kid for a bat? Lets say aluminum because thats all they use, and say a 13yo or 14 yo? My theory was always better to have to little bat then to much, and Ive never seen a kid that wants more bat then they both need and should have. I'm assuming picking the right bat is more an art form then a science since every kid is different.

But are there guidelines?? What sizes/weights are typically used by what age groups?? Thanks!

[Wickensie]

I thhink you should get an aluminum and get your kid to fell the bats and say if they are good like ask him to hold the bat and say if it is the right weight becasue if you get an wooden bat like i did the aluminum bats are alot lighter most of the time and ur timing becomes off


i was hitting around .400 and when i got the aluminum bats i was hitting aroun .250

[5LilPlayers]

The most popular lengths for 13 - 14 yr. olds is 31 or 32 inches with weights from - 6 to - 10.

A "big for their age" child might want to swing a longer or heavier bat while a "small for their age" child may wish to use a shorter or lighter bat.

It really is up to the child, in most cases. If a child choses a bat that is so heavy and/or long that s/he can't get it around, then it's time to step in and look for something else, but if s/he chooses something you might feel is too big (length and/or weight-wise) but s/he can get it around and is hitting decently...I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I usually don't go anywhere else but www.baseballexpress.com for most of my equipment (they do have a catalog). Some of their aluminum (or alloy) bats can be a bit pricey, though...and of course, the bigger the name, the more you're going to pay no matter where you go. However, aluminum/alloys do last longer than wood, so it's worth it to pay a little more if the child will be able use it for several years.

[Whitesoxnut]

I just bought a 32" 23.5 aluminum for my boy and I think its to much bat for him now. Why did I even buy it? I'm on vacation, wanted to spoil him a little, the bat was priced right, and he promised he wouldnt use it in games this year. I'll put that promise with the one when he said he would walk the new puppy every day if we bought it for him.:D

The end result was I had to take the bat away to keep him from using it. Another hard lesson, dont ever buy a kid a bat he shouldnt be using right away. I'm sure he'll be fine with it next year. Right now hes using a 30"/21.

[5LilPlayers]

I just bought a 32" 23.5 aluminum for my boy and I think its to much bat for him now. Why did I even buy it? I'm on vacation, wanted to spoil him a little, the bat was priced right, and he promised he wouldnt use it in games this year. I'll put that promise with the one when he said he would walk the new puppy every day if we bought it for him.:D

The end result was I had to take the bat away to keep him from using it. Another hard lesson, dont ever buy a kid a bat he shouldnt be using right away. I'm sure he'll be fine with it next year. Right now hes using a 30"/21.
The original bat should have been perfect, going by "industry standards"....is he a little small for his age...maybe just doesn't have the arm strength? You could get him an inexpensive bat sleeve with a lower ounce (a simple 8 ounce one is around $5 - $10 depening on where you go) to get him to work on his arm strength. If he is small for his age, then yeah...the shorter/lighter bat is probably best for now.

[WonderMonkey]

My son is 13 and this year he used a 30", 22oz bat. It was perfect for him. In the leagues and tournaments we play in we see quite a few pitchers who can burn it in. The 30" bat allowed him to still be effective. He COULD have swung a 31" bat during league play but in tournaments it may have been a tad too much.

Moral of the store: Consider the level of the league and tournaments he will be playing in when making the decision.

Most kids swing a bat that is too big.

[Jesse]

My son is moving up to machine pitch this year and we're upgrading his bat, glove, etc. I've seen the "recommended" bat size charts, but my son is big for his age and the charts don't quite fit (7 yo, 4'8", 90 lbs). Last year in T-Ball he swung a 26/16. We looked at a 28/19 today and he really liked it. We tried the test where he holds the bat out straight with one hand and he was able to hold it steady for a good 10 seconds.

I feel ok about this size bat, but I'm wondering if I need to look at a different drop. Any concerns I should have? Should I be trying even bigger bats? The charts that go by size alone recommend a 30" bat for his size, but that would typically assume he's at least a couple years older. Would a 30/18 be a better choice?

Also, the bat we looked at was pretty cheap ($30). Is it worth the extra money to get a bigger drop?

I would welcome any comments or advice you may have. Thanks.

[Jake Patterson]

My son is moving up to machine pitch this year and we're upgrading his bat, glove, etc. I've seen the "recommended" bat size charts, but my son is big for his age and the charts don't quite fit (7 yo, 4'8", 90 lbs). Last year in T-Ball he swung a 26/16. We looked at a 28/19 today and he really liked it. We tried the test where he holds the bat out straight with one hand and he was able to hold it steady for a good 10 seconds.

I feel ok about this size bat, but I'm wondering if I need to look at a different drop. Any concerns I should have? Should I be trying even bigger bats? The charts that go by size alone recommend a 30" bat for his size, but that would typically assume he's at least a couple years older. Would a 30/18 be a better choice?

Also, the bat we looked at was pretty cheap ($30). Is it worth the extra money to get a bigger drop?

I would welcome any comments or advice you may have. Thanks.

At 8-years old keep it cheap and comfortable. 30" sounds too long for the age group. Consider a wood bat??

[Jesse]

Ok, so let's say I stay with a 28" bat. Should I go with a -10 or -11? How about a 29/18? Like I said, he was perfectly comfortable with the weight of the 19 oz. bat.

I guess what I'm really asking is, will the extra 1-2 oz. drop help him? What's the rule of thumb on drop for a 7-8 yo?

