Torn Between 2 Bats for My Son

['StrosFan4Life]

I am looking to replace my sons stolen bat and am having trouble deciding which to buy.......need advice. My son is 12.

DEMARINI VOODOO BLACK DXVDL 31/18 (http://www.spcsports.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=203)

Or

EASTON LCN11 STEALTH 31/18 (http://www.triple-s-sports.com/eastonlcn11stealthimx.aspx)

[StanTheMan]

My son is 12... and nothing more than a -8 is allowed. Not that your league is the same of course but would a drop 10, 9, or even 8 be something he could handle, and better prepare him for the level when the types of bats you're looking at are not allowed.

BOTH are great bats btw. The Easton bats are more common here in Indianapolis Leagues, but the Demarini more common in College games I see on tv.

[PhilliesPhan22]

I have 12 year olds on my 7th grade team and they are all required to swing -3, PIAA rules. I would step up to something heavier as he will need a -3 as a 13 year old.

['StrosFan4Life]

No limit in his league. He never has been very strong and right now is struggling with his batting. He played football this past fall and got much stronger. He is swinging late and I want him to be able to get the bat around a little quicker. I do have him working on swing technique trying to help make him a bit stronger. I really just want him to gain some confidence at the plate.

[Jake Patterson]

At 12 he will soon be playing HS ball. I would move toward the lowest drop possible and I would not spend a great deal of money. The bats become somewhat disposable at this age.

['StrosFan4Life]

He is home schooled and is not able to play high school.

[StanTheMan]

Those drop 13's are 2 1/4 inch barrels I'm sure. A nice 2 5/8 inch does wondes for the old "confidence."

Jut a thought.... good luck

[StanTheMan]

Not to pry or anything... but in my experience the "swinging late" is more often caused by mechanics, footwork, etc. more so than bat weight, especially if we are talking 3 or so ounces here....

['StrosFan4Life]

Good point....

[Jake Patterson]

He is home schooled and is not able to play high school.Most states allow for home schooled children to play on public school teams, but... your area could be different. Where does he wish to play 13+?

My overall point, one discussed here many times, is that high drop bats at this age sometimes mask fundemental swing flaws not easily seen when comparing looking only at current peformance. If he wishes to play past 13 then a move toward low drop bats would be prudent.

If all he wants is to get the most from this season then a high-drop, high-flex bat is the way to go. After two sons... I still would not pay a lot of money for this age.

[Jake Patterson]

I do have him working on swing technique trying to help make him a bit stronger. I really just want him to gain some confidence at the plate.Strength and quickness can be two different problems.

['StrosFan4Life]

He has two more years in this league, age goes to 15...Pony. In Texas they don't allow home schooled kids to participate but there is a group working on changing that. I know he will have to move to a heavier bat, but at this point he just wants to hit the ball. He has an old 28/19 he has been using at his games and making a little contact, but it's just a bit short.

[Baseball gLove]

My 9 year old swings a 31-21.5. He swung a 29-19.5 as a 7 & 8 year old.

[DukeK]

How big is he? Buy him a heavier bat and then post of clip of him on here and we'll help you figure out how to get his swing quicker. I would probably go with a 7 or 8 drop.

['StrosFan4Life]

He's a big kid, just looks like he's having trouble swinging. I will get the video asap.

[hitnpeas]

I am looking to replace my sons stolen bat and am having trouble deciding which to buy.......need advice. My son is 12.

DEMARINI VOODOO BLACK DXVDL 31/18 (http://www.spcsports.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=203)

Or

EASTON LCN11 STEALTH 31/18 (http://www.triple-s-sports.com/eastonlcn11stealthimx.aspx)

Neither....Get him a B1 or B2 instead. Much better than either of these. :nod:

[wogdoggy]

Neither....Get him a B1 or B2 instead. Much better than either of these. :nod:



I swear man you are too funny,,you have to own stock :nod::nod::D

[hitnpeas]

I swear man you are too funny,,you have to own stock :nod::nod::D

Just speakin the troof.... Don't knock it til you try it!! :nod:

[benz99]

Just speakin the troof.... Don't knock it til you try it!! :nod:

Don't own stock either, Last fall we took batting practice on a local field & my kid all of 56 lbs 4'4" hit it about 10 ft from the wall with a vexxum bat. Took some time before Easter dinner for some BP & he hit 4 out over the fence & 1 liner that hit the top of the fence. Now yea my kid may have gotten a little stronger & he has worked hard on his swing but I'm sure most was due to the B2. It was only BP but he was thrilled to hit the ball over a real fence on a real field. It's a small field for Pinto but the B2 is an awesome bat & if you have never witnessed it action you just won't understand:clapping

[wogdoggy]

Don't own stock either, Last fall we took batting practice on a local field & my kid all of 56 lbs 4'4" hit it about 10 ft from the wall. Took some time before Easter dinner for some BP & he hit 4 out over the fence & 1 liner that hit the top of the fence. Now yea my kid may have gotten a little stronger & he has worked hard on his swing but I'm sure most was due to the B2. It was only BP but he was thrilled to hit the ball over a real fence on a real field. It's a small field for Pinto but the B2 is an awesome bat & if you have never witnessed it action you just won't understand:clapping

how bout their 3 drop any feedback?

[benz99]

how bout their 3 drop any feedback?

Couldn't say peas may have used or seen them, but based on ther -10/-12 bats i would say they are equally impressive

[4pointDoc]

i'm not sure about bat drop etc, but my son has had a couple of Demarini bats (as well as kids on his team) and imo they all underperform. They have a wierd sound and don't seem to have as much pop as the eastons. That is just my experience.

[AgentX]

At 12 he will soon be playing HS ball. I would move toward the lowest drop possible and I would not spend a great deal of money. The bats become somewhat disposable at this age.

Absolutely.

It's only a matter of time before he's gonna have to swing a -3. And it's a tremendous adjustment to make from a -12.

If he's serious about playing, I'd get him a -8 or -10.

After AllStars last year, I knew my son was going to have to move up to the -3 for MS, so I got him a Miken Freak (he loved the -10 LL Freak he swung in AS). But it was a big change for him. He wouldn't admit it, but it was messing up his swing. So I got him a barely used 31/28 Akadema Xtension for $50 on ebay. As noted in a different thread, the Xtension is counterweighed in the knob, so it doesn't carry all the extra weight along the barrel, making it an ideal introduction to the -3 world.

It had been a while since he'd swung a metal bat, but he had no problems with it. To him, it felt about the same as the 22oz bats he'd swung. He still uses it for travel, even though he doesn't have to.