new bat help, please

[randy]

My 11 yo son is playing 11u select ball. He is using a dynasty(blue model) 28-19, 2 3/4that he hit very well with this fall and is hitting well with this spring. He is 5'0 and 90 lbs. I know he is outgrowing this bat as we speak, and would like to buy him a new one for his birthday this summer, thereby killing 2 birds with one stone.
I would like to buy him a 29-20 in the same model, but I can't find one-everything left in that model is either smaller or too large. Thinking about the gold model in 29 19.5, because he loves the feel and balance of his current dynasty. Is that enough of an increase, or should I jump to a 30 20.5?
Thank you.
PS-he wants nothing to do with easton, and he cares not at all that the newer dynasty is 2 5/8.

[Jake Patterson]

My 11 yo son is playing 11u select ball. He is using a dynasty(blue model) 28-19, 2 3/4that he hit very well with this fall and is hitting well with this spring. He is 5'0 and 90 lbs. I know he is outgrowing this bat as we speak, and would like to buy him a new one for his birthday this summer, thereby killing 2 birds with one stone.
I would like to buy him a 29-20 in the same model, but I can't find one-everything left in that model is either smaller or too large. Thinking about the gold model in 29 19.5, because he loves the feel and balance of his current dynasty. Is that enough of an increase, or should I jump to a 30 20.5?
Thank you.
PS-he wants nothing to do with easton, and he cares not at all that the newer dynasty is 2 5/8.

Can't help much with kiddy bats (not meant to be sarcastic, I just don't know what else to call them)... but at 11 he will probably be looking at playing school ball soon and most States have BESR and -3 requirements. You may want to start moving him closer to these bats, not further away. The large drop bats are fun, but they do little to help a player get ready for school ball.

Just my 2 cents.

[TG Coach]

My 11 yo son is playing 11u select ball. He is using a dynasty(blue model) 28-19, 2 3/4that he hit very well with this fall and is hitting well with this spring. He is 5'0 and 90 lbs. I know he is outgrowing this bat as we speak, and would like to buy him a new one for his birthday this summer, thereby killing 2 birds with one stone.
I would like to buy him a 29-20 in the same model, but I can't find one-everything left in that model is either smaller or too large. Thinking about the gold model in 29 19.5, because he loves the feel and balance of his current dynasty. Is that enough of an increase, or should I jump to a 30 20.5?
Thank you.
PS-he wants nothing to do with easton, and he cares not at all that the newer dynasty is 2 5/8.

If he's hitting well with it he's not outgrowing it. Why change bats and mess with success?

[jbooth]

My 11 yo son is playing 11u select ball. He is using a dynasty(blue model) 28-19, 2 3/4that he hit very well with this fall and is hitting well with this spring. He is 5'0 and 90 lbs. I know he is outgrowing this bat as we speak, and would like to buy him a new one for his birthday this summer, thereby killing 2 birds with one stone.
I would like to buy him a 29-20 in the same model, but I can't find one-everything left in that model is either smaller or too large. Thinking about the gold model in 29 19.5, because he loves the feel and balance of his current dynasty. Is that enough of an increase, or should I jump to a 30 20.5?
Thank you.
PS-he wants nothing to do with easton, and he cares not at all that the newer dynasty is 2 5/8.

I don't think an 11 or 12 year-old should swing anything less than 22oz.

If they can't swing that, they probably have mechanical flaws. The lighter the bat, the more they learn to power it with their arms and hands, and then when they get older and have to swing a -3, which will be at least 27oz, they can't hit.

Get a heavier bat, and learn to swing it with the legs, hips and shoulders.

I've had 8 year-olds swing 22oz and do just fine, once they learn how to swing correctly.

[randy]

Thanks for the replies. That was quick!
He is going into 6th grade, so he has a couple of years before he has to move to the smaller drops. Puberty has not kicked in at all, that I can tell.
As for messing with success, it would be for next fall, not right now...sort of a buy it cheap and stash it until needed sort of thing. I can get the gold dynasty for 99 bucks and set it aside for now. A teacher's salary, paying a house note, car note, and child support for 2 kids just doesn't go as far as it used to....

[randy]

His instructor, who is very good, IMO, cautions me about getting one too big for him to handle. He also uses an old 28'20 Omaha, but just likes the balance and feel of the dynasty. I fear too much length, placing the weight too far from his hands and forcing him to drop the barrel or cast it.
I know better equipment alone will not make him better, but I also know ill-fitting equipment can do more harm.

[Jake Patterson]

His instructor, who is very good, IMO, cautions me about getting one too big for him to handle. He also uses an old 28'20 Omaha, but just likes the balance and feel of the dynasty. I fear too much length, placing the weight too far from his hands and forcing him to drop the barrel or cast it.
I know better equipment alone will not make him better, but I also know ill-fitting equipment can do more harm.

The problem I saw at the MS and HS levels were hitters unable to swing a regulation bat. I am not suggesting a -3 right now, but a move in that direction will be helpful if he has aspirations of playing school ball. What they do on the small field matters little when they reach the big field. Having them very successful on a small field with a high drop bat may or may not be especially helpful.

