Another Bat Question

[coachld]

I could probably pick a bat based on other posts but wanted to provide some details to see if I could narrow it down a bit. I am a football coach with little bball experience so I am clueless on barrel size, length, etc.

My son just turned 8 and has played since he was 6. He has a decent swing but still has some fundamental flaws. He is tall for his age 54" and weighs about 85 lbs. He has good power for his age (just had the longest hit for his age in pitch-hit-run) but still struggles to consistently catch the sweet spot. I am not looking for the top of the line $300 bat when I know he will need a new one in another year or two anyway...especially with how quick he is growing.

Thanks in advance and if I can provide anything else that will help, please let me know.

[hardhitter]

28 to 29" bat look for something he can control. Same as football just cause he's big doesn't mean he's ready for the big boys! he's still 8. I wouldn't go with a very expensive bat yet either, but I would go for something cheap. Look at in helmet terms- would let him out there with a $20? no something in the middle because his heads going to get bigger right?

I would look at mid range bats or last years models, something used on ebay or play it again sports

Good luck

[2ManyBats]

My Boys had options at the 8 yr old level. 2 Bats are better then 1.
They take Batting Practice with both, but use each one for different purposes.
A regular bat and a Lighter bat for Faster pitchers or faster coach pitch or for quick reactions.
They go to their bat bats and make their bat selection while watching the pitcher in warm ups. Knowing that they can hit with both because they have in practice. ... alot of practice !

Beside ..... last season... During the City Playoffs ... we were out taking BP .... after about 50-60 powerful line drive hits .... his bat changed sounds .... literally went dead. He switched right then and kept taking BP .... the Next Day ... The first game in the Semi's ... First Pitch ... 160' line drive home run.

I don't know what we'd have done trying to find another bat after 8pm on a Saturday Night.

[coachld]

Thanks for the advice...and the football analogies help. Any recommendations for a mid-end bat or last years model?

[2ManyBats]

I've seen success with all types ... last night it was Amp, Voodoo Black, and Strobe
Catlayst, Rawlings Rush and Easton Stealth.
Some of which a few months ago and I wouldn't have known much about them.

Hit of the day was ... Easton Stealth CNT ... Game Winner on bottom of 7th.
Bat is only couple weeks old and players mom won it at the club fundraiser.

Easton is Good, as well as almost all. One bat that has me intrigued is Rawlings Rush
model is below .... I've never owned one but the a player on my sons team has one and
he hits me in the cage with it and I think it has alot of pop and is a year old.

RW-YBRSHGD 08 Rawlings Rush Gold Youth Baseball Bat $99.99 on sale at
directsports.com
Another bat I've seen with alot of success on a team is LS EXO Grid ... it hasn't come down in price as much as others but it may drop soon

LS-YB83X 2008 EXOGRID Youth Baseball Bat $169.99

I would also think about Combat ... but I have alot of Easton bats in the garage and in bat bags.... so I'm still partial.

Buy something and then tell us about the results !!! Goodluck

[hardhitter]

Your name says it all to many bats to choose from and most you can't go wrong. I'm a huge Combat fan and LS. Combats are very balanced which I like the way my son swings them, Stealths seem end loaded and he has a slower bat speed with a lighter bat.

The new synergy looks pretty good and balanced. The Rush I hear has a big barrel and I still hear good results from the worth bats with the Lithium D955 alloy, although they dent easy