Think I ordered the wrong bat for 7 year old, seasons soon and need bat suggestions.

[Arc]

My son who's 7 1/2, 4.3 & 60 pnds a contact hitter & plays coach pitch . I ordered him a 28/16 Easton BT250 CXN COMP for the extra pop when he hits. I have taken him to the batting cages and have thrown live pitches to him. It seems as he is either fouling allot ( last year he was dead on) or just missing the ball and it is making him frustrated.

I have decided that the bat might be to big for him and that it could be used next year.
So now I would like to get him another bat and am having a hard time finding the right one.

Here is what I had in mind please offer suggestions. The rules state that he has to use a 2 1/4 barrel. One other thing is that they are using a softer ball think its a number 5 (not a tee ball) but its not a hard ball either.

Here are the bats I had in mind.


2008 YB84 Louisville Slugger TPX Omaha Composite Youth League Baseball Bat -12 ..27/15 and cost 165.00

2008 Combat Throttle Youth League 27/14 Composite cost 140.00

2005 or 2006 (yellow)Louisville YB106 Catalyst Youth Baseball Bat 100.00 28/15

Louisville Slugger TPX Maverick composite: YB89M Youth 27/17 80.00

I am leaning toward the Throttle or the YB84 but I would like suggestions from people who might have had experience with some of these bats.


Thanks for all of the help.

[Speedy42]

I don't have experience with these bats, but since your son seems to be just missing by a little bit I would go with the TPX Composite at 27" 15oz. One less inch will mean better bat control and yes one less ounce does make a difference at that age. I had the same problem with my son. First bat of season for 2 yrs in a row were one ounce too heavy. After seasons were half done I finally went with a bat one ounce lighter and that did the trick. I'll never make that mistake again.

[hardhitter]

Also look at his front side! is he opening up to soon? Front shoulder pulling off the ball?

What size was his bat last year?

Speedy right I like a shorter bat, this adds bat control and as they get older makes them own the plate. I keep all my kids on the plate as much as possible, helps with bat speed as well, they need to develop quick hands to get to the inside pitch. I tell them to scare the pitcher on the inside (kids don't want to hit other kids)

[2ManyBats]

I don't want to say that anyone is wrong ... so I'm going to tell you about a bad habit my 12 yr old does on occasion. It's described in books as a "Hitch" in his swing .... he decided to pull it out again for this seasons first few travel baseball Practices. Last year it took him 2 weeks ( 10-14 ) games to get away from. Any Bat movement prior to going for the ball, at least in my sons case, causes him to bearly get any ball or miss it comepletely. He would foul alot of balls off and pop out alot - weak ones. Then I had to go back to basic again with him. When he strides (short stride) forward with his front foot he - at the same time - would pump the bat up first down then back up .. then go to the ball. In Doing this he allows the ball to get to way to close to the plate and never can catch up to it and get cut at it out in front of the plate.... hence nicking it or fouling it. When he corrects his swing and does move the bat slightly back as his front foot slides forward ... "getting Seperation" he rips the ball bigtime ... Sunday he almost took my head off in the cage. He and his teammates were laughing because they hit me 3 times with line drives back at the pitcher (me) and I barely deflected two other close calls that were going for my head. We'll see how it goes tonight.... \

Arc.... if you can Video Tape your sons swing... (I do it alot) ..... check it out in slow motion and see if it looks like any extra motion could be causing something or be eliminated. Hardhitter has a great point about opening up to soon and pulling the bat out of the way of the ball.