[TG Coach]

The problem I saw at the MS and HS levels were hitters unable to swing a regulation bat. I am not suggesting a -3 right now, but a move in that direction will be helpful if he has aspirations of playing school ball. What they do on the small field matters little when they reach the big field. Having them very successful on a small field with a high drop bat may or may not be especially helpful.

I didn't see the kids who can play/hit have any trouble transitioning from -10 to -3 from LL to 7th grade ball. The mound is fourteen feet further back allowing more trigger time. In 8th grade the kids look real quick with the bats relative to the speed of 8th grade pitching.

[randy]

Thanks gentlemen! As he will only be going to 6th grade this next year, and we don't play MS baseball here in Texas, I will move him up a little at a time. As long as I can continue to get last year's model cheap, I don't mind. His little brother will be able touse them as he progresses, so it works out ok.

[Jake Patterson]

I didn't see the kids who can play/hit have any trouble transitioning from -10 to -3 from LL to 7th grade ball. The mound is fourteen feet further back allowing more trigger time. In 8th grade the kids look real quick with the bats relative to the speed of 8th grade pitching.

I find many lighter-longer bat hitters can be successful swinging un-connected. Being successful using this style of hitting at HS is difficult.

A seventh grader coming from LL who has used nothing but high drop bats facing a tough 13 y/o eighth grade pitcher will have problems.

[Jake Patterson]

Thanks gentlemen! As he will only be going to 6th grade this next year, and we don't play MS baseball here in Texas, I will move him up a little at a time. As long as I can continue to get last year's model cheap, I don't mind. His little brother will be able touse them as he progresses, so it works out ok.

Sounds like a good plan...

[Jake Patterson]

...trouble transitioning from -10 to -3 from LL to 7th grade ball.

I know I couldn't get a ball out of the infield if I didn't have my huge drop fungo.

[randy]

He stays pretty well connected, I think, and uses his lower body pretty well most of the time. He works some with a wood bat as well-27 in. I think.

[TG Coach]

I find many lighter-longer bat hitters can be successful swinging un-connected. Being successful using this style of hitting at HS is difficult.

A seventh grader coming from LL who has used nothing but high drop bats facing a tough 13 y/o eighth grade pitcher will have problems.

We have teams for each grade. But 7th grade pitchers would be mostly thirteen. 8th grade pitchers are mostly fourteen.

[TG Coach]

I know I couldn't get a ball out of the infield if I didn't have my huge drop fungo.


There are some important words missing from this quote which were just in front of it ....

"...trouble transitioning from -10 to -3 from LL to 7th grade ball."

The important missing words are "I didn't see the kids who can play/hit have any ..."

[Lobo47]

Have u ever thought about giving your son a Exogrid bat. I have one also and i love the pop that comes out of the bat i also think that u should go up to the 30in 20oz bat

[Baseball gLove]

My 11 yo son is playing 11u select ball. He is using a dynasty(blue model) 28-19, 2 3/4that he hit very well with this fall and is hitting well with this spring. He is 5'0 and 90 lbs. I know he is outgrowing this bat as we speak, and would like to buy him a new one for his birthday this summer, thereby killing 2 birds with one stone.
I would like to buy him a 29-20 in the same model, but I can't find one-everything left in that model is either smaller or too large. Thinking about the gold model in 29 19.5, because he loves the feel and balance of his current dynasty. Is that enough of an increase, or should I jump to a 30 20.5?
Thank you.
PS-he wants nothing to do with easton, and he cares not at all that the newer dynasty is 2 5/8.


The Dynasty is a pretty good bat; it is my son's best friend's favorite bat. I know a lot of kids your son's age and size that are using 31 or 32 inch bats with a weight of about 22-23 ounces. When my son was your son's size, he also swung a 31-26 wood bat for batting practice. I would lean toward the heavier bats because many jr high school teams require BESR -3 weighted bats and the sooner you start pushing your son that direction the better. Maybe get a -5 for when he goes against weaker pitchers.

[Baseball gLove]

He stays pretty well connected, I think, and uses his lower body pretty well most of the time. He works some with a wood bat as well-27 in. I think.


When using wood bats for BP make sure you use the same length as his game bat. So if he uses a 29 inch game bat, his wood should be 29 inch. My 7 year old (he is 4'6" 85 pounds) swings a 29-19.5 Omaha and a 29 inch youth wood that weighs about 25 ounces. I would like to cup the barrel on the wood to shave off a couple of ounces. His last years 28-17 Rampage was just too small and light for him.

[RagArm]

I moved my son to heavier bats incrementally as he got older with one exception. This year at 14 he could have used a -5 bat but I felt he could handle the -3, and he's doing fine with it.

If you are going to get him a new bat wait until before next year's season. He will grow bigger and stronger and may outgrow whatever bat you pick out to finish this season.

[steve R]

I find many lighter-longer bat hitters can be successful swinging un-connected. Being successful using this style of hitting at HS is difficult.

A seventh grader coming from LL who has used nothing but high drop bats facing a tough 13 y/o eighth grade pitcher will have problems.

You hit the nail on the head Jake. The problem is most parents want to live in the glory of their sons hitting well in LL with the light bats but do not prepare them to hit with the -3 bats they will have to use in the future. They keep batting avg. So they can all walk around with their chest pumped out. LL to me is the training ground to prepare for the real game that starts in HS.

Thanks

Steve