Wood bat or not?

[2zwudz]

My 13 yr old son has been swinging a Brett wood composite bat for hitting practice. He is hitting the ball well with it, of course it doesn't jump off the bat like the Stealth Comp -3 he has. My question is has any of your 13 yr olds ever used a wood bat in a game (not a wood bat tournament) while others used the aluminum comp bats? What did he think of it? My son is really enjoying the wood bat. It sounds nice and I think he swings it better than the heavier -3. Maybe its more me wanting him to use the wooden bat. I would like to see him use it in the games but I think he knows that the ball jumps harder off the aluminum and he may not give it much of a chance. Anyway I was just curious what others have experienced with this.

Mark

[korp]

Why use wood when you can use metal? It puts you at a huge disadvantage.

[LAball]

Maybe use the wood is the game is out of reach, either winning or losing.

[AL_DAD]

My son uses wood during the "regular season" April - June. If he get selected for the Tournament Team then he uses a composite bat to "even the playing field".

[korp]

My son uses wood during the "regular season" April - June. If he get selected for the Tournament Team then he uses a composite bat to "even the playing field".
Isn't that putting him at a disadvantage of actually making the team? Don't get me wrong I love wood and use it frequently in college but I am close to that point of the next level and I only use it during practice. The swing is hard enough to master with aluminum when your younger and throwing wood in there affects timing if nothing else.

[AL_DAD]

Isn't that putting him at a disadvantage of actually making the team? Don't get me wrong I love wood and use it frequently in college but I am close to that point of the next level and I only use it during practice. The swing is hard enough to master with aluminum when your younger and throwing wood in there affects timing if nothing else.

Not really. Since he is the 2nd best pitcher in the league he will make the team via that route. I think he hits so much better when he hits with wood, and I like his swing with the -5 better than the -10 (Combat B1 or Demarini CF3).

But yeah , If I didnt think he would make the team he would be using a composite all the way till June as he has in previous years.

[Dakai]

I was told that my son should use wood in practice and metal in games. Is that good advice?

[TG Coach]

Practicing with wood bats is a great idea. Playing wood bat tournaments is a great idea. But when metal is an option, use metal. The sweet spot is much bigger. Plus a strong hitter can fist line drives out of the infield. With wood, it's a broken bat grounder.

[omg]

Practicing with wood bats is a great idea. Playing wood bat tournaments is a great idea. But when metal is an option, use metal. The sweet spot is much bigger. Plus a strong hitter can fist line drives out of the infield. With wood, it's a broken bat grounder.

Metal in the games. It is a team sport. End of discussion.

[FedEx]

Metal in the games. It is a team sport. End of discussion.

Not that I agree with what AL_DAD is doing or not, but baseball is not a team sport.

[dominik]

I think he means that you hurt the team when you use a wood bat, because you may perform worse and not only for yourself but also the team.

[FedEx]

Oh okay, yeah I can agree to that.

I see what he means, the team may suffer at the expense of the kid trying to improve his overall ability.

[TG Coach]

Oh okay, yeah I can agree to that.

I see what he means, the team may suffer at the expense of the kid trying to improve his overall ability.

I hope you don't think the player comes before the team. He can improve his game in practice and practicing on his own.

[AL_DAD]

Unfortunately , in the league my son plays, they have to play each other from March - June. Once that season is over they get to play Tournament ball which is all we (parents) look forward to. Regular season is like watching paint dry , that is why I advise my son take the wood and be aggressive., get a feel for the sweet spot. This may or may not be the right way to do things but I think my son would kill some of the B and C team players if he used his composite during regular season.

[FedEx]

I hope you don't think the player comes before the team. He can improve his game in practice and practicing on his own.

I see what he is talking about now. I take back my original post.

[aj9020]

Al_dad,

My college routine was to practice with heavy wood and use metal in games. If it's a metal league, he should use metal. There is going to be a difference in hitting power when he hits with metal. Training with wood is making him stronger, like me I was stinging the ball.