[Jesse]

We tried some more bats today. We narrowed it down to a 28/17 and a 29/18, and after several minutes he decided he liked the 29/18 better. His comment was, "I can swing it faster because it's lighter." When I told him it was the bigger bat he was surprised. I actually tried to steer him towards the lighter one but he insisted the 29/18 felt better. I have to admit he seemed more comfortable swinging it, and there didn't seem to be any difference in bat speed.

So what do you think about a 29/18 for a 7 year old? Here's a link to the bat:
Rawlings Rival 29/18 (http://www.shop.com/Rawlings_Rival_Bat-41579609-p!.shtml?trk=11)

[Baseball gLove]

How do you go about fitting a kid for a bat? Lets say aluminum because thats all they use, and say a 13yo or 14 yo? My theory was always better to have to little bat then to much, and Ive never seen a kid that wants more bat then they both need and should have. I'm assuming picking the right bat is more an art form then a science since every kid is different.

But are there guidelines?? What sizes/weights are typically used by what age groups?? Thanks!

How big is your son? When does he start high school? Do you think he could be playing high school ball?

[Baseball gLove]

We tried some more bats today. We narrowed it down to a 28/17 and a 29/18, and after several minutes he decided he liked the 29/18 better. His comment was, "I can swing it faster because it's lighter." When I told him it was the bigger bat he was surprised. I actually tried to steer him towards the lighter one but he insisted the 29/18 felt better. I have to admit he seemed more comfortable swinging it, and there didn't seem to be any difference in bat speed.

So what do you think about a 29/18 for a 7 year old? Here's a link to the bat:
Rawlings Rival 29/18 (http://www.shop.com/Rawlings_Rival_Bat-41579609-p!.shtml?trk=11)

I think you did a great job helping your son pick his bat. :highfive:

[LAball]

How about choking up on a bigger bat? Does that change the swing much? You get a bigger barrel this way I think.

[Jesse]

We ended up getting him an Easton Reflex 29/16.5. After 3 trips to the store this was the one he kept coming back to. Unfortunately, it's a $70 bat and we were hoping to spend no more than $50. Lo and behold, I found another one hanging up that was marked down to $50. It's blue instead of orange (but otherwise identical) so I'm assuming it was last year's model. We took it out and hit with it today and he did great.

http://www.baseballrampage.com/productphotos/LX60_front_display.jpg

[joeR]

We ended up getting him an Easton Reflex 29/16.5.

That is the same bat my son liked at 27 inches

[Baseball gLove]

How do you go about fitting a kid for a bat? Lets say aluminum because thats all they use, and say a 13yo or 14 yo? My theory was always better to have to little bat then to much, and Ive never seen a kid that wants more bat then they both need and should have. I'm assuming picking the right bat is more an art form then a science since every kid is different.

But are there guidelines?? What sizes/weights are typically used by what age groups?? Thanks!

If you think your son will be playing high school ball you should have him on track to be using a -3 by the time he is a freshman. If you think he'll be playing high school summer ball, you should have him swinging a -5 right now.

My son was swinging a 32-29 as a 14 year old freshman. He now swings a 33-30 as a 15 year old.

[Drill]

What leagues will he be playing in will determine a lot of times what he will be using.


Let him swing some of his buddies bats and get the feel. If not go into a sporting good store and on those real small isles let him start swinging a bat and I am sure the sales manager will come over and assist you.


drill

[Baseball gLove]

What leagues will he be playing in will determine a lot of times what he will be using.


Let him swing some of his buddies bats and get the feel. If not go into a sporting good store and on those real small isles let him start swinging a bat and I am sure the sales manager will come over and assist you.


drill

If he is 13 or 14 years old and plans on playing high school ball, when should he start moving toward the required high school BESR -3? When high school summer balls starts? Or would it be better that he is already acclimated to the required bat before then?

We found one of the immediate benefits of moving to the heavier bats is that the ball carried further. The -5 carried further than the -8's or -9's. the -3's drove the ball further than the -5. My son only kept the -5 for 3 months moving to the 32-29 when he was 13 years old, 6 months before high school summer ball. The -3's allowed him to start driving the ball 300 feet as a 5'4" 109 lb 13 year old. This winter as a 15 year old he has hit the top of the fence several times at 350 to 380 feet in 40 and 50 degree weather. In warmer weather the ball is gone.

[OHdad]

My son has been practicing indoors since early January with a 32" wood bat. His gamer from late last year is a DeMarini Vexxum 32/22. He's a big kid, 12yo/5'9"/145 lbs, and I'm wondering if this is going to be too light this season (13U AABC). He was generating some unreal bat/ball speed yesterday in front toss BP using the aluminum, absolutely killin' it. Is there an appreciable gain to be had in a -5 drop at this point? He could definitely handle the weight.

Thanks,
OHdad

[Baseball gLove]

My son has been practicing indoors since early January with a 32" wood bat. His gamer from late last year is a DeMarini Vexxum 32/22. He's a big kid, 12yo/5'9"/145 lbs, and I'm wondering if this is going to be too light this season (13U AABC). He was generating some unreal bat/ball speed yesterday in front toss BP using the aluminum, absolutely killin' it. Is there an appreciable gain to be had in a -5 drop at this point? He could definitely handle the weight.

Thanks,
OHdad

He should use both the -5 and the -3 in batting practice to see how they feel. If there is a noticeable drop in swing velocity, go with the -5 for a while until he adapts to the weight. Heavier bats will reveal and amplify any bad mechanics in his swing.