Goodluck

[Union-LL-AA-dad]

Arc,

I happen to be in the exact same position as you were before. I prematurely bought a 28/16 alum bat for my 7-1/2 yr old son. I estimate he'll be 4'0", 55 lbs (small guy) by the time spring baseball comes around. He's been told he has a good swing mechanically, but in the batting cage, he has a tough time getting around on a 35 mph fastball with the 28/16. We have an old Easton 777 bat in 27/14.5 that he does fine with in the cages (even up to 45 mph). Also he sometimes practices outside (soft toss) with a 26/15 tee ball bat and does fine. So I'm looking at getting one of the same bats you mentioned (2-1/4" barrel):

- Combat Throttle Comp TYB1 27/14 (may be too light ??)
- Louisville Omaha ST+20 Alloy YBX6 27/13.5 (probably too light) or 28/14.5 (maybe too long ??)
- Louisville TPX Dynasty Comp YBXD 27/15 (just right ??)
- Louisville TPX Maverick Comp YB89M 27/17 (probably too heavy/end loaded; I only saw an 28/18 NOS)
- Combat B1 Comp B1YB1 27/17 (probably too heavy/end loaded & too expensive at his age/level (8U LL))

Any recommendations based on your (or anyone elses) prior experience?

[Mid-Ohio Blaze]

at that age lighter is better. If the boys can hit a line drive out of the infield they will be a top tier player. I suggest the 14 ounce. That bat they can physically dominate which promotes good mechanics which produce good results. Let them hit whatever weight they can succeed and have fun with.

[jayhawk]

The type of baseball is probably a RIF5 which is typically used in Coach Pitch. The material of the bat wouldnt matter with such a ball.
This was my list:
Rawlings Liquid Metal 2 28in/16oz
Louisville Omaha C405 alloy 27in/14.5oz
Demarini Vexxum SC3 Alloy with composite handle 29in/15.5oz
Miken ESD Burn Helix Technology full composite 29 in/17oz

When using real baseballs, the Miken outperforms all the other bats. When using RIF5 type of baseballs, the performance in each bat is about the same. The difference between bat performance is minimal but I wont tell you NOT to buy another bat. The journey is between you and your son, so spend away and enjoy!

My advice to you will be to make sure he can swing and handle the bat. Something your son will be confortable with. You wouldnt buy him clothes 2 sizes bigger and justify it as "he will grown into them". Same with bats.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

[Union-LL-AA-dad]

Jayhawk,
My son's league at the "AA" level (2 levels up from Tee Ball) uses Rawlings RLLB1 balls during games. I'm not sure how the hardness compares to RIF 5 balls. Also, last season, they started with pitching machine only (set to 30-35 mph), then progressed to 1 inning of kid pitch, then finally 2 innings kid pitch towards the last third of the season.

http://www.RawlingsGear.com/baseball/baseball-balls/rllb1.html

[tom2p]

Arc - Just about every bat you listed is more money than I would spend for a bat for a 7 or 8 yr old - ESPECIALLY if using a RISC 5 or RISF 5 ball or whatever (similar). (With the softer balls, the weight of the bat really comes into play - more than the construction/material).
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A NOS bat at clearance or reduced price and/or a used bat in good shape are good options. And consider more than one size bat - in my opinion, it is better to have more bats than one expensive bat (for the reason - check out one of my prev posts where I discuss a drill I use ' 'Up and down the Ladder'). When kid is older, then get him an expensive bat ( and a number of other cheaper used bats - you can never have too many bats !).
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Some of the bats you might consider that are smaller than the 28-16 CXN include -
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Worth Copperhead 27-14 (red in color - have not see one in a while)
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TPX Omaha XS Scandium 27-14.5 (red in color - 2006 model - YB406 I believe)
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TPX Dynasty - 28-14.5 (light orange/blue in color) - not familar with this bat
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TPX Dynasty - 28-15 (blue in color - 2006 model - YB206 ?)
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TPX Omaha XS Scandium 28-15.5 (red in color - 2006 model - YB406 I believe)
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Some of these bats are still available on ebay - NOS. One seller this past summer was selling NOS 2006 TPX Dynasty for $50 including shipping. The bat I would recommend in the group of bats above - 28-15.5 TPX Omaha XS Scandium. Great lightweight 28" bat.
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This past season, my little guy often used a old TPX Omaha XS Scandium 28-16 (2004 model). Hit very well with it. He started the season (primarily) using a Dynasty 28-15 - then moved to a 28-15.5 TPX Omaha XS Scandium - and then to the 28-16 a bit past the mid-season.
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[LLdad]

I bought the 28/15 yellow Catalyst when my son was eight and about the same size as yours. It's a very nice stick for a seven year old kid, and will stay nice and usable for him for at least another year after this one. That thing is very durable and has survived many home run derby sessions with me smacking soft tosses over the fence to amuse the kids (and myself). It has probably hit 400 balls over the fence in addition to several years of game use.

I passed it on to my eight year old nephew this year, and his entire coach pitch team used it so it apparently has some appeal to the kids still.

[jayhawk]

Union-LL-AA-dad
Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 27

Jayhawk,
My son's league at the "AA" level (2 levels up from Tee Ball) uses Rawlings RLLB1 balls during games. I'm not sure how the hardness compares to RIF 5 balls. Also, last season, they started with pitching machine only (set to 30-35 mph), then progressed to 1 inning of kid pitch, then finally 2 innings kid pitch towards the last third of the season.

http://www.RawlingsGear.com/baseball...lls/rllb1.html

Our league used Worth one year, then Wilson another year, and Rawlings this year. I always bought that specific type of balls that my son would be using that season. After 5 years , I have an assortment of baseballs.
If I could choose just one ball manufacturer, it would be Wilson. That balls, through many seasons and years, still is a great ball. The newest(Rawlings) is put away and I just bought it this year.
But the worst is an unknown company from Sports Authority. The balls came flat and egg shaped, or even ripped after a few months of practice.

[grizzz]

i think the bat you have him using is too big...my team of 8 yr olds had 15 K's the first travel game we played last year...i then bought a Worth Amp, 26 or 27", FOURTEEN OUNCES!! and it made all the difference in the world...way more contact, way more bat speed...i even had several small 9 yr olds using it in house league this year....i DO NOT care what anyone says or thinks, LIGHTER IS BETTER, no child 10 or under should use anything less than a drop 10...unless he weighs 150 lbs.

just my $.02.

griz

[D_wats]

i DO NOT care what anyone says or thinks, LIGHTER IS BETTER, no child 10 or under should use anything less than a drop 10...unless he weighs 150 lbs.

This kid was using a 24 oz bat as a 8 yr old on a machine, and didn't weight 150 lb. In the vid he's 10 using a 31" -10 Combat, and soaking wet 110 lb. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcWYUCGBz28) I won't get into how far some of his hits have carried.

Post like this are a great example of, and I'll say again, charts are a starting point, and post here are opinions, take them with a grain of salt.

[tom2p]

Yes - agree - lighter is better - many - (if not most) time - but not always.
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And lighter is not something to stick with forever - goal for a kid that has plans to play at a higher level is to be able to eventually swing the bigger (longer/heavier) bats (with good bat speed).
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And if the kid plays in a Williamsport sanctioned LL org - there are few (quality) bats available with less drop than -10. We had one kid on our org that used a cheap -8 bat because he could not find anything else (at the time) - and did not want to use an expensive bat (like a DeMarini F2 - -10 that swings more like a -6).
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Also can not go (strictly) by weight. I have two kids - both skinny. Old kid (basically) needed the lightest bat available. But young kid can swing a bigger (longer/heavier) bat (with great bat speed).
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May also depend on the pitchers in the league/org. A few years ago, we had a number of kids that threw hard - and lightweight bats were ideal. However, I generally don't evaluate the size of bat to use based on how kid does in game - I first observe kid hit from a T and soft toss - and then BP in the cage. It is fairly easy to evaluate swing to find ideal bat when observing kid hit soft toss. (And you can almost close your eyes - and go by the sound of the bat hitting the ball).